Regardless of the cloud he’s leaving under, Gary Lineker’s stint at the BBC has been historic. When he took over Match of the Day from Des Lynam in 1999, the consensus was that he had enormous shoes to fill, and yet he ended up filling them for two-and-a-half times longer than his predecessor. He departs the show as its longest-serving presenter, having managed 26 years, breaking Jimmy Hill’s record by 11 years. By Match of the Day’s dry standards, it has been a colourful time. Let’s look at some of his highlights.
