Gary Lineker pokes fun at Match of the Day exit rumours with cheeky 'last show' joke

Gary Lineker has poked fun at the intense speculation regarding his Match of the Day future on the latest edition of the BBC’s flagship football highlights programme.

Speculation that the former England striker’s time in the iconic MOTD hosting chair was coming to an end after 25 years has been rife this week after the Daily Mail reported to have seen a ‘leaked’ email purportedly from the BBC’s director of sport featuring a statement announcing his departure.

However, a BBC spokesperson subsequently insisted that there was nothing to announce with regards to Lineker, 63, who they said remains under contract until the end of next season.

“We have nothing to announce and we have not agreed next steps with regard to his contract. He is under contract until the end of the season,” the BBC said of Lineker, who has hosted Match of the Day since 1999 following predecessor Des Lynam’s move to ITV.

And the ex-Tottenham, Everton, Leicester and Barcelona star could not resist a playful reference to such speculation during the latest edition of Match of the Day on Saturday night, saying at the start of the broadcast alongside pundits Alan Shearer and Micah Richards: “Hello, seven games on the way and it’s my final show....”

Lineker - who is the BBC’s highest-paid on-air talent - then paused before adding playfully: “Before the international break.”