Gary Lineker's time with the BBC is now over (Image: PA)
Match of the Day commentator Guy Mowbray thanked his BBC colleagues and bid farewell to Gary Lineker after the final show of the season. Lineker took his final bow from the beloved highlights show on Sunday evening following the conclusion of the 2024-25 Premier League season.
After steering the programme for over a quarter of a century, Lineker's exit marked the end of an era. Within a day of the former Spurs ace's permanent sign-off, Mowbray, a BBC stalwart since 2004, reached out to his followers with a heartfelt note. While some may have initially thought that the commentator, who has also lent his voice to the BBC's Champions League highlights this year, was leaving the Beeb himself, he quickly confirmed he will return to the Match of the Day screen when the new season kicks off.
In a tribute to Lineker – and his other BBC colleagues who make the show happen – on X, he said: "Time to say goodbye (until August) Thanks Gary. Thanks to the whole @BBCMOTD team for another incredible end of season montage that worked on every level. Nobody does it better. Wishing everyone a happy and healthy summer."
Mowbray, who has provided commentary rather than punditry alongside Lineker, stood in solidarity with the now-former Match of the Day host during Lineker's short-lived suspension from BBC duties two years ago. In March 2023, Mowbray joined the ranks of those boycotting the programme following Lineker's suspension by the BBC for one episode, due to the ex-England striker's critique of the Conservative party's asylum policy at the time.
As tensions heightened around Match of the Day 2 following similar upheavals as the previous day's boycott, Mowbray took to social media to explain his position and that of his colleagues. On X, he wrote: "Update: As yesterday, there will be no 'normal' MOTD(2) programme tonight. The scheduled commentary team are in full agreement with our BBC Sport colleagues. We hope that a resolution can be found ASAP."
A year-and-a-half after the incident, Lineker's social media activity provoked more controversy. He shared a video about Zionism which included a social media emoji of a rat, which he subsequently deleted and apologised for.
Guy Mowbray is one of the BBC's most experienced commentators (Image: guy.mowbray/Instagram)
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Initially, he was intending to maintain his role during live FA Cup broadcasts and the upcoming 2026 World Cup, before retiring after the competition in the USA, Canada and Mexico. Instead, Lineker chose to step down and proceeded to announce his intentions on social media, where he also apologised for sharing the post.
In a notable final speech on Match of the Day, Lineker said: "Let me take this opportunity to thank all of the other pundits that I've had the pleasure of working with over the last 25 years, you've made my job so much easier. Also, a huge thank you to those you don't see at home: the work that goes into making this iconic show is a huge team effort.
"From the editors, to the analysis team, from the commentators to the floor managers, from the producers to the camera operators, from the PAs to the subs, thank you all, you're the very best. Rather like my football career, everyone else did all the hard work and I got the plaudits.
"It's been an absolute privilege to host Match of the Day for a quarter of a century. It's been utterly joyous. I'd like to wish Gabby, Mark and Kelly for when they sit in this chair - the programme is in the best of hands."
