Gary Lineker has shared his view on the new-look Match of the Day after the BBC staple returned on Saturday evening with Mark Chapman as host.
Gary Lineker has a message for the BBC after Match of the Day’s return (Image: The Rest Is Football)
Gary Lineker heaped praise on the revamped Match of the Day following his departure from the programme. The iconic show made its comeback on Saturday evening with Mark Chapman stepping into the lead presenter role, though the format remained largely unchanged from its traditional structure.
The BBC unveiled Chapman alongside Kelly Cates and Gabby Logan as Lineker’s successors back in January, with the veteran presenter severing ties with the corporation following an antisemitism controversy. Alex Kay-Jelski, appointed as the broadcaster’s director of sport last April, had suggested potential modifications to the programme in Lineker’s wake. Nevertheless, the 64-year-old expressed satisfaction that minimal alterations had been implemented as the new chapter began, praising his former superior for maintaining a winning formula.
During an appearance on The Rest Is Football podcast with former BBC colleagues Alan Shearer and Micah Richards, Lineker revealed his thoughts on witnessing the return of the show he fronted for over two decades.
“Alan, you were doing Match of the Day last night. I must say, I enjoyed it,” he confessed. “I went out for dinner, then I came home in time to watch it.
“Thought it was really good. Chappers did a great job. There was a lot of talk, wasn’t there, that they were going to change things, and you know what it’s like, you get a new guy in, new head of sport, thinking he wants to do this and wants to do that. But, ‘If it ain’t broke, don’t fix it.’ I think that was very much the most sensible decision, and I thought the programme was great.”
Presenter Chapman was accompanied by seasoned pundit Shearer and fresh face Manchester United legend Wayne Rooney on Saturday’s inaugural show of the new Premier League campaign, with Lineker giving his seal of approval to the latter’s contribution.
Lineker praised the new-look Match of the Day (Image: BBC)
“I thought Wayne Rooney did really well, as well as yourself, Alan, so good analysis in there,” Lineker declared. “It was so nice watching it, holding a glass of wine!”
After succeeding Des Lynam in 1999, Match of the Day had become intrinsically linked with Lineker, yet the former England forward insisted it felt natural viewing from his sofa.
“I really enjoyed watching it. It is the first time that I have watched Match of the Day on a Saturday night for I don’t know how many years. The only time I ever missed the show was if I’d take the odd Saturday off to have a holiday, and I’d go somewhere, so it had been so long since I’d watched it.”
