Gary Lineker has sent a message of praise to the BBC after tuning into the first Match of the Day programme aired since his departure, which Mark Chapman hosted on Saturday evening

Gary Lineker speaking on the Stick to Football podcast
Gary Lineker made his feelings about Match of the Day’s return clear(Image: YouTube/The Rest Is Football)

Gary Lineker was full of praise when asked about the return of Match of the Day. The flagship show returned on Saturday for the first time since Lineker’s exit.

Mark Chapman took up hosting duties, but other than that, it was very much a familiar Match of the Day set-up. The trio of Chapman, Kelly Cates and Gabby Logan were announced by the BBC in January as Lineker’s replacements, with the long-time lead presenter ultimately cutting ties with the organisation in light of sparking an antisemitism row.

Alex Kay-Jelski, who was hired as the Beeb’s director of sport in April last year, mooted changes to the show after Lineker’s departure. However, the 64-year-old was pleased that little had been altered with a new era ushered in, commending his former boss for not fixing something that wasn’t broken.

Speaking on The Rest Is Football podcast alongside ex-BBC colleagues Alan Shearer and Micah Richards, Lineker opened up about how he felt watching the show he hosted for 26 years return to our screens.

“Alan, you were doing Match of the Day last night. I must say, I enjoyed it,” he admitted. “I went out for dinner, then I came home in time to watch it.

“Thought it was really good. Chappers did a great job. There was a lot of talk, wasn’t there, that they were going to change things, and you know what it’s like, you get a new guy in, new head of sport, thinking he wants to do this and wants to do that.

“But, ‘If it ain’t broke, don’t fix it.’ I think that was very much the most sensible decision, and I thought the programme was great.”

Wayne Rooney, Alan Shearer and Mark Chapman on Match of the Day
Lineker was very complimentary of the show(Image: BBC)

Host Chapman was joined by established pundit Shearer and a new addition in Manchester United icon Wayne Rooney on Saturday’s first show of the new Premier League season, and Lineker approved of the latter’s presence.

“I thought Wayne Rooney did really well, as well as yourself, Alan, so good analysis in there,” Lineker stated. “It was so nice watching it, holding a glass of wine!”

Having taken over from Des Lynam in 1999, Match of the Day had long been synonymous with Lineker, but the ex-England striker claimed it wasn’t strange now watching on from home.

“It wasn’t weird, really, no. I was quite relaxed,” he continued. “I was thinking, ‘I haven’t got a three-and-a-half-hour journey at the end of the show.’

“I really enjoyed watching it. It is the first time that I have watched Match of the Day on a Saturday night for I don’t know how many years.

“The only time I ever missed the show was if I’d take the odd Saturday off to have a holiday, and I’d go somewhere, so it had been so long since I’d watched it.”