Football presenter chosen as first-day broadcaster following Gary Lineker's departure
After 26 years as the host of Match of the Day, Gary Lineker stepped away from his role following an apology for sharing an antisemitic post on social media. The 2025/26 Premier League season will see a new team of presenters take the helm, with Mark Chapman, Gabby Logan, and Kelly Cates set to share and rotate the presenting duties throughout the season.
Mark Chapman, who started working for 5 Live in 2010, will anchor the first Saturday edition of the show. Chapman has a long history with Match of the Day, having become the stand-in presenter for Final Score and Match of the Day 2 from 2009-13. In 2017, he was promoted to be the full-time host for Match of the Day 2 once Colin Murray left.
Gabby Logan, who joined the BBC in 2007, will also be one of the three replacements for Lineker. Logan has deputised for Lineker on many occasions and will be part of the team rotating to replace him. Logan has been heavily involved in major international tournaments for men and women's football and has also worked on the BBC's coverage of the Olympics and NFL.
Kelly Cates, one of Sky Sports' first-ever presenters, started working there in 1998. Cates had a spell at talkSPORT and hosted from 7-10 pm every Mobday with Jason Cundy. Her main work has been in TV with Setanta Sports, ESPN, and Sky Sports, and she re-joined Sky in 2016. Cates will headline the midweek Champions League show.
On Sunday, Gabby Logan is set to be in the hotseat for Match of the Day Two, while Kelly Cates will take the first MOTD of the season on Saturday. The exact rotating schedule for the three presenters has not yet been announced.
Lineker took the job as host of Match of the Day in 1999 and presided over it for 26 years. His final episode of Match of the Day was on the last day of the 2024/25 campaign.
Footnotes: 1. The first Saturday edition of the show is known as Match of the Day 1, while the Sunday show is Match of the Day 2.
- Despite Gary Lineker's resignation from Match of the Day, the Premier League season will continue with a new team, including Mark Chapman, who will anchor the first Saturday edition, known as Match of the Day 1.
- Gabby Logan, a frequent deputy for Lineker, is also part of the new team, scheduled to host Match of the Day Two on Sunday.
- Kelly Cates, a veteran presenter with Sky Sports, will headline the midweek Champions League show, showcasing her expertise in European-leagues.
- Meanwhile, in the NFL, Gabby Logan has worked on the BBC's coverage, demonstrating her versatility across various sports.
- The rotation schedule for the three presenters, Mark Chapman, Gabby Logan, and Kelly Cates, has not been announced yet, leaving football enthusiasts eager for more details.
- The 2025/26 Premier League season marks the end of Lineker's 26-year tenure as the host of Match of the Day, a post he took on in 1999, presiding over it until the last day of the 2024/25 campaign.
