The last program Gary Lineker at the head of ‘Match of the day', the iconic program of goals of the day of the day of the Premier in the BBChe was loaded with nostalgia, tributes and tears. After 26 years, former Barça, Tottenham and the English team, among others, said goodbye with normality but visibly affected by the moment.
It is the end of an era of a crucial space in the programming of the British public tele BBC. There was no reference to the video that gave dissemination on Instagram against the Israeli killings in Gaza and that he was branded as an anti -Semitic, causing his abrupt departure from the chain.
The former 64 -year -old, had announced just the previous Monday that he would leave his role as a presenter after the last day of the Premier League. Initially, he planned to continue to the FA Cup and the 2026 World Cup, but the storm on social networks accelerated its exit. Despite offering a complete apology and deleting the video, Lineker accepted that the definitive break was inevitable.
“The end of an era”
Before the program began, a tribute assembly was issued to the Lineker football career, culminating with a file clip where he described the moment as “the end of an era”, before giving way to the iconic initial credits.
Once the Goals of all the games of the last day of the Premier, the former soccer players Alan Shearer y Micah Richardscommentators in the program, presented a video in which their extraordinary career in the world of football and television was held.
Voices of personalities such as Pep Guardiola, Paul Gascoigne, Alan Hansen, Ian Wright y Virgil van Dijkin addition to their own children, who moved the always calm Lineker, who had to dry tears with a handkerchief. “You are not going to believe it, but we will miss you. I love your program, I am a big fan. Fortunately, life presents other opportunities,” said Manchester City coach.
Acknowledgments to the team
In his final words, Lineker expressed sincere thanks to his teammates: “I would like to take this opportunity to thank all the analysts with whom I have had the pleasure of working during these 25 years, you did my job much easier. As in my football career, everyone made the hard effort and I received the applause.” He regretted, yes, when reciting the final classification, that the Leicester, the team of his heart, will occupy a descent position. “This is not how I would have liked to end,” he joked.
Gary Lineker. / DARREN STAPLES / AFP
Following the controversial video, the BBC also ended its collaboration with the lineker Goalhanger producer regarding the popular Pódcast The Rest is Footballwhich had entertaining talks with Shearer and Richards on the BBC Sound platform.
Now, Gabby Logan, Kelly Cates y Mark Chapman will be at the forefront of the presentation of Match of the Day From next season.
