Gary Lineker Next Job Odds: What The Football Legend Could Do Next

Gary Lineker has fronted Match of the Day for 25 years, but he is to hang up his microphone at the end of the season. 

While he will still be sticking around at BBC HQ for a bit, as the face of the corporation's FA Cup coverage next season and he will host their 2026 World Cup coverage, the former England forward will have more time on his hands on Saturdays from late May. 

Gary said in a statement: "I’m delighted to continue my long association with BBC Sport and would like to thank all those who made this happen."

Alex Kay-Jelski, Director of BBC Sport, described Lineker as a "world-class presenter", and the star will no doubt have plenty of offers to fill his time. 

Following the confirmation of his upcoming Match of the Day exit, betting sites have been busy speculating what job Lineker might do next when his 25-season reign on the football highlights show ends. 

Gary Lineker Next Job Odds 

Lineker's Move Into Politics? 

During his time on Match of the Day, Lineker hit the headlines on occasions for airing his political views on social media. 

He was even taken off air by the impartial BBC in March 2023, after making some controversial comments about the UK's asylum policy, and he was backed by several of his fellow BBC colleagues, who refused to work.

Lineker, who has said previously he speaks about "humanitarian issues" rather than political ones, was later reinstated on Match of the Day.

But if he wants to continue airing his views on current affairs to an audience, then starting his own political podcast could be his next role. 

What's more, he knows a thing or two about podcasts, as the co-founder of independent podcast production company Goalhanger Podcasts, which distributes The Rest Is Football, which he co-hosts with his MOTD colleagues Micah Richards and Alan Shearer. 

News of his Match of the Day exit broke in The Sun newspaper, with a BBC source telling the publication: "Gary will be 65 when he leaves; frankly, he isn’t getting younger and just feels the time is right to focus solely on his mogul interests outside the BBC - namely his Goalhanger podcasting business which is becoming huge Stateside."

It seems fitting that he might front another podcast next, and it's just 10/11 that Lineker goes down the political podcasting route, and 3/1 he becomes an LBC presenter. 

Sky's The Limit 

Such is his success as a broadcaster, Lineker will no doubt be inundated with offers from rival broadcasters. 

Throughout his time on Match of the Day, he's worked for BT Sport - now TNT Sport - fronting their Champions League coverage, and US network NBC, so it wouldn't be a shock to see him present football coverage elsewhere. 

What's more, BBC News understands he was open to stay on Match of the Day, but the BBC didn't offer him a new contract. 

The former Leicester City star is 5/4 on betting apps to join a rival broadcaster, and it's 8/1 he hosts Sky Sports' Soccer Saturday show next. 

But if Lineker - who was born in Leicester - is after something closer to his roots, then he could turn to his love of current affairs and pursue the Mayor of Leicester role. 

It wouldn't be the first time a footballer has turned to professional politics.

Ex-England defender Sol Campbell previously put himself forward to be Mayor of London, but he didn't make the shortlist; former Chelsea loanee George Weah became Liberian president in 2017; and ex-Blackburn Rovers forward Hakan Sukur was a Turkish MP. 

Lineker is 10/1 to be Mayor of Leicester, and it's a massive 33/1 he returns to football and becomes Leicester City manager. 

Lineker's New Reality 

Lineker has made no secret of his passion for cooking on social media, and he is just 6/4 on betting sites to land his own cooking show. 

He is also likely to receive plenty of reality TV offers following his Match of the Day departure. 

One that doesn't involve learning a new skill or chowing down on kangaroo privates is Celebrity Traitors. 

Lineker has gone from 10/1 to just 2/1 to take part in the star-studded version of the BBC show next year, after news broke of his impending Match of the Day exit. 

Another star-studded BBC show keen to attract Lineker would be Strictly Come Dancing. 

Head judge Shirley Ballas previously asked the star whether he would be up for putting his dancing shoes on - and he said on Sport Relief: "Sorry, I’ve got a Saturday job."

However, Lineker will be regularly available on Saturday nights for the first time in 25 years next year, and this could be music to the ears of Strictly bosses. 

He is 4/1 to swap his Match of the Day microphone for fake tan and sequins on the Latin and ballroom show, and it's just 5/1 he heads Down Under and joins the cast of I'm A Celebrity... Get Me Out Of Here!. 

The new series starts on Sunday, and while that will ultimately come too soon for Lineker, due to his current MOTD commitments, bosses will have surely already put him at the top of their shortlist for next year's series. 

* Reminder: These are hypothetical odds provided by industry experts.