Gary Lineker has been the face of Match of the Day for over two decades, but the BBC are said to be preparing for his exit with Jermaine Jenas the frontrunner to replace him
Former Tottenham Hotspur midfielder and current TV presenter, Jermaine Jenas, is being touted as the leading candidate to replace Leicester City legend Gary Lineker on Match of the Day, should he decide to step down from his long-standing role.
Lineker has been steering the ship of the BBC’s popular Premier League highlights show every Saturday night for many years. However, insiders are forecasting an impending departure, either when his existing contract expires or possibly even before then.
Over the past month, Lineker was the primary anchor on the BBC coverage of Euro 2024, although some viewers contended that his colleagues Gabby Logan and Mark Chapman outshone him when they were given the opportunity to lead matches.
Betting experts Fair Betting Sites have offered odds of 8/11 that Lineker will relinquish his Match of the Day role, with former Newcastle player Jermaine Jenas as the favourite to take over. Jermaine, who has been one of the regular hosts of The One Show over the last few years, as well as being a football pundit, leads the pack on 6/4, with another existing BBC star, former England Lionesses hero Alex Scott, currently second in the odds.
Alex is on 7/2, just ahead of Mark Chapman, after his impressive stint at the Euros, with ITV’s Laura Woods, rounding out the top five on 10/1, ahead of the likes of Gabby Logan and Jake Humphrey, reports Football London.
Andy Newton, a spokesperson for Fair Betting Sites, commented on the situation involving Gary Lineker and Match of the Day, saying: “His criticism of Gareth Southgate at the Euros is the latest action to have reportedly riled the BBC and you feel with strained tensions the corporation are closer than ever to replacing Lineker as MOTD host.”
He further added: “With 25 years at the MOTD helm Lineker’s boots will be big ones to fill, but another former Spurs player Jermaine Jenas has impressed in his One Show presenting role for the BBC and it’s no shock to see him shortest in the betting to land one of the best presenting football jobs in the land.”
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