Kelly Cates will leave Sky Sports to replace Gary Lineker and become Match of the Day presenter
A popular Sky Sports presenter is set to jump ship and join the BBC as a Match of the Day presenter.
He bbc has been looking for a new host since Gary Lineker confirmed that he would leave your role in November.
But it seems the broadcaster has found a solution, with a trio of presenters willing to split the hosting duties between Match of the day and Match of day 2.
As first reported by daily mailThe BBC has poached Kelly Cates from Sky Sports.
Cates will form a trio alongside Gabby Logan and Mark Chapman, who already host Match of Day 2.
Cates, daughter of Liverpool icon Sir Kenny Dalglish, previously worked for the BBC as a presenter on Radio 5 Live.
The Daily Mail claims Sky is “deeply sad” to have lost Cates.
Lineker will step down from his role as Match of the Day host at the end of the 2024/25 Premier League season.
He will remain part of the BBC's football coverage for a further 18 months before cutting all ties with the broadcaster.
Lineker's contract with the BBC was due to expire at the end of the season, but he signed an 18-month extension to take him to the 2026 World Cup.
Speaking on The Rest Is Football podcast, Lineker explained why he felt the time was right to step down from his role as Match of the Day presenter.
“It has been an absolute joy and privilege to present such an iconic program for the BBC, but everything must come to an end,” Lineker said.
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“It came at a point where actually the BBC and Match of the Day had the rights for another three years, the cycle starts from the next season, so I felt if I did another year it would be a bit strange.” .”
He added: “I left my football career when I felt it was the right time. I feel like now is the right time.
“I think in the next contract they are looking to make Match of the Day slightly different, so I think it makes sense for someone else to take over.”
Lineker took on the role of host in 1999 when he replaced Des Lynam, having moved into pundit and presenter following his brilliant playing career.
Along with Match of the Day, Lineker worked on Radio 5 Live, They Think It's All Over and Grandstand.
Lineker's contract with the BBC earned him more than £1.3 million a year, making him the broadcaster's highest-paid talent.
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The 63-year-old was also suspended from presenting the show in 2023 after breaching BBC rules on expressing political views on social media.
He shared his strong opposition to the British Government's policy on asylum seekers.
Former England internationals Ian Wright and Alan Shearer, regulars on the show, announced they would boycott the show in solidarity with Lineker.
