BBC set for two huge decisions as MOTD replacement for Gary Lineker lined up

06 January 2024 , 13:28

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BBC Match of the Day presenter Gary Lineker (Image: BBC)

The BBC are set to make two major decisions about the future of their football coverage, with the broadcaster on the verge of naming Barbara Slater's replacement as director of sport.

Slater announced last year that she would be retiring in the spring of 2024, having spent 40 years at the BBC, and whoever replaces her will have some huge calls to make. The BBC has extended their Premier League highlights package through to 2029, meaning Match of the Day will continue.

A new Champions League highlights show is also set to be broadcast on the BBC from September after they struck a three-year deal with UEFA back in 2022. And the Times state that the BBC's new director of sport will be tasked with shaping Match of the Day once the new deal kicks in next year, as well as deciding who will host the new Champions League show.

Match of the Day presenter Gary Lineker and lead pundit Alan Shearer are among the BBC's top three earners, with Lineker taking home £1.35million a year and Shearer £445,000 a year. Lineker is into his 25th year as Match of Day's presenter and admitted last year that his "time is nearly up".

Lineker also namechecked Jermaine Jenas as a potential replacement, stating that he is "probably drifting more towards my role". Jenas currently works as a pundit on Match of the Day and TNT Sports, but the former England midfielder has also moved into presenting.

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Jenas currently presents The One Show and is set to start hosting Formula E on TNT Sports this year. The report states that Jenas is 'seen as the frontrunner to succeed Lineker' and he could front the BBC's new Champions League show to see how he does in the role.

Speaking exclusively to in December, Jenas admitted he would be interested in replacing Lineker. "If the opportunity was to arise it’s obviously something I'd have to think about," he said.

Jermaine Jenas is the frontrunner to replace Lineker one day (PA)

"My commitment is fully with the jobs that I have. That's hostingFormula E, the bits that I do on The One Show, any punditry work that I'm doing withTNT Sportsand theBBCare huge commitments of mine and something that I love.

"The big thing with this is Gary's brilliant. Love Gary. I've learned so much from him over the course of my career and there's still loads more to learn from him. It's the type of job that I look at and think, 'he goes when he wants to go'. And he deserves that because of how brilliant he is.

"If I am then part of any conversations around that at some time, then so be it! But it's definitely not on my mind - people are talking about it but, for me right now, I'm just excited to get started on FE."

Matthew Cooper