Sky Sports may have already decided on their ‘replacement’ for Kelly Cates, who is set to become one of three Match of the Day (MOTD) hosts for next season, according to reports.
Cates, 49, currently hosts Sky Sports’ coverage of the Premier League but has previously worked for ESPN during their Euro 2020 broadcasts, as well as various appearances for ITV, Setanta and Channel 4.
The Glasgow-born anchor is the daughter of Liverpool and Scotland legend Kenny Dalglish but has forged a hugely successful career in her own right.
Current MOTD presenter and former England forward Gary Lineker will step down as the show’s host at the end of the 2024/25 Premier League season after 25 years in the role.
Although he remains part of the BBC’s FA Cup coverage, he is ‘set to leave the BBC completely’ after the 2026 World Cup.
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If her move to the BBC’s flagship football highlights show is confirmed, this could mean Sky Sports will need a replacement.
According to reports from The Sun, “execs at Sky are said to be gutted at losing the presenter”.
However, they also suggest plans are in place to replace Cates.
Rebecca Lowe is reportedly set to join Sky Sports’ football coverage.
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Lowe, 44, has worked alongside several members of the Sky Sports team previously as she hosts the ‘It’s Called Soccer’ podcast, which features Jamie Carragher and Gary Neville.
The Londoner worked at talkSPORT in 2002, after graduating from university.
She also reported for the BBC and regularly contributed to Match of the Day 2 and Grandstand.
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Like Cates, Lowe had a stint at Setanta Sports as a football presenter/reporter before moving to ESPN in July 2009.
Since March 2013, the journalist has worked for US-based sports channel NBC.
Although she served as lead studio host for the channel’s Premier League coverage, she was also part of the broadcast team for several Olympic games – including the 2024 Paris edition of the event.
The BBC are yet to confirm who the next host of MOTD will be, with the likes of Cates, Mark Chapman and Alex Scott all linked with the soon-to-be vacant presenter’s job.
Topics: Match Of The Day, Sky Sports, Premier League, Football
Luke Davies