BBC Match of the Day presenter Gary Lineker paid tribute to "consummate broadcaster" Jeff Stelling after the Sky Sports Soccer Saturday host announced he will be leaving at the end of the season.
Stelling has been working for Sky for more than 30 years and has presented Soccer Saturday for over 25 years. He had announced he would be retiring last year, but ended up making a surprise U-turn much to the delight of fans.
And while announcing his plans to depart Sky at the end of this season, Stelling insisted there would be no U-turn this time around. "It is Groundhog Day, that time of the year when I announce that I am leaving Sky Sports and Gillette Soccer Saturday," he said.
"This time it is true. After 30 fantastic years on Sky, you lot out there have supported me, as have Sky, but it's time to give you a break from all the VAR rants and bad gags and over the top celebrations when Hartlepool score a goal and give someone else the chance to do this fantastic job.
"So I'll be leaving on May 28th, we’ve got a few programs between now and then, this is the last six hour Saturday Gillette Soccer Saturday… so we'd better get on with it!"
And fellow presenter Lineker was among those to pay tribute to Stelling, with the former England striker tweeting: "Good luck to @JeffStelling with whatever comes next. A consummate broadcaster."
Sky Sports' Director of Football Gary Hughes added that Stelling would be "sorely missed" and hailed his "unique broadcasting ability and passion for the game". Hughes said: "After a brilliant 30+ year career at Sky, including over 25 years as the much-loved host of Soccer Saturday, Jeff Stelling is leaving Sky Sports at the end of the current football season.
"Jeff has been synonymous with Saturday afternoon football for decades, exciting and enthusing football fans everywhere. His unique broadcasting ability and passion for the game has made Soccer Saturday an unmissable fixture for fans and has won him a multitude of awards.
"He will be sorely missed. Sky Sports will give him the great send off his remarkable and enduring contribution deserves before he leaves us at the end of May to spend more Saturdays with his beloved Hartlepool United."
