Cult hero BBC host rules himself out of replacing Gary Lineker on Match of the Day with eight-word statement
CULT hero BBC host Manish Bhasin has ruled himself out of replacing Gary Lineker on Match of the Day.
Lineker, 63, will be stepping down from his role as host at the end of the season.
The former England striker has been in the hot seat for over 25 years.
And following the 2026 World Cup, Lineker will also be leaving the BBC for good.
Many names are said to be in the running to replace him for next season.
Match of the Day 2 host Mark Chapman is the favourite.
Alex Scott, Gabby Logan and Kelly Somers have also been tipped for the role.
While fans have said they would love to see Alan Shearer promoted from the couch to the main chair.
However, one BBC favourite will not be taking over.
Bhasin, 48, first popped up on screens in 2004, after becoming the youngest host of Football Focus aged just 27.
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He later became the BBC’s main cricket presenter and now works for Premier League Productions.
But after being tipped by a fan to replace Lineker on Match of the Day, humble Bhasin ruled himself out with an eight-word statement.
Who could replace Gary Lineker as MOTD host?
GARY LINEKER dropped the shock news that he is QUITTING Match of the Day.
The popular presenter, 63, took over hosting duties on the flagship BBC programme from Des Lynam in 1999.
But after more than 25 years in the studio hotseat, he has called time on his MOTD gig.
But as part of a huge shake-up, the BBC is considering rotating the presenters on a weekly basis.
So with Lineker vacating the chair, new names will step into his giant boots. But who could they be?
MARK CHAPMAN
Chapman, 51, is the obvious early favourite to follow on from Lineker as MOTD presenter.
He already has the gig as MOTD2 host on a Sunday night plus landed the presenting job for the new BBC Champions League highlights show.
ALEX SCOTT
Scott gets the nod from the Beeb bosses when Lineker is away.
The former right-back, 40, is used to presenting the Saturday night show as well as live match coverage – plus ticks the box as a former England international.
GABBY LOGAN
Like Scott, Logan, 51, is one of the understudies to step in when Lineker is not available.
She has done most gigs since joining the BBC in 2007, including Olympics, Sports Personality of the Year and Final Score.
MICAH RICHARDS
Lineker’s top pick to replace him is exuberant former Man City defender Richards.
The departing host told his close pal, 36, on their Stick to Football podcast: “I’d love to see you take over Micah, I think you’d be brilliant in the chair.”
JASON MOHAMMAD
Mohammad could earn the “promotion” from Final Score to Match of the Day.
The 51-year-old Welshman – who took over from Logan in 2013 – is one of the BBC’s top earners already and is more senior than fellow Final Score and BBC Sport broadcaster Kelly Somers, who could in theory become the main live host for the afternoon slot.
JEFF STELLING
He couldn’t, could he? While Lineker has been the face of Saturday night TV for football fans for years, the face of the afternoons was Stelling in his role as Sky Sports’ Soccer Saturday presenter.
He would bring plenty of on-screen charisma, wit and legendary TV expertise – but at nearly 70 and currently with talkSPORT, the Hartlepool fan would not be a cheap or long-term appointment.
The fan initially said: “Your time has finally come @_manishbhasin.@
Bhasin replied: “I wish! Thanks for the kind comments though.”
He received plenty of support from other fans who backed him for the role.
One said: “The perfect successor to Lineker.”
Another declared: “He would be a great choice.”
One noted: “Good a chance as any tbf.”
Another added: “The ideal candidate.”