Mark Chapman once revealed how he remains impartial on Match of the Day despite being a fan. Chapman, along with Kelly Cates and Gabby Logan, will split presenting duties for and Match of the Day 2 from the start of next season.

It comes after it was announced last year that would be after 26 years in the chair at the end of this season. The ’s plan was that Lineker, 64, would still host the broadcaster’s coverage of the next season and the 2026 World Cup.

But those plans were scrapped as the former England striker on Sunday, leaving his role and the BBC at the conclusion of this season this weekend. The announcement came in light of the huge backlash against Lineker after he reposted a video on social media which criticised Zionism and .

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, Logan and Cates were initially meant to have supporting roles alongside him at his swansong in next summer’s World Cup, which will take place in the US, Canada and Mexico. But his departure means the BBC now need to find a lead replacement for the tournament, with the aforementioned trio believed to be the key names in the running.

It is also possible that they could rotate in the role of lead presenter, though only one of them can present the highly coveted World Cup and FA Cup finals. Chapman, 51, will slot in seamlessly if selected, having anchored BBC Two's sister football highlights show Match of the Day 2 since August 2013.

His professionalism cannot be questioned either, with the majority of football fans still in the dark over which football team Chapman supports after all these years. However, Chapman, who grew up in Sale, Greater Manchester, has been open in the past about being a fan of giants Manchester United.

The way he avoids showing favouritism is testament to his impartiality, though he recently joked that he hides his true feelings by venting all frustrations about the Red Devils’ dire form and poor results before going on air.

During his appearance on Catchphrase earlier this month, Chapman revealed: “By the time we go on air, I’ve had enough time to stop being a sore loser. So by then I’m fairly impartial.”

Chapman began his career at the BBC as a continuity announcer doing voice-overs between programmes before spells as a local reporter and doing “jokey stuff” on Radio 1 for nearly a decade. He has since become one of the most recognisable faces – and voices – in British sports broadcasting after joining 5 Live and taking over as presenter of the weekly MOTD2.

Chapman was born in Rochdale but moved to Sale at a young age. United were and are still his local team.

“It’s not my fault that I support a big team!” he told the in 2018. Chapman went on to add authenticity to his claim that he’s not a ‘glory hunter’ by saying: “I had to put up with a lot of poor, if at least entertaining, stuff in the 1980s. I am a genuine Manchester United fan.”

It is understood that BBC executives, headed by new director of sport Alex Kay-Jelski, are eager to move the show in a fresh direction with the appointment of Logan, Chapman and Cates.

When asked what to expect from MOTD in the 2025/26 season, Chapman, whose appointment was announced in January, insisted: “Nothing different. I know people keep saying, ‘Oh this will change or that will change.’ I genuinely don't think anything will change.

“It will still be showing all the highlights and having a bit of a chat. So, if you're wanting a lot of change, I suppose you're going to be a bit disappointed by it.

“I think we are still just going to do the same thing and talk about football and have a laugh and that will be that.”

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