Kelly Cates names her two favourites to replace Gary Lineker as Match of the Day host

Sky Sports presenter Kelly Cates believes or should succeed on Match of the Day.

It was revealed on Monday evening that would presenter at the end of this season. The 63-year-old had been heavily tipped to leave his position in recent months. However, both the and Lineker remained evasive about any major changes.

The bombshell announcement means Lineker will depart the show after a staggering 25 years - the longest-serving presenter the show has ever had. Cates has been a mainstay on Sky since returning to the channel in 2016 where she now fronts its football coverage.

Speaking to , prior to the news of Lineker's exit, Cates speculated on who could take the top job on Match of the Day. She said: "There are people like Chappers (Mark Chapman) who has been doing Match of the Day, who is brilliant, and then Gabby (Logan) does a lot of the live football for them, and does a lot of Match of The Day, as well.

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"So I just think there's really, really good people who are friends of mine and who are in line for it, so it would be really (to say she could take on the role)."

While Linker will end his run on Match of the Day at the end of this current season, that he will, in fact, remain with the to anchor coverage of the USA-based tournament in two years before then stepping away completely.

"There's nothing worse than people sort of lining up, queuing up, while you are still (in the job). And the thing is, Gary might want to stay on," Cates said before the Lineker announcement. "He might change his mind, you know, even if he thinks at one stage he wants to go, there's still a World Cup."

Earlier this year, was reportedly leaked, hinting that an announcement about Lineker's exit was being prepared. However, this was refuted, with the broadcaster indicating discussions were ongoing over new terms.

In October, Lineker even quipped that he was taking charge of his "final show... before the international break". Earlier in the year, the host spoke to BBC Breakfast to commemorate Match of the Day's 60th anniversary. The former striker appeared relaxed about his future and admitted he was happy to "wait and see".

"It depends how long they want me, I suppose," he said. "I love doing it at the moment; I've still got another year left, at least. So we'll have to wait and see what happens.

"Obviously it's another change in football and television and the rights of the and stuff like that. All of these things will play a part. But I just feel it's been an absolute privilege to have presented it for 25 years now. I must be getting old." Other names in the frame to replace Lineker include Alex Scott, Alan Shearer, Jason Mohammad, Kelly Sommers and Theo Walcott.

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