- Gary Lineker has given brutal disdain to Micah Richards
- Many have suggested that Richards will succeed Lineker on Match of the Day.
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Gary Lineker has slammed Micah Richards amid suggestions the popular pundit could succeed him as Match of the Day presenter.
Speculation is rife over who will succeed Lineker after it emerged he will step down from his role as Match of the Day host at the end of the season after 25 years in the hot seat.
Former Manchester City defender Richards has received much praise for his work as a pundit in recent years for both Sky Sports and the BBC.
Lineker and Richards appeared on The Rest Is Football podcast alongside West Ham striker Michail Antonio.
Antonio wasted no time in discussing the possibility of Richards taking over.
speaking in The rest is footballAntonio claimed: ‘Micah is trying to take your job.’
Gary Lineker brutally criticized Micah Richards for his chances of hosting Match of the Day
Richards has been linked with the hosting job after it emerged Lineker was leaving.
Richards was eager to downplay such suggestions, saying, “You know what? Can I make this clear?”
“When people say that Micah Richards will potentially take over as a host, I think it’s hugely disrespectful to all hosts. There are so many talented people.
‘Only because I am an expert can I give an idea to a player, I feel like I know the game, I observe the tactics.
“But to take over the presentation of one of the most iconic programmes, not only in sport, but that the BBC has ever had?”
Antonio then responded by saying: ‘Blah, blah, blah, stop trying, mate.’
Richards later indicated that he would not even compete for the position, saying: ‘Look what he’s trying to do? “There are so many others they can choose over me, I just can’t believe they even put my name in the hat.”
Lineker then delivered a brutal putdown to Richards that left the trio in hysterics.
He said, ‘Micah, you can totally relax. I can assure you that they will not ask you.
West Ham striker Michail Antonio joked that Richards is trying to take Lineker’s job
Lineker joked that Richards can relax because there’s “no chance” of him being contacted.
Day 2 match announcer Mark Chapman has also been linked to Lineker’s position.
Match of the Day 2 presenter Mark Chapman has been linked with the role, with presenters Gabby Logan, Alex Scott, Kelly Cates and Kelly Somers also reportedly in the running.
According to a survey by market research company Ipsos, football fans would like to see Match of the Day pundit Alan Shearer host the show as he received 22 per cent of the vote.
Lineker is set to receive a payday after the BBC revealed a one-year licensing deal to feature two podcasts made by his production company.
BBC Sounds will host Rest Is Football, headlined by Lineker, Richards and Shearer.
Lineker’s company, Goalhanger Productions, also oversees The Rest Is History, presented by Tom Holland and Dominic Sandbrook.