- Gary Lineker is stepping down as host of Match of the Day after almost 26 years
- BBC presenter Manish Bhasin has spoken out about the prospect of replacing him
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BBC presenter Manish Bhasin has spoken out about the prospect of replacing Gary Lineker on Match of the Day after several fans called for him to step in as host.
Lineker, who is stepping down after almost 26 years at the helm of the BBC’s flagship football show, will begin his long retirement from the program this weekend after the Beeb opted to appoint a new presenter from the start of next season.
Fans have been heavily speculating who should succeed Lineker in the Match of the Day chair, with Mark Chapman, Alex Scott, Gabby Logan and Kelly Cates all in the frame.
Several supporters took to social media this week to support Bhasin for the role.
Bhasin, 48, is a sports presenter best known for hosting BBC’s The Football League Show, which – like Match of the Day – showed highlights from the Championship, League One and League Two.
Prior to his involvement in the highlights show, Bhasin hosted Football Focus and has worked on Matchday Live for Premier League Productions since 2016.
BBC presenter Manish Bhasin has spoken out about the prospect of hosting Match of the Day
The search for Gary Lineker’s successor began last week after the BBC announced he would quit their flagship football show at the end of the season after almost 26 years.
Some fans are calling for Bhasin to replace Lineker following his work on The Football League Show
The programme, which immediately followed Match of the Day, moved from the BBC to Channel 5 at the end of the 2015–16 season.
“Your time has finally come,” a fan posted on X alongside a photo of Bhasin hosting The Football League Show.
“The people’s champion,” another added, replying to the post.
A third commented: ‘This is actually it, this is the only man in the show.’
Although Bhasin is not currently on the Beeb’s books, he does have experience hosting Match of the Day 2 and is currently working on Premier League football, so he could present an alternative candidate for the BBC.
Responding to the comments, Bhasin seemed to suggest that the Match of the Day performance is nothing but a pipe dream, replying: ‘I wish! Thank you for the kind responses.’
This is evident from a poll conducted by a market research agency Ipsos this week, fans would like to see returning Match of the Day expert Alan Shearer take charge of the show.
When respondents were asked to vote on who they would like to succeed Lineker, 22 percent chose the Newcastle and Blackburn legend.
One labeled Bhasin as ‘the people’s champion’ while another said he is the ‘only man for show’
Mark Chapman, host of Match of the Day 2, is one of the favorites to succeed Lineker
It seems like Bhasin doesn’t feel like he has a shot at the presenting role as he replied, “I wish!”
Chapman, host of the highlights show’s sister program Match of the Day 2, was a close second favorite among fans to succeed Lineker, with 20 percent.
Alex Kay-Jelski, the BBC’s sports director, is keen to turn the show around and hopes a new presenter can attract a younger audience to the programme.
So several female presenters are lined up to replace Lineker, with Logan, Scott, Cates and Kelly Somers all touted as contenders.
Scott came third in the Ipsos poll rankings with 12 percent of the vote, while Logan is fourth with 10 percent.