Gary Lineker has made his feelings clear on Mark Chapman replacing him on Match of the Day

Gary Lineker has made his feelings clear on Mark Chapman on the eve of Match of the Day’s return to TV screens.

Lineker stepped down from the Match of the Day hotseat earlier this year and the BBC opted to replace the broadcasting titan with not one, but three, presenters.

Chapman, who anchors the first Saturday edition of the famous highlights show for the 2025/26 campaign, will be joined by Kelly Cates and Gabby Logan, and the trio will rotate their presenting duties over the course of the season.

Lineker had expected the 2026 World Cup to be his BBC swansong but he cut ties with the corporation in May after being accused of antisemitism.

The 64-year-old shared a video online stating “Zionism explained in two minutes”, a post that contained two rat emojis.

Lineker denied knowing it was an anti-Jewish slur and said it was a “genuine mistake” but he agreed to leave the BBC after 26 years of hosting Match of the Day.

Gary Lineker left the BBC after 26 years earlier this year. (Image: Getty)

Chapman was initially viewed as the frontrunner for the Match of the Day role, having hosted Sunday’s edition Match of the Day 2 since 2013, while ‘Chappers’ also occasionally deputised for Lineker on the Saturday show.

However, the BBC opted to have Chapman alongside Cates and Logan for the Match of the Day presenting chair for the season.

Lineker hasn't given tips to MOTD successors

And when asked by The Sun if Lineker had contacted any of his three successors since taking over the Match of the Day reins, Chapman replied: “I saw him not long ago and he said he had been asked in an interview whether he’d given us tips.

“And he said, ‘Why? What? What on earth would I be doing phoning you three up to offer you tips? Why would I be deemed to be that arrogant to do that?’.

“Experience-wise, we’ve all been doing it for a long time.

“I feel a bit sorry for Gary being asked that question because he’s on a hiding to nothing. When I started doing stuff for Sky, the first person I spoke to was Kelly, to get a lay of the land, not how to do the job.”

Logan went on to add: “I’m sure if Gary had something very practical he wanted to pass on, we’d all receive it gratefully.

“But as Mark says, he doesn’t feel he needs to. I know where the biscuits are kept.”

Lineker praise for Chapman, Cates and Logan

In his final broadcast, Lineker spoke fondly of Chapman, Cates and Logan, stating: “The programme is in the best of hands.”

Highlights for Liverpool’s welcome of Bournemouth, which kicks off the Premier League season tonight, will be available to watch on Match of the Day on Saturday night, while a recap all five of Saturday’s top-flight games will also be shown on the first show of the campaign.