Match Of The Day (MOTD), the BBC’s Premier League highlights show broadcast on Saturday night, is a national institution. For any student reading this, the man best associated with the show is undoubtedly Gary Lineker, the ex-footballer-turned-presenter whose charming manner has dominated our screens for the last quarter of a century. I grew up on a strict diet of MOTD, waking up early on Sunday mornings to catch the rerun of Daniel Sturridge dancing, Gareth Bale bagging belters, and my beloved Crystal Palace seemingly constantly consigned to the back of the programme’s slate of fixtures. As I grew older and I was permitted to stay up on a Saturday night ‘if there was a really good match’ (thanks, mum!), the programme’s relevance was still apparent. From my perspective, Leicester City’s title run did not culminate in Wes Morgan hoisting a glittering trophy, but in Gary Lineker sticking to his word, and presenting the opening to the following season’s MOTD in his underwear! Even nowadays, in an era of instant highlights, short-form content and celebrity pundits, MOTD still capably holds down a Saturday night spot on our national television, with its gentle ‘banter’ and high-quality highlights package providing simple yet effective content.

“It’s fair to say that I struggle to carve out the time to watch MOTD on a weekly basis”

Yet the BBC wanted a change. In the corporation’s official statement, very little was shared about Lineker’s departure – so it was interesting to hear Gary have the freedom to be more candid on the matter on his podcast, The Rest Is Football, with the former striker explaining that “they’re looking to do MOTD slightly differently.” It would admittedly be very tempting for BBC executives to shift the direction of the show away from a format whose most-daring pun is a bald-joke, to one that may entice more ‘youth’ – with younger presenters, an entertainment-focused feel, and less of a delay for the highlights to arrive on our screens.

I have myself seen how my own viewing tendencies have altered in recent years, from once waiting until Sunday to watch the goals, to now squeezing in as many Sky Sports 3-minute match highlights as I can, whilst I devour a Saturday night dinner. Despite thoroughly enjoying completing the MOTD challenge early last season (turning off all score notifications and waiting for 10.30pm to watch the show, or, what was according to my grandparents, also known as a very normal evening!), it’s fair to say that I struggle to carve out the time to watch MOTD on a weekly basis. As a young adult, I would selfishly be intrigued to see and updated, and forward-thinking version of the show, one that would aim to capture the minds of the young-football fan once more.

Yet the BBC should not do this. Whilst channels like Sky Sports pine for young people’s engagement, frequently inviting YouTubers such as ChrisMD or Thogden onto shows, and apps like X provide a modern linguistic battleground for fan warfare, transfer rumour mongering and seemingly endless video edits of ‘Cold’ Palmer, MOTD caters expertly to a generation that does not default to social media, an older generation too often forgotten in the whirlwind of sports coverage. I imagine that my granddad would not want to see an updated MOTD with guest appearances from TikTokers, music artists or comedians. Rather, he would prefer an uninterrupted, football-centric recap of the fast-moving world that is the Premier League. Frankly, teenagers and young adults do not need MOTD to be exclusively directed at them – many will simply just watch the highlights instantly on their phones anyway.

“MOTD caters expertly to […] an older generation too often forgotten in the whirlwind of sports coverage”

Of course, by no means do I wish for the show to slowly recess into the shadows as a bygone relic of televised content. Yet I think it is vital that in the wake of Lineker’s departure, MOTD continues to allow the football to be the star of the show. Too often we are caught up in transfer sagas, financial fair play quarrels and the personal lives of footballers who we have never interacted with – so why not keep to a format that prioritises the essence of the sport that we have grown up to love?

Whatever direction the show goes, a capable new presenter will be paramount to MOTD’s success. Unfortunately, as is typical of the current discourse surrounding ‘woke’ culture, an appointment of anyone but a white male will sadly provoke unnecessary criticism, inevitably levied at both the person in question but also at the BBC for ‘box-ticking.’ Whilst the bookies currently back Mark Chapman and Alex Scott as the frontrunners, two experienced presenters who have frequently worked with the BBC and are therefore very familiar to viewers, there is a good chance the script will be ripped up. Names like Kate Abdo, James Richardson and Alan Shearer are being thrown around as possible successors, whilst TalkSport host Simon Jordan even put forward Piers Morgan’s name as a potential presenter. Additionally, there have been rumours about a job share between multiple presenters – true or false, BBC executives will surely be excited about the opportunity to explore every option.

In the meantime, the show must go on, but I am sure that MOTD will be excited to bank on an increased viewership for what will surely be a sentimental final episode for Lineker come May, with Lineker himself admitting that he will “probably get a little bit more emotional towards the end.” Regardless of who Lineker’s successor will be, and in what direction the BBC desire to take the show, I sincerely hope that Match Of The Day continues to see success. As long as the football takes centre stage, the show will have its rightful place within a packed sporting world. We come for the football, and that must remain the focus.