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The ex-Toffee will conclude his 26-year stint as host of MOTD at the end of this season, with just one month remaining before he presents the show for the final time.

Lineker, 64, revealed in November 2024 that he would be stepping down from the BBC's Premier League football highlights show this summer.

And while this reality may still be sinking in for some ardent fans, it seems Lineker himself has long since accepted the reality of his situation.

Alan Shearer also appears to have come to terms with it, as evidenced by a gag he made on The Rest Is Football podcast (via The Mirror) about his colleague's future.

The trio were addressing Leicester City's future after a 1-0 defeat to Liverpool on Sunday confirmed their relegation, prompting Shearer to suggest fans "might see a happy Gaz on Match of the Day" before remembering he won't be on the flagship show next season.

That prompted former England and Manchester City defender Richards to respond with a sympathetic groan, asking: "Have you really gone there?

I'm perfectly happy with it."

Lineker reassured Richards over the jibe on The Rest Is Football podcast(Image: The Rest Is Football podcast)

His boyhood club, Leicester saw their demotion to the Championship sealed when Trent Alexander-Arnold netted the decisive goal at the King Power Stadium.

He first took over from Des Lynam on Grandstand in 1997, but the BBC elevated him to lead their football programmes on a permanent basis two years later.

An entire generation has grown up with Lineker - who scored 30 goals in 41 appearances during his sole season at Goodison Park - leading the UK's premier football programme.

But he seems at ease with the end of this chapter and even admits he's "looking forward" to some aspects of this new phase in his life.

The long-time BBC colleagues will continue to front The Rest Is Football podcast(Image: BBC)

"I'm very much looking forward to getting weekends off for the first time in my adult life," he told FourFourTwo, "I'll probably go to the odd game, likely in London because that's where I live."

"Then I don't know, I might go away for the weekend, how about that?
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