Featured Image Credit: Getty/beIN Sports
Topics: Richard Keys, Gary Lineker, Sky Sports, Football
Luke Davies
Topics: Richard Keys, Gary Lineker, Sky Sports, Football
Former Sky Sports presenter Richard Keys has claimed Gary Lineker was never offered a job at the company due to a certain reason.
Keys, 67, was a mainstay on British TV screens for over two decades and presented Sky Sports’ Premier League coverage from 1992 – the league’s first season – until January 2011.
He has since worked for the Middle East-based channel beIN Sports alongside his long-time colleague Andy Gray.
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The 67-year-old is also not afraid to voice his opinion on all things football with him recently slamming England and Bayern Munich forward Harry Kane, even claiming he should be replaced as Three Lions skipper.
On Tuesday, it was Lineker, 64, who caught the brunt of Keys’ opinion when the former Sky Sports presenter claimed the MOTD anchor never get got offered a role at the company due to a strange reason during his time there.
“If Gary Lineker was ever offered the chance to join Sky it wasn’t in my time,” Keys wrote on X.
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“We were unscripted which meant no autocue. That ruled Lynam out as well. Perhaps it’s changed now - I don’t know.”
This came after the former England and Barcelona striker outlined his future plans as he will step down as host of MOTD after 26 years presenting the show at the end of the 2024/25 season – although he will continue leading the BBC’s FA Cup and 2026 World Cup coverage.
Lineker discussed his future plans during an interview with FourFourTwo.
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“I don’t think you’ll see me doing much football, apart from the podcast,” said Lineker.
“I’ll do the odd thing, but I don’t think you’ll see me appearing regularly on another channel.”
“We’ve had talks with Sky at various points, but I always wanted to stick with the BBC,” he added.
“I could have earned a lot more, though I know I’ve been well paid anyway, obviously. I’ve had offers to go elsewhere but I just loved being with the BBC, and also how it helps everything else you do.”
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Lineker was the BBC's top earner in 2024 with the company reporting that he pocketed £1.35m with his colleague Alan Shearer earning £380,000.
The 64-year-old also hosts the popular 'The Rest is Football' podcast alongside Shearer, 54, and fellow former professional footballer Micah Richards.