Gary Lineker has revealed that he watched Sky Sports' Soccer Saturday for the first time this weekend, a year after leaving his role as presenter of Match of the Day. The 65-year-old former England captain admitted he was surprised he had never tuned into the iconic show before.
Lineker's Admission on The Rest is Football
Speaking on his podcast, The Rest is Football, Lineker said: "Do you know what I watched yesterday? This is mad, right, Gillette Soccer Saturday. I happened to switch it on for the three o'clock kick-offs. I was thinking to myself, 'have I ever watched this programme before?' Which sounds mad because it's been going forever."
He explained that during his 26 years presenting Match of the Day, he watched all the top-flight action live at the BBC headquarters, meaning he never had the chance to watch the Sky Sports show. "I was always at the Match of the Day offices watching the football so we never ever watched it. I'd seen Final Score a few times earlier this season, thought I'd watch it, which is mad I've never seen that particular programme," he added.
The Legacy of Soccer Saturday
Soccer Saturday first aired in 1998 and became a staple of football fans' weekends. Over the decades, it has featured iconic faces such as Jeff Stelling, Chris Kamara, Phil Thompson, Matt Le Tissier, Charlie Nicholas, and Paul Merson. Stelling left Sky Sports in 2023, with Simon Thomas taking over as the main presenter. Julian Warren continues to present midweek coverage.
Lineker left the BBC's flagship show in 2025, with Kelly Cates, Gabby Logan, and Mark Chapman taking over presenting duties in a historic split of coverage. Since leaving the BBC, Lineker's Goalhanger production company has thrived, boasting 250,000 paying members and over 75 million podcast downloads per month.
Lineker's New Venture on ITV
Lineker is set to return to mainstream television later this year as the host of a new ITV game show called The Box. He said: "I can't wait to host The Box. I've always felt right at home in the box on a football pitch, and whilst this is a different proposition, the fundamentals are similar. The contestants will have to quickly and masterfully work out how each game works, whilst also trying to get ahead of the competition to take control. It's going to be unpredictable and thrilling to watch, and I'm excited that I get to have a front row seat to all the action!"
Lineker's revelation about Soccer Saturday comes as a surprise to many fans, given the show's long-standing popularity and his own prominent role in football broadcasting. His new chapter with The Box marks another evolution in his post-Match of the Day career.
