1 week Ago By [email protected] (Ben Crawford, Mathew Davies)
BBC pundit Danny Murphy has expressed his gratitude to the departing Match of the Day host Gary Lineker for his "welcoming" and "warm" nature. Lineker is set to leave his role as the host of the BBC's Match of the Day at the end of this season, although he will continue with the broadcaster until at least the 2026 World Cup, including presenting their FA Cup coverage next season. Having taken over from Des Lynam in 1999, the 63-year-old Lineker has become a staple of the show.
Murphy, who has played for teams such as Liverpool and Fulham before joining Lineker on the programme, has praised the veteran presenter's kind-hearted approach. Murphy began working with the BBC in 2013 and has clearly appreciated the support from Lineker since then, reports the Mirror . Speaking to talkSPORT, Murphy recalled: "I'll never forget how he [Lineker] treated me and how welcome he made me, how good he made me feel," adding that Lineker is "you know, Gary's a friend of mine, and he's been phenomenal to me since the day I walked in the building.
" Murphy also highlighted Lineker's charm and expertise, saying: "And a warm, charismatic, intelligent man who knows his football and has become part of everybody's furniture, if you like, on a Saturday evening. I'll just tell you quickly, I mean, from my first..
. I'd done a few shows, and he was always great." The former midfielder fondly remembers Lineker's deep understanding of the game, noting: "[He is] just a very intelligent football man, loves his football.
You know, him and his sons, they all love the football as well. And he's doing so many good things. "He's getting on a bit, just because he looks good for his age doesn't mean he isn't old.
He's getting tired in his old age, probably wants to just cook his Sunday roast." When quizzed on whom he'd pick as a successor, Murphy tipped another BBC stalwart. "I feel that they've got [a candidate], Mark Chapman, who I work with a lot on Sundays," he added.
Praise flowed as he described Chapman: "I think he's a brilliant presenter and very, very knowledgeable on sport and football." Commenting on the suitability of his choice, Murphy concluded: "Somebody who is ready-made for it. Whether he wants it or not, I don't know.
That's a different question, you'd have to ask him. But he would be the glaring, obvious choice for me.".
