For more than a quarter of a century, English football fans have had one constant. While players, managers, and even certain teams have come and gone, one man has remained. Gary Lineker
The former Three Lions striker is arguably one of the greatest strikers England has ever produced. He bagged 48 goals throughout his storied international career, the fourth most of all time behind current hitman Harry Kane, former striker Wayne Rooney, and World Cup winner Sir Bobby Charlton. However, it’s his presenting career that has endeared him to supporters even further.
Lineker Leaves Match of the Day
Back in August 1999, Gary Lineker took over the presenting role of the hugely popular Match of the Day highlights show aired by the BBC. The show has been a staple for English football supporters for generations, with millions of fans tuning in every Saturday night to catch the goals and drama from that day’s Premier League action. Now, however, 26 years later, Lineker has presented his final show.
At the moment, it’s not clear whether Lineker will still be presenting next summer’s FIFA World Cup, either with the BBC, competitor ITV, or any other broadcaster. Considering that online sports betting sites make England a contender to win that particular tournament, it would be a crying shame if Lineker isn’t presenting in some capacity. The latest online sports betting odds currently make England a +750 third favorite to leave MetLife Stadium next summer with the famous gold trophy, and considering all the heartbreaks the 64-year-old has covered before, it would be painful if he wasn’t covering the Three Lions’ crowning moment – should it happen.
With Lineker’s stint as Match of the Day’s main man now in the books, what was the state of the footballing landscape like when he first took over from the iconic Des Lynam back in 1999, and what big events has he seen since? Let’s take a look.
Manchester United Complete the Treble
Just three months before Lineker took the MOTD reins, Manchester United were cementing their legacy as one of the greatest football teams ever assembled. The Red Devils had just outlasted Arsenal to secure the Premier League title, coming from behind to defeat Tottenham Hotspur on the final day of the season to secure the crown. As well as that, they also wrapped up the FA Cup with a 2-0 victory against Newcastle United.
However, their finest hour came in Barcelona. On May 26th, Sir Alex Ferguson’s side headed to the Camp Nou to contest the UEFA Champions League final against Bayern Munich, and it looked as though it would be the Bavarians who left Catalonia with the famous big-eared trophy. The German giants took the lead in the sixth minute through Mario Basler’s free kick, and they held that lead until deep into the second half injury time.
Then, the miracle came. In barely 60 seconds, United scored not once, but twice. Teddy Sheringham swept home in the 91st minute to draw the Red Devils level. Seconds later, Ole Gunnar Solskjær prodded home a scarcely believable winner, handing United the trophy for the first time in 31 years. Three months later, Lineker introduced the North West side to the British public as European champions.
Inter Shatter World Transfer Record Signing Christian Vieri
In 2025, seeing transfer fees upwards of €30m is commonplace. Back in 1999, it was unheard of. That was until Inter Milan had their say.
The Nerazzurri had a disastrous 1998/99 season, running through four different managers en route to an eighth-placed finish, their worst performance in five years. A semifinal exit in the Coppa Italia and a quarterfinal defeat in the Champions League did little to help improve sentiment. However, one thing that did help was the goals of Brazilian striker Ronaldo, and owner Massimo Moratti decided to double down.
Despite the fact that Inter already had arguably the best striker in the world on their books, they decided to add a second, signing Christian Vieri from Lazio for a record-breaking €49m. The Italian forward had just scored in the Eagles’ Cup Winners’ Cup Final victory against Mallorca, and now he was shattering the world transfer record by commanding a fee of over €15m more than the one Real Betis paid for Denilson a year prior.
Unfortunately for Vieri, though, he would endure somewhat of an injury-hit year. The former Toringo youngster was restricted to just 19 Serie A appearances in his maiden campaign at the San Siro, but he still managed to fire home 13 goals and propel Inter back to the Champions League.
Rivaldo Beats David Beckham to the Ballon d’Or
Following Manchester United’s exploits in that 1999 treble, David Beckham became the most recognizable football player on the planet. His relationship with now-wife Victoria Beckham propelled him even further into the limelight, but unfortunately, he wouldn’t be rewarded for his efforts with the Ballon d’Or.
Despite all the trophies Beckham claimed that year, Barcelona’s Brazilian attacker Rivaldo would instead win the award. While he did score plenty of goals that year, the ex-Palmeiras man wouldn’t pick up any silverware with the Blaugrana, making his Ballon d’Or triumph one of the most controversial of all time.