Gary Lineker makes stance clear on possible Match of the Day exit as he admits 'I must be getting old'
Gary Lineker has addressed his future on the BBC's Match of the Day
BBC
Gary Lineker has opened up about his future as the face of the BBC's long-running football show, Match of the Day.
For two and a half decades, the 63-year-old has been the main presenter of the football highlights programme but is now within the final year of his contract.
This year marks the show's milestone 60th year on the air while Lineker himself is celebrating 25 years as the host after taking over from Des Lynam.
Lineker's time as the face of Match of the Day hasn't been without its controversy, with the presenter temporarily suspended last year for criticising the government's asylum policy in a controversially-worded tweet.
He returned soon after following a walk-out by his MOTD colleagues who showed solidarity with the former England striker, and the controversy even prompted the Beeb to overhaul and conjure up a new set of guidelines for its presenters and their social media use.
Despite calls to be sacked from critics, Lineker has remained part of the furniture at MOTD but opening up in a new interview, he admitted the decision to stay isn't in his hands.
Gary Lineker celebrates 25 years on Match of the Day this year
BBC
When asked how long he'll stay on MOTD by BBC Breakfast's John Watson, the 63-year-old replied: "I don't know... it depends how long they want me, I suppose.
"I mean, I love doing it at the moment (and) I've got another year doing it, at least.
"We'll have to wait and see what happens. It's an ever-changing feast, football, and television and football, and rights for the Premier League and stuff like that so all of these things will play a part.
"But I just feel that it's been a privilege to present it for 25 years now. I must be getting old."
Gary Lineker is no stranger to hitting headlines while presenting the BBC show
BBC
Elsewhere in the interview, the BBC's highest-paid presenter also explained why the show meant so much to him.
"It's been a part of my life, a big part of my life right from the start," he explained. "I watched it as a kid, it was the one night my dad would let me stay up to watch Match of the Day.
"Because a lot of the population don't have Sky or TNT or any of these streaming channels that show football and the Premier League, I think about half the population get their Premier League fix from Match of the Day and still do."
He was also asked why he thinks the BBC show continues to draw in viewers, to which he replied: "I think part of it is that it's trusted.
"The longevity of the show, the love for the show. I think people enjoy seeing it that way, they like to see the highlights. They like to get their Premier League fix from us and hopefully that will continue."
Lineker's spot as the Beeb's highest-paid talent is as much of a talking point with critics as his social media antics - and it's something his MOTD predecessor Lynam recently branded "unjustifiable".
LATEST DEVELOPMENTS:
Gary Lineker took over from Match of the Day's Des Lynam in 1999
BBC
Labelling Lineker as a "very lucky chap", Lynam recently told Radio Times in regards to the salary: "I don’t suppose you can justify it in terms of what a nurse or firemen does...
"But it’s the market – that’s what the BBC feel they have to pay to get his services.
"You can’t say that anybody saying a few words into a television screen is worth more than someone who saves lives, but money dictates.
"He’s a very lucky chap. He’s had two great careers and the second one is helped along by the fact he had the first one," Lynam said.
For now, Lineker remains the face of Match of the Day and will return to the show on Saturday night.