The beloved BBC sports show will be very different for the upcoming season, after the departure of former host Gary Lineker last year.
Lineker, who presented the show from 1999 until 2025, left following the conclusion of the 2024–25 Premier League season.
Kelly Cates, Mark Chapman and Gabby Logan will host Match of the Day from the start of the 2025-26 season, and a new star pundit will also feature.
Wayne Rooney set to become BBC Match of the Day pundit
Manchester United legend Wayne Rooney is set to join the team on the BBC show as a pundit for the new season, according to reports.
A source told The Sun: “Wayne is a natural broadcaster; he is warm, witty and forensically knowledgeable about all aspects of the game.
“He still has a deep love for football and also gets on well with everyone on both sides of the camera.
“He is eminently likeable, and has impressed on his outings to date – viewers have also really taken to him, which has been clear from social media commentary.
“Wayne will be a key part of next year’s World Cup coverage, which is a massive coup, and will provide some much-needed expertise on Match of the Day in the wake of Gary’s departure.
For Wayne Rooney, penalties were all in the practice 🎯#BBCFootball #MOTD2 pic.twitter.com/XrLap7XaIH
— Match of the Day (@BBCMOTD) March 10, 2025
“Everyone, including Director of Sport Alex Kay-Jelski, is incredibly excited to get him on board. It’s a great signing.”
Rooney made over 550 appearances for Manchester United, and more than 100 for England.
He will join a team that already includes names such as Alan Shearer, Micah Richards, and Alex Scott.
Who are the new Match of the Day presenters?
The BBC revealed earlier this year that Match of the Day will now be presented by Kelly Cates, Mark Chapman and Gabby Logan.
It came after Gary Lineker stepped down from presenting the show.
It will mark the first time the role of lead presenter across both Match of the Day and Match of the Day 2, and the latest addition to the BBC’s football highlights portfolio, Match of the Day Champions League, will be shared by three presenters.
Kelly is from Glasgow and is the daughter of former Scotland and Liverpool footballer Sir Kenny Dalglish.
She is currently a Sky Sports presenter and also presents BBC Radio 5 Live’s Tuesday night sports coverage.
Mark is a veteran at the BBC, having first joined as a continuity announcer in 1996.
Since 2013, the 51-year-old has been a regular host of Match of the Day 2, but has also hosted Sky Sports’ live coverage of the Carabao Cup.
He has also worked in the NFL, cricket, rugby league and golf, and fronted the BBC’s coverage of the recent Olympic Games in Paris.
Former gymnast Gabby Logan is the daughter of Welsh footballer Terry Yorath.
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She first joined Sky Sports in 1996 before going to work at ITV, before leaving to present Inside Sport at the BBC, which she joined in 2007.
Gabby has previously presented Match of the Day in Gary’s absence on various occasions and also hosted the BBC’s coverage of the Women’s Euros.
Many will also know her from her role as co-presenter of the BBC Sports Personality of the Year.
