FOOTBALLING legend Gary Lineker has bowed out as host of Match of the Day.
The former Barcelona, Tottenham Hotspur, and Leicester striker‘s last episode was yesterday, bringing to an end a more than 25-year spell presenting the iconic programme.
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As you’d expect it was an emotional one, as the final segment of the show aired a series of his best bits as a player and host, as well as tributes from his nearest and dearest familiar faces.
One who popped up was Rangers icon and Lineker’s ex-England and Spurs teammate Paul Gascoigne.
He said: “Great legend, great player. I remember when I was down in the hospital or rehab he visited me. He was there for us.
“Saturday nights you’re free now, so I’ll send you to Turkey to get sorted out, see Doctor Feras and get you some botox.
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“Let’s me and you go gallivanting, as I know a lot of rehabs to go to afterwards.
“Match of the Day is going to be at a big loss without the Links. Lots of love from Gazza.”
Another legend of the Scottish game who appeared was Alan Hansen, national team Hall of Famer and Liverpool and Partick Thistle favourite.
A Match of the Day regular himself, he said: “You don’t do something for 26 years and have the great times he had, without thinking ‘this has been a huge, huge part of my life.’
“He was really, really quick. Sharp, intelligent, clinical, prolific goalscorer as well.
“As soon as he left football, he intimated that he wanted to be a presenter, he didn’t want to be a pundit. It was a seamless journey.
“We had so many good laughs and we worked with so many great people.
“We weren’t bad on that programme at all.”
Fellow Anfield star Virgil Van Dijk, formerly of Celtic, had a message too: “You are a legend, I was very fortunate to meet you a couple of times, it’s always a pleasure.
“Stay being positive for me because that’s a good thing, all the best.”
In his final runout Lineker was accompanied, as he often is, by Manchester City man Micah Richards and Newcastle hero Alan Shearer.
In his farewell video package Richards said ‘when you think Match of the Day, you think Gary Lineker.’
Longer-term colleague Shearer said: “Match of the Day means everything to him. He loves it, it means the world to him.
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“When you look at who he had to come in and replace, the brilliant Des Lynam, it might not have been easy at first for Gary.
“But he seems to have taken to it with ease.
“Gary you’ve been a great friend, you’ve been amazing to me and you’ve been unbelievable to Match of the Day.
“Whatever you choose to do on Saturdays, good luck and we’ll miss you.”
In a special one for Leicester fan Lineker, league winning manager Claudio Ranieri said: “Well done for the amazing job you have done. We will always have 2016 as a wonderful memory.”
He famously hosted an episode wearing nothing but Leicester-branded underwear after promising to do so if they pulled off the sensational Premier League title feat.
To close out his 26 years, he was handed a Match of the Day cap reminiscent of an international team one and a golden boot.
An on screen stat joked that was his career fifth golden boot, taking him one ahead of Shearer’s four.
And to sign off and pull the curtain down on his long spell in the famous role, he delivered a teary-eyed message.
It went: “Alan, Micah, thank you. I suspect our paths will cross again very shortly.
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“Let me take this opportunity to thank all of the other pundits I’ve had the pleasure of working with over the last 25 years.
“You’ve made my job so much easier.
“Also a huge thank you to those you don’t see at home, the work that goes into making this iconic show is a huge team effort from the editors to the analysis team, from the commentators to the floor managers.
From the producers to the camera operators, from the PAs to the subs, thank you all. You’re the very best.
“Rather like my football career everyone else did all the hard work and I got the plaudits.
“It’s been an absolute privilege to have hosted Match of the Day for a quarter of a century, it’s been utterly joyous.
“I would like to wish Gabby [Logan], Mark [Chapman], and Kelly [Cates] all the very best when they sit in this very chair. The programme is in the best of hands.
“And my final thank you goes to all of you.
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“Thank you for watching, thank you for all your love and support over the years.
“It’s been so special and I’m sorry that your team was always on last. It’s time to say goodbye.”
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