Sunday will see host for the final time as he concludes a remarkable 25-year tenure leading the iconic show. He announced his decision from the role in November last year.

Since taking the reins in 1999, Lineker has become synonymous with the programme and currently holds the position of the BBC's highest-earning presenter with a salary reported at £1.35 million annually.

Next season will usher in a new era for the highlights show as Mark Chapman, , and are set to take the helm.

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Yet Lineker's legacy is not only marked by his own stint, but also by the array of football pundits he's worked alongside through the years. Here, we delve into the profiles of four notable analysts who joined Lineker on MOTD before departing for various reasons.

One such noteworthy moment during Lineker's time on Match of the Day was Jermaine Jenas's abrupt departure in August 2024. After complaints about his behaviour off-air, Jenas was dismissed from his roles on The One Show and MOTD, reports .

Jenas later said there's "two sides to every story" and indicated his legal team would handle the issue henceforth. Jenas, a family man with four children, had a BBC salary ranging from £190,000 to £194,999 derived from his punditry across FA Cup fixtures, Match of the Day broadcasts, and World Cup coverage.

Ian Wright enjoyed a long history with the BBC's flagship programme until 2023. The ex-Arsenal hero made his debut on the show while still playing in 1997, but went on to become a regular pundit in 2002.

Wright made the decision to leave the show due to logistical reasons, disclosing on The Overlap's Stick To Football podcast: "It's time. I had a dear friend who said that, 'Sometimes you've got to know when to step back, change, rest, have a break, and say no' – it's just time."

His departure was an emotional moment, nearly bringing him, Lineker and Shearer to tears. Lineker then took to social media to praise his colleague and friend.

"It has been an absolute pleasure and privilege to work alongside you, Ian," he posted on X. "One of my favourite people on the planet. Farewell, my friend".

Alan Hansen is regarded by many as one of Match of the Day's most acclaimed pundits, after spending over two decades on the show, joining in 1992 and retiring in 2014. The Liverpool icon candidly spoke about his reason for leaving broadcasting, admitting that it was nerves that pushed him to step away.

"After 22 years, I kept telling myself I wouldn't get so nervous, but it got worse," Hansen said. "That was one of the reasons I left. The BBC were terrific, I loved the people and Match of the Day but I didn't enjoy the nerves."

Hansen's claims were even corroborated by Lineker. "He was incredibly nervous," Lineker said. However, the ex-England forward did express his deep admiration for Hansen.

"He was probably the first person that went down the more analytic route, a path now followed by so many," Lineker said in April 2023. "He was a brilliant pundit."

The departure of Mark Lawrenson from the BBC bore its share of controversy. The former Liverpool great, now aged 67, had been part of the broadcaster's team since 1997, contributing to MOTD and Football Focus until 2022.

Lawrenson suggests that his BBC career did not end amicably, feeling edged out due to his age. He said: "I think one of the problems with the Beeb was that they don't really understand things like you've been a footballer, and sometimes you get left out - and you get taken off the pitch.

"And it's as though they can't tell you the bad news. It's always a shock when it's something like that but yeah, they could have dealt with it so much better."