5 replacements for Gary Lineker on BBC Match of the Day after Jermaine Jenas axe (2024)

Jermaine Jenas is out of the running to become the next host of Match of the Day after being sacked by the BBC, but there are plenty of other candidates to replace Gary Lineker

Jermaine Jenas has surrendered the chance of landing his dream job as Match of the Day host after the BBC sacked him.

Jenas was dismissed by the BBC on Thursday for his ‘workplace conduct’ and ‘alleged inappropriate behaviour’. Speaking on talkSPORT, Jenas said there were “two sides to every story” and that he would be consulting with his lawyers over the next steps.

The 41-year-old former midfielder had previously been considered a rising star at the BBC, having branched out from punditry into presenting. He landed a role as a presenter of the One Show and also moved across the studio to front Match of the Day 2.

But his career at the broadcaster has now gone up in smoke, just over a year after he addressed the possibility of one day taking over from Gary Lineker as host of Match of the Day – a role which earns the presenter £1.35million per year. “I would obviously be up for it – it’s Match of the Day and it would be a great opportunity,” he told the Daily Mail in April 2023.

Jenas added: “Gary has got plenty of legs in him and I don’t see him going anywhere soon. But when that day comes, which it will do, I would like to think that I am at least thought about to fill the position. If that is the case then I would obviously jump at it.”

Lineker took charge of Match of the Day in 1999, but has cast doubt on his long-term future host in an interview with BBC Breakfast to celebrate the iconic programme’s 60th anniversary. “I love doing it at the moment,” he said. “I've still got another year left, at least."

Jenas is out of the running to succeed Lineker, so who else could step up if he gives up the role in the coming years? Mirror Football looks at the contenders.

Mark Chapman

Chapman is an absolute stalwart of the BBC – the man for every occasion and sport. The 50-year-old started working for the BBC way back in 1996 and has fulfilled several roles over the following years, gaining a stellar reputation for expertise across many sports on both TV and radio.

He is currently a fixture on BBC Radio 5 Live, as well as a presenter of Match of the Day 2 – the iconic show’s sister programme which runs on Sundays. Chapman is hugely popular and would represent the safest pair of hands for the BBC, given his vast experience.

Alex Scott

The former England and Arsenal defender is another rising star at the BBC, having branched out from punditry to try her hand at presenting over the past few years. Scott, 39, became the lead presenter of Football Focus in May 2021 when Dan Walker left the BBC and has also had a taste of Match of the Day.

Back in March, it was Scott who stepped into Lineker’s shoes when he was absent, giving a hint at where the BBC bosses see her future going.

Gabby Logan

Another BBC regular, Logan has been working for the BBC since 2007, hosted Final Score from 2009 to 2013 and has also deputised for Lineker on Match of the Day in the past. The 51-year-old has also covered rugby union and athletics for the BBC and has been one of the lead presenters at the last three Olympic Games.

Jason Mohammad

A familiar face on the BBC who has cut his teeth on Final Score and Match of the Day 2. Mohammad has been working for the BBC since 1997 and has covered the London 2012 Olympics, the 2016 World Cup and lots of Six Nations Championships.

Kelly Somers

Somers was a regular on the BBC over the summer, working as the broadcaster’s reporter in the England camp at Euro 2024. The 33-year-old has worked for lots of other broadcasters and while she is primarily known as a reporter, she has lots of presenting experience too, having hosted Match of the Day in August 2020.

She’s clearly a big fan of the show, too, recently posting on Instagram : “Happy 60th birthday @bbcmotd. I still rush home from work on a Saturday to catch it, even though I’ve seen most of the games that day… weekends, and football, just aren’t the same without it.”

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