Match of the Day

JERMAINE JENAS has jokingly said he would fight Gary Lineker to become Match of the Day host – but he revealed the one man he would not.England legend Lineker, 60, landed the role after an iconic playing career for the likes of Leicester City, Everton, Barcelona and Tottenham.
Jermaine Jenas has joked he’d fight Gary Lineker for the Match of the Day jobCredit: Getty
The England legend has been in the MOTD chair since 1999Credit: Rex
He took over from Des Lynham presenting the hit BBC football highlights show in 1999 and has remained in the hot-seat ever since.
Jenas, who played for Spurs, Newcastle and QPR as well as for the Three Lions 21 times, has followed Lineker into the television world since hanging up his boots.
He is co-host of BBC’s The One Show and the 40-year-old has also appeared several times on Match of the Day as a pundit.
He has recently stated that he would love to take over from Lineker, and that led to an amusing moment last Saturday during his latest appearance on the show.
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Lineker asked him live on air: “You want this job?”
Jenas replied: “No, no, I’m alright, thanks, for now.”
Lineker, grinning along with the rest of Jenas’ co-pundits, then said: “Later.”
Jenas, who also works for TNT Sports, then appeared on talkSPORT Drive this week where the show’s presenter Andy Goldstein jokingly asked Jenas if he would fight Lineker for the job.
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The 2008 League Cup winner joked: “Gary? Yeah I’d fight him.”
When asked whether he would win, Jenas remarked: “I’d like to think so!”
But when fellow MOTD pundit Alan Shearer, whom he played with at Newcastle, was put forward as a potential opponent, Jenas said: “Yeah I mean, I don’t get where you’re going with this line of questioning to be honest with you!
“Al was a strange one, I feel like Al has shrunk over the years.
“When I first turned up to Newcastle, we used to get changed at St. James’ Park and then catch a coach to training.
“We didn’t have a training ground, so when they signed me, I think somebody said, ‘Take him to the training ground.’
“Bobby Robson was like, ‘No don’t take him to the training ground, take him down the Quayside,’ which is another story. But eventually, once I’ve signed, I turn up at St. James’ Park, got changed.
How the two former footy stars compare
“I remember looking at Al getting changed and I thought, ‘I’ve got to wear shin pads for training, I didn’t realise.’ We didn’t, his legs were that big, his calves and his ankles were just huge.
“People like him and [Wayne] Rooney, they’re just built that way. But yeah, that Shearer, I’m not fighting him.”
It comes after we reported this week how Lineker is set for a new £1.35million-a-year contract extension with the BBC.
His contract is set to expire at the end of next season – at the same time as the BBC’s current Premier League highlights rights package.
With the Corporation set to seal a four-year extension to show Prem action on Saturday nights, they are keen to keep Lineker on as presenter.
That is despite him being controversially suspended for a week by the BBC for his social media activity earlier this year.
Jermaine Jenas (left) says he would avoid a fight with Alan Shearer (right)Credit: PA:Press Association
Jenas (right) is a regular pundit on Match of the Day alongside Shearer (centre) and host Lineker (left) More

GARY LINEKER is set for a new £1.35million-a-year contract extension with the BBC, according to reports.The 62-year-old has been hosting Match of the Day since 1999 and is the Beeb’s top-paid presenter.
Gary Lineker has been presenting Match of the Day since 1999Credit: BBC
Lineker’s contract is set to expire at the end of next season – at the same time as the BBC’s current Premier League highlights rights package.
With the Corporation set to seal a four-year extension to show Prem action on Saturday nights, the Mail claim that they are keen to keep Lineker on as presenter.
The experienced broadcaster is their top-paid presenter on £1.35m-a-year but did take a pay cut from £1.75m in 2020.
Earlier this year he was suspended for a week by the BBC for his social media activity.
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Lineker criticised the Government’s stance on asylum policy, claiming their language used was “not dissimilar to that used by Germany in the 30s”.
Amid his suspension many of Lineker’s BBC colleagues opted to go on strike in support.
The strike saw a bizarre 20-minute Match of the Day aired, with no presenter, pundits or commentators.
Lineker was later reinstated to his role.
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And an independent panel later decided that the BBC’s non-news presenters shouldn’t face punishment for expressing political opinions online.
From next season the BBC will begin broadcasting mid-week Champions League highlights.
The presenting gig could go to Lineker, with the ex-Barcelona and Tottenham striker having previously been BT Sport’s No1 Champions League anchor prior to quitting in 2021.

In a recent interview with GQ, Lineker revealed that his BBC future depended on them winning the rights to show Prem highlights.
He appeared keen to carry on in the role, adding: “The Premier League have been very clever, making sure that there is a show on terrestrial television to maintain interest in the sport.
“As still over half the public don’t have Sky or TNT. So hopefully that will continue.”
Lineker, 62, could extend his current deal with the BBCCredit: Splash More

GARY LINEKER has hinted at how long he has left as host of Match of the Day. The England legend has been presenting the beloved show since 1999 and is a fan favourite of many across the country.
Gary Lineker has revealed how long he has left as host of Match of the DayCredit: Getty
But he may not have much time left on the television screens of viewers with his contract at the BBC heading towards expiry.
In an interview with GQ, he revealed: “I’ve got two years left [contractually]. Beyond that it depends on the rights because the BBC have got to keep winning the rights to show the highlights.”
The Premier League are currently selling the rights to their coverage for future years with new broadcasters emerging as potential contenders.
But Lineker thinks that if the footballing organisation continue to give the BBC the rights to the highlights it’s only a good thing for the sport.
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He said: “The Premier League have been very clever, making sure that there is a show on terrestrial television to maintain interest in the sport.
“As still over half the public don’t have Sky or TNT. So hopefully that will continue.”
The majority of all of England’s top flight football is televised between Sky Sports and TNT Sports at the moment with Amazon Prime holding the rights to a small number of fixtures.
But Match of the Day has a cult following and has been on TV screens since 1964 allowing fans to catch up with the weekend’s action.
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And if the BBC are able to renew their deal with the Premier League then Lineker could stay on as host of the show.
The 62-year-old certainly isn’t getting bored of football despite it being his life since a very young age.
He said: “I don’t [get bored of football]. It’s the one ever-present in my life.
“I had kids at a certain age; I was married for a lot of time; my parents are no longer here. Football is the one thing that’s been there the whole way through.
“And I’m not one of these old players who thinks it’s not as good as it was. It’s massively improved.”
Lineker has been hosting the show since 1999Credit: News Group Newspapers Ltd
The former pro thinks that the Premier League should continue to allow the highlights to be shown on terrestrial TV going forwardCredit: BBC More