THE new presenters of the BBC's Match of the Day have been confirmed ahead of Gary Lineker's departure.
Kelly Cates, 49, will be part of a three-person presenting team alongside Mark Chapman and Gabby Logan from next season.
Cates, Chapman and Logan will share presenting duties for the flagship Match of the Day on Saturday evening, plus Match of the Day 2 on Sunday evening.
A statement on the show's X page read: “New roster for next season!
“We are excited to announce that Kelly Cates, Mark Chapman and Gabby Logan will share the Match of the Day presentations from 2025 to 2026.”
Former England striker Lineker has hosted the highlights program since 1999.
He will continue to provide the BBC's live FA Cup coverage next season and the 2026 World Cup final.
Lineker said last month it was a “joy and a privilege” to present Match of the Day.
But he added on The Rest Is Football podcast: “I think now is the right time (to leave).
“I think they want to do something different with their next Match of the Day contract, so I think it makes sense for someone else to take over.”
Speaking on becoming one of the presenters, who will also continue her role on Sky Sports, Cates said: “Once I sit in that chair and the theme music starts, I just know this is going to be an incredible moment.
“I've worked with many experts and they're all fantastic, so I'm looking forward to getting started.
“I've known Gabby and Mark really well for years, so to bring it all together and embrace the digital side of things feels like a really comprehensive football package for fans and that's what makes it so exciting.”
Logan, who is also at the heart of the BBC's rugby and athletics coverage, said: “It's always a real moment [sitting in the chair] because it has such a history.
“It's still so relevant to so many people now and being talked about in a landscape where TVs have changed so much.
“There is a huge responsibility to ensure we continue to evolve whilst respecting the traditions of Match of the Day.
“People want to see the goals, they want to see the incidents, they want to see the moments everyone is talking about. So while we can tinker around the edges, the core is the football.”
Chapman will continue his usual programming on BBC Radio 5 Live, including Saturday's iconic Sports Report.
He added: “I know the history of many radio and TV shows and I feel honored to follow in the footsteps of the people we follow and respect what they have done.”
On sharing the role, Cates said: “This isn't about the three of us, it's about the three of us plus our experts, plus our editors, plus our analysts, statistics people and production people, radio and online.
“It's really about all of us working together as a department.”
Cates has worked occasionally for the BBC since 2013, for Radio 5 Live.
She presented the iconic fan phone-in show 606 alongside Ian Wright on Sundays between 2013 and 2018.
After joining Sky Sports, her role was reduced, but Cates returned to host the weekday sports show 5 Live Sport, usually on Tuesdays, while also covering the 2022 World Cup.
The daughter of Liverpool legend Kenny Dalglish became a TV presenter for Sky Sports and worked on several Premier League shows including Friday Night Live.
Sky Sports bosses are reportedly sad to see her go, but she was believed to be the BBC's leading external candidate to take over from icon Lineker.
Logan and Chapman have worked for the BBC for a number of years, including for Match of the Day.
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