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      Reason Gary Lineker does not plan to do much TV after leaving MOTD revealed

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      GARY LINEKER does not plan to do much telly work after leaving the BBC and will instead concentrate on his popular podcasts.After 26 years as Match Of The Day host, he will present his final highlights show tonight covering the last day of the Premier League season.Gary Lineker does not plan to do much telly work after leaving the BBC and will instead concentrate on his popular podcastsCredit: GettyLineker was due to cover next year’s FA Cup and World Cup but bowed out early, sparking a battle for his signature between rival broadcasters.But the ex-England captain suggested he wants to step away from traditional television when asked in an interview about his post-MOTD schedule.Just days before announcing his exit from the BBC on Monday, Lineker told the Beyond The Title podcast: “Professionally, I’ve got a big podcast company and I think it takes up quite a bit of my time and it will probably take up a bit more now.“It’s really exciting and it’s a lot of fun. We’re doing really well. I don’t think I’ll do much television.Read More on Sport‘Really proud’“Hopefully I’ll be in a position where I can just pick and choose things I quite fancy doing. So the podcast world really I think.”Lineker also insisted his broadcasting career has made him prouder than his on-pitch heroics for teams such as Leicester, Everton, Spurs and Barcelona.He added: “I’m actually probably a bit more proud of what I’ve done in broadcasting than possibly football because I always said I was born to be in the box, not on the box.“I had to work really hard at television.Most read in Football“ I had to work hard at football but it came naturally, whereas television didn’t come naturally.“It took a lot of hard work and effort and determination and studying and stuff of other people and how they do it.How Gary Lineker’s BBC exit will spark intense rivalry between new Match of the Day hosts to lead BBC’s World Cup coverage“Eventually I got there. Probably I’m proudest of the fact I made it to the top in broadcasting.”Leicester fan Lineker runs production company Goalhanger Podcasts which is behind hit series The Rest Is Football with Alan Shearer and Micah Richards.How Gary Lineker became the BBC’s highest paid starGary Lineker has hosted Match Of The Day for more than 25 years but will leave the role earlier than expected following a row over his use of social media.The Leicester-born star, who moved seamlessly from footballer to one of the most famous and highly-paid presenters at the corporation, began his career at Leicester City, the club he had supported since childhood, in 1978.The 64-year-old striker scored 103 goals for the Foxes in all competitions before signing with Everton for £800,000 in 1985.He scored 40 goals in 57 games for the Toffees in his only season with the Liverpool-based side, before his six goals for England at the 1986 World Cup in Mexico won him the competition’s golden boot award and attracted the attention of Spanish football giants Barcelona.Moving to the Catalan side in 1986, Lineker went on to become the highest scoring British player in La Liga, Spain’s highest football division, under English manager Terry Venables. His record 42 goals was only beaten by Welsh winger Gareth Bale in 2016.Lineker spent three years in Spain before moving to Tottenham Hotspur in July 1989 for £1.1 million.He played a part in England’s run to the semi-finals of the 1990 World Cup in Italy, which resulted in a defeat on penalties against West Germany.After the match, Lineker, who captained the Lions from 1990 to 1992, coined the phrase: “Football is a simple game: 22 men chase a ball for 90 minutes and at the end, the Germans win.”He won the 1991 FA Cup final with Spurs, beating Nottingham Forest 2-1 despite having a goal controversially disallowed for offside and Forest goalkeeper Mark Crossley saving a penalty.In 1992, Lineker became the first English footballer to play in Japan’s highest division, the J League, when he joined Nagoya Grampus Eight for £2 million.He retired after an injury-hit two-year spell at the club which saw him play just 23 times.Throughout his career Lineker was renowned for never receiving a yellow or red card booking from the referee.Following his retirement, Lineker joined BBC Radio 5 Live as a football pundit before becoming a team captain on the sports game show They Think It’s All Over from 1995 to 2003.In 1997 he took over as host of Grandstand when then-presenter Desmond Lynam was at Aintree for the Grand National which was abandoned due to a bomb alert.He replaced Lynam as presenter of the BBC’s flagship football highlights programme Match Of The Day in 1999, when Lynam defected to rival ITV.Lineker would later become the corporation’s highest-paid presenter, with the BBC’s annual report for 2023/24 showing his salary to be to around £1.35 million a year.He was temporarily suspended from the BBC in March 2023 after an impartiality row over comments he made criticising the then-government’s new asylum policy.In November 2024 he announced he would be stepping down from presenting Match Of The Day at the end of the season, but would still host World Cup and FA Cup coverage.He exited the broadcaster early, however, after apologising for sharing and then deleting a post on his Instagram account from the group Palestine Lobby, illustrated with a picture of a rat, which prompted calls for him to be sacked from the Campaign Against Antisemitism (CAA).After this the BBC said Lineker would leave his presenting role following the conclusion of Match Of The Day for the 2024/25 season and added that he would not present its coverage of the 2026 World Cup or next season’s FA Cup.Gabby Logan, Kelly Cates and Mark Chapman will share the presenting role on the football show from the next Premier League season.The former England striker is also the co-founder of Goalhanger Podcasts, makers of the popular The Rest Is History series and its spin-offs about politics, football, entertainment and money. 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      Premier League wage bill hits record £4bn – with hapless Man Utd’s bloated budget revealed…where does your club rank?

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      PREMIER League wages hit a record £4billion last season, a new study has discovered.It means the 500 stars who make up Britain’s top league pocketed an average of £8million a year during 2023/24.Erling Haaland is city’s top earner after negotiating a deal worth £500,000 a week in JanuaryCredit: GettyMo Salah has pledged his future to Liverpool in a new dealCredit: GettyAnd Manchester City players were the Prem’s top earners, taking home a combined £413million.The figures have been collated by football blogger Kieron O’Connor, who runs The Swiss Ramble football finance blog.He says striker Erling Haaland is city’s top earner after negotiating a deal worth £500,000 a week in January.Liverpool came runners-up in the pay stakes, with the Anfield squad taking home £377million.Read More on SportMo Salah is the club’s top earner and recently banked a pay rise after committing his future to Anfield, taking him to £400,000 a week.All Premier League clubs have revealed their accounts from the 2023/24 season, with the figures showing the post-Covid pay bubble continues to climb.The clubs’ combined wage bill has jumped from £2.9billion in just six years, the equivalent of 38 per cent.The wage bills also show the Big Six became the Big Five, with a huge gap opening up between the highest-paying sides.Most read in FootballKieron reveals City and Liverpool are joined by Man Utd (£365million), Chelsea (£338million) and Arsenal (£328million) in the huge pay stakes.Aston Villa had the sixth-largest wage bill, which came in at £252million — a gap of £76million to Arsenal.Arsenal wages 2024-25 revealedTottenham and Newcastle also paid out more than £200million.This year’s FA Cup winners Crystal Palace were the league’s highest achievers last season, finishing tenth despite only four clubs having a smaller wage bill.Man Utd underachieved, finishing eighth, despite having the third- largest wage bill. The three clubs with the lowest wage bills were relegated last season — Luton Town, Sheffield Utd and Burnley.Luton’s wage bill was the lowest in the league, paying out £57million to its squad.The figures were released before today’s final round of games, with Liverpool already crowned champions.’A bit crazy’While Haaland himself admitted his salary was “a bit crazy” when his new ten-year deal was announced in January, wages of the best Prem stars are well below that of other sporting stars around the globe. A study by Forbes magazine put Haaland 27th on the list of top earners when comparing him with greats such as Cristiano Ronaldo, Lionel Messi and Kylian Mbappe. And his money pales into insignificance when compared to NFL’s Kansas City Chiefs quarterback Patrick Mahomes, who signed a £410million deal in 2021.And last December the New York Mets baseball team agreed to pay slugger Juan Soto £628million for a 15-year deal.Clubs must remain vigilant as there is still much work to be done to restore pre-pandemic profitabilityAleksander Ceferin Haaland’s outgoing teammate Kevin De Bruyne has previously told how he believes top footballers are underpaid, despite earning £400,000 a week.When asked in 2022 if he got paid too much, the Belgian linked with a move to Serie A winners Napoli, responded: “No. I compare it to a singer at a concert and 60,000 people come. I look at it logically.“There are millions of people watching the football on TV, there’s 60,000 watching the games, the income of a club is £500million to £600million. Yeah, it’s a lot of money, but is it too much?“If the club can afford it, it’s not too much.”In March, figures revealed player wages across Europe had reached £15.1billion in 2023/24, up by 6.5 per cent on the previous year.Following the release of the latest Uefa Club Licensing Benchmarking Report, the governing body’s president Aleksander Ceferin warned teams about paying excessive amounts to their players.‘Players are the stars’He said: “While most clubs appear to be managing player wage increases responsibly, other costs are rising rapidly, putting greater pressure on operating margins than ever before. Clubs must remain vigilant as there is still much work to be done to restore pre-pandemic profitability.”Premier League clubs have to pay within Profit and Sustainability Rules (PSR) each year or face punishment. Everton and Nottingham Forest faced points deductions for breaching the rules.In February, it was reported the Professional Footballers’ Association, which acts for players, threatened the Premier League with legal action if it brought in a salary cap.Clubs voted last year to explore the introduction of a spending cap from the start of the 2025/26 season as part of a new system of financial controls.It will limit clubs to spending 85 per cent of their total revenue on wages, transfer payments and agent fees.Sponsorship consultant Nigel Currie said: “The players are the stars, they are the talent and the reason millions tune in every week and buy the kits.Read More on The Sun“The Premier League is hugely successful, the wealthiest football league in the world, and that will continue.“There will continue to be massive financial implications for players. Sponsorships will go through the roof in terms of value.”SAUDIS UP SALARIES DESPITE earning a fortune, the salaries of Premier League stars are nowhere near what is on offer in the Saudi Pro League.Here is what the big names earn each week at their clubs there.Cristiano Ronaldo,£3.2million, Al-NassrKarim Benzema, £1.6million, Al-IttihadRiyad Mahrez, £850,000, Al-AhliSadio Mane, £650,000, Al-NassrIvan Toney, £490,000, Al-AhliN’Golo Kante, £400,000, Al-Ittihad More

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      Victorious Spurs stars party until 4am shouting ‘F*** you Maguire’ after 1-0 Europa League Final win

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      TOTTENHAM stars partied until 4am after their 1-0 Europa League Final win, chanting: “F*** you Maguire.”  Spurs’ Cristian Romero had clashed with Man United’s Harry Maguire during the game and at full-time in Bilbao, Spain.  Tottenham players partied until 4am after their 1-0 Europa League Final win, chanting: ‘F*** you Maguire’Credit: AlamyFans also joined in and celebrated all night to mark the club’s first trophy in 17 yearsCredit: Shutterstock EditorialManchester United defender Harry Maguire was the target of ridicule by the Spurs playersCredit: Shutterstock EditorialJames Maddison and Lucas Bergvall led the victorious team in a raucous celebration.And the Spurs players changed the lyrics to Gala 1997 hit ‘Freed From Desire’ to taunt the England centre back. The partying started with the players wildly celebrating in the changing room.Crates of beer were delivered to the Spurs dressing room for the players to enjoy.READ MORE ON SPURS’ WINAs were bottles of champagne, several of which ended up being sprayed as captain Son Heung-min re-enacted the trophy lift.While Yves Bissouma, who was Spurs’ star man on the night, went live on social media, showing stars toasting their first trophy in 17 years with boatload of pizza too – while listening to Natasha Bedingfield’s ‘Unwritten’ being blasted over the speakers.Fans celebrated all night to mark the club’s first trophy in 17 years.  Rod Jones, from St Albans, Herts, said: “We did a bar crawl from the stadium to town then the airport.Most read in FootballCASINO SPECIAL – BEST CASINO BONUSES FROM £10 DEPOSITS“We’re so buzzing that sleep can wait.”  The bleary-eyed team flew back to Stansted yesterday, with an open-top bus parade today.  Richarlison bangs on drum and celebrates with Tottenham fans following Spurs Europa League triumph Ange Postecoglou’s troops celebrated wildly in the dressing roomCredit: InstagramCrates of beer and pizza galore were delivered to the north Londoners’ dressing room after the matchCredit: InstagramDestiny Udogie showed off his winners’ medal on InstagramCredit: InstagramSeveral players took to social media to show off their winners’ medalsCredit: InstagramThe squad will need to recover quickly, as Spurs play Brighton in their last Premier League fixture on Sunday Around 70,000 fans of both teams travelled to Bilbao, with seven arrests.  Newspaper El Correo said: “The main objective was to try to avoid large-scale serious fighting, which the authorities consider they achieved.”  Pedro Porro celebrates the victoryCredit: GettyThe bleary-eyed team flew back to Stansted on Thursday, with an open-top bus parade taking place on FridayCredit: Getty More

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      Jarrod Bowen’s Vegas stag do revealed as West Ham ace set to take a massive risk

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      WEST Ham’s Jarrod Bowen will party in Las Vegas on his stag do — with fiancée Dani Dyer’s dad Danny drafted in to keep him under control.The Hammers ace, 28, will marry the EastEnders hardman’s daughter next Saturday in Essex.Jarrod Bowen will party in Las Vegas on his stag do and is only giving himself two days to recover ahead of his wedding to Dani DyerCredit: GettyDani’s dad Danny has been drafted in to keep him under controlCredit: InstagramBut he is only giving himself two days to recover, as he will jet out to Sin City with his closest pals on Monday before returning after four days on the Thursday.A source said: “Jarrod plays his final game of the season for West Ham on Sunday and will then fly to Vegas with the boys the following morning.“It’s going to be a typical lads trip but Danny will be on hand to keep an eye on things so they don’t get out of hand — but he’s such a wild one himself, it’s more likely Jarrod will be keeping an eye on him.“Dani has already warned she doesn’t want to hear of any strippers being involved.”read more on jarrod bowenWhile England ace Jarrod and Dani have lots of famous pals, their wedding day is set to be a traditional affair.The lavish event has been inspired by one of Dani’s favourite TV shows, Bridgerton, with the couple even splashing out on fancy violinists.’EMOTIONAL WRECK’Dani said: “Jarrod’s little brother and my little Santi will be page boys.”My brother Arty is going to be a groomsman.Most read in Football“Then I’ve got six bridesmaids. “Knowing Dad, he will be an emotional wreck.”Dani, 28, is flying out for a lavish hen-do on Ibiza this weekend with 17 girls including her little sister Sunnie. Inside Dani Dyer’s lavish hen do with sister Sunny and Love Island’s Georgia Steel ahead of wedding to Jarrod BowenShe is set to jet back into the UK on Monday.Last month Dani hosted her first hen-do as she threw a party with friends and family including her Love Island best pal Georgia Steel.During the raucous evening the girls were treated to a male stripper but rather than have the buff lad dance for them they had to draw him.The couple will have to wait for their honeymoon though, as Jarrod is tipped to be called up for England’s next game on June 7.The squad will take on Andorra at Wembley Stadium.West Ham’s Jarrod is tipped to be called up for England’s next game on June 7Credit: AlamyUnlock even more award-winning articles as The Sun launches brand new membership programme – Sun Club. More

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      Mystery as boxing Frank Bruno still hasn’t received top award two MONTHS after ceremony he missed due to serious illness

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      FRANK Bruno has yet to receive a top boxing award — two months on from the ceremony.He could not collect his lifetime achievement gong as he was seriously ill.British boxing legend Frank in his heydayCredit: GettyPal Ricky Hatton read out his acceptance speech at the British Boxing Awards on March 28.But former heavyweight champ Bruno, 63, has yet to receive the gong.He told The Sun: “I was delighted I had won.“I did an acceptance speech which Ricky Hatton read out for me and as yet I have still not received the award.READ MORE ON FRANK BRUNO“I am bemused not to have received the actual award which I want to show off to the world.“My office asked a few times but had no joy.”But he penned a speech which Hatton, who co-hosted the awards with former fighter Nicola Adams, delivered on his behalf at the Langham Hotel in London.It said: “I am sorry I cannot be with you tonight. Trust me – I would far rather be with you than in Hospital having daily tests.Most read in Boxing”Thank you to the organisers of this event and all the people that voted for me to get this prestigious award.”Bruno was taken ill on a long-haul flight and spent weeks in hospitals in Qatar and London.Exclusive interview with British boxing legend Frank Bruno after his health scareAgent Dave Davies said: “I have never known somebody be announced as a winner then never receive the actual award.”BBA organisers were contacted for a comment.Frank Bruno has yet to receive his lifetime achievement gong two months on from the ceremony as he fell seriously illCredit: PA More

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      Ex-England footie star, 42, banned from driving for speeding for FOURTH time

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      FORMER England striker Jermain Defoe has been hit with a fourth driving ban for speeding.The ex-Premier League star, 42, was barred for a year after being clocked at 82mph in a 70mph zone last October.Former England star Jermaine Defoe was barred from driving for a year after being clocked at 82mph in a 70mph zone last OctoberCredit: GettyThe former Spurs and Sunderland striker was fined £660 plus £90 costs and a £266 victim surchargeCredit: AlamyDefoe, who played 57 times for England, was driving a Land Rover in Wormley, Herts, JPs in St Albans were told.His barrister said the ex-Spurs ace deserved credit for pleading guilty.Defoe, who was not in court, was fined £660 plus £90 costs and a £266 victim surcharge.He also got three points to add to the nine already on his licence.READ MORE ON FOOTBALLDefoe was previously banned from the road for six months in July 2008 for speeding.He received another six-month ban for the same offence the following year.He later admitted driving at 45mph in a 30mph zone in Portsmouth in May 2008. He was given an additional four points on his license.Most read in FootballThe star ended up in court again in October 2010 after being caught with a phone behind the wheel while driving in Loughton.He was handed three points – narrowly avoiding another ban – and fined £800.Defoe was then slapped with his third six-month ban two years ago when he was clocked doing 56mph in a 30mph zone in Rutherglen, South Lanarkshire in December 2020.SUN Jermain Defoe’s Mysterious Encounter in Car Park More

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      Stoney-faced Gary Lineker breaks cover to walk dog amid BBC exit and cop probe into ‘rat’ online post

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      GARY Lineker takes his dog for a walk — as cops say they are looking into complaints about his online post.And with Lineker, 63, appearing to rule out a return to telly, Filbert had even more reason to be cheery.Gary Lineker was snapped taking his rescue dog Filbert for a walk following his departure from the BBCCredit: Ray CollinsCops say they are looking into complaints about Gary’s recent online postCredit: iNSTAGRAMThe pair stepped out for a stroll near the presenter’s home in south London as he prepared for his last MOTD.The ex-England star, out in South London, is stepping down as Match of the Day host on Sunday after sparking fury by sharing a message criticising Zionism that featured a rat picture.Lineker apologised, but the Met said it is assessing several complaints.In a statement he said: “I care deeply about the game, and about the work I’ve done with the BBC over many years.READ MORE ON GARY LINEKER”As I’ve said, I’d never consciously repost anything antisemitic – it goes against everything I stand for.”However, I recognise the error and upset that I caused, and reiterate how sorry I am.”Stepping back now feels like the responsible course of action.”One woman said she suffered significant distress due to the post.Most read in FootballTim Davie, BBC Director-General, said: “Gary has acknowledged the mistake he made.”Accordingly, we have agreed he will step back from further presenting after this season.Gary Lineker sensationally quits BBC and will not front its 2026 World Cup coverage after anti-Semitism row”Gary has been a defining voice in football coverage for the BBC for over two decades.”His passion and knowledge have shaped our sports journalism and earned him the respect of sports fans across the UK and beyond. “We want to thank him for the contribution he has made.”The former England star sparked fury by sharing a message criticising Zionism that featured a rat pictureCredit: Ray CollinsGary and Filbert stepped out for a stroll near the presenter’s home in south London as he prepared for his last MOTDCredit: Ray Collins More

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      Phil Foden puts Man City’s FA Cup final defeat behind him as he beams with his kids in Burberry Father’s Day photoshoot

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      FOOTIE ace Phil Foden lines up with his kids in a Father’s Day shoot for Burberry. It’s good to see the Manchester City star, 24, all smiles as he posed with son Ronnie, six, and daughter True, three.Manchester City ace Phil Foden poses with daughter True, 3, and son Ronnie, 6, in a Father’s Day shoot for BurberryCredit: BurberryPhil pictured with mini-me son RonnieCredit: BurberryIt’s good to see Phil smiling after the agony of losing the FA Cup final to Crystal Palace on SaturdayCredit: GettyAfter all, just days ago he and boss Pep Guardiola had to face up to the team’s shock 1-0 FA Cup defeat to Crystal Palace.  Foden is the face of Burberry’s new menswear collection, launched to “celebrate fatherhood”, after he previously collaborated with the famous brand ahead of Euro 2024. The England footballer, wearing a white T-shirt and navy shirt, holds True on his lap as she rocks a checked dress, while his “mini-me” son sports a Burberry shirt next to him. Sharing the heartwarming pictures on their official Instagram page, the fashion giant posted: “Team line-up: Phil, True and Ronnie Foden celebrate fatherhood.” READ MORE FOOTBALL NEWSFans commented: “What a beautiful family.” After working with Burberry in 2023, doing a shoot in Stockport, Gtr Manchester, the £200k-a-week midfielder said: “Fashion is important to me and it was incredible to work with Burberry in my hometown.” Burberry’s new range has been launched ahead of Father’s Day next month, celebrating “fatherhood, tradition and British values”. At the weekend, The Sun on Sunday revealed how Foden has already treated daughter True to a £10,000 Rolex, a £160 Monnalisa designer dress, and a £40 bag from Hookd. Most read in FootballHer Rolex is identical to one worn by Kylie Jenner’s daughter Stormi, six.Phil’s own watch collection includes a Rolex Sky Dweller and a Day Date.Manchester City’s Phil Foden shuns posh holiday for £100 tent at a £14-a-day fishing lake in the CotswoldsUnlock even more award-winning articles as The Sun launches brand new membership programme – Sun Club. More