Gary Lineker has bagged a new role to present Spanish football on LaLigaTV for the coming season and beyond just two months after quitting BT Sport to “follow Leicester across Europe.” Lineker stepped down from his role with BT in May after six years with the channel.
The 60-year-old, who also presents BBC’s Match of the Day, said at the time that the decision was down to his desire to do things away from broadcasting.
“I would like to thank BT Sport for the generous renewal offer but, after much thought, I have decided to call it a day,” Lineker wrote on Twitter in May.
“I feel it’s time to do things that I’ve always promised myself I’d do: such as follow Leicester across Europe with my sons (how many opportunities will we have?).”
Leicester are due to play in the Europa League again this season after finishing fifth in the Premier League for the second successive year.
The Foxes reached the last 32 of the 2020/21 competition before being knocked out by Slavia Prague.
The former England captain, who had a spell with Barcelona, will join the on-air talent line-up of LaLigaTV, the 24/7 channel featuring all live matches from Spain’s top flight LaLiga Santander, from the beginning of the new season.
In a multi-year agreement, Lineker will present key fixtures on LaLigaTV and feature regularly on the channel’s VIVA LaLiga studio programme, broadcast live from Barcelona, amongst other LaLiga-related promotional activities.
“I’m thrilled to become a part of LaLigaTV, a channel I’ve watched every weekend for the last two seasons,” said Lineker, who featured for Barcelona from 1986 to 1989, scoring 42 goals in 103 league appearances.
“I have fond memories of my time playing in Spain and very much look forward to sharing the excitement of LaLiga with viewers in the UK and elsewhere.”
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His addition to the LaLigaTV line up will be seen as a major coup for the station and will come as a big shock to the sports broadcasting world.
Lineker has a wealth of broadcasting experience, having been the host of Match of the Day since 1999.
He has also headed up the BBC’s coverage of major international tournaments during that time.
Following his departure from BT Sport, the station tweeted to thank Lineker for his contribution to the channel.
It read: “Thanks so much for everything, Gary! A legend of the game, and a legend of broadcasting. We’ll miss you, enjoy your away days!”
LaLigaTV was launched in the UK and Ireland in January 2020 as part of LaLiga’s partnership with Premier Sports. The channel is also available in the United Kingdom via Amazon Prime Video Channels.
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