Following the recent controversy surrounding Match Of The Day and specifically, Gary Lineker, the show will be running without any presenters for the first time in its history. So we are taking a look at the top 10 moments from the show.
10. ‘You can’t win anything with kids’
On the opening day of the 1995-96 season, Manchester United lost 3-1 to Aston Villa and fielded a team full of academy graduates. This caused former MOTD pundit Alan Hansen to make the claim that “You can’t win anything with kids.” Which was not a controversial statement at the time, but hindsight is a wonderful thing as United went on to win several trophies.
9. Russell Brand’s appearance
Not the usual footballing figure, Russell Brand joined Gary Lineker and Alan Shearer back in 2014 for an episode that supported Comic Relief. The comedian made a variety of hilarious references, suggesting there was a foul prior to Wayne Rooney’s halfway line wonder-goal, saying:
“East London hasn’t seen that sort of injustice since the dark days of Jack the Ripper.”
8. Gary Lineker hair references to Alan Shearer
The rapport that Gary Linker and Alan Shearer have built over their time on the show has added a range of hilarious moments. However, one theme that has been constant is Lineker’s constant digs at Shearer for his lack of hair. With one of the classic’s being, “This should be a real hair-raiser, unless you are Alan Shearer, of course.”
The BBC received numerous complaints about the comments, with Linker taking to twitter to show his thoughts on the matter: “The BBC has received a complaint about bald jokes on @BBCMOTD (genuinely). Very unfair I feel to call Shearer, Danny Murphy, and Ian Wright jokes.”
7. Mark Lawrenson’s choice of clothing
Mark Lawrenson’s time on the show was kept to a minimum, with Alan Shearer being the only regular beside Linker. However, the former Liverpool player did attract attention with his choice of clothing, donning some rather dubious shirts. Whilst this may not be a hugely entertaining factor, it created a stir on social media with fans prediciting what he would wear next.
6. Mocking Alexandre Lacazette’s scream
During the 2020-2021 season, supporters were not allowed to attend the matches due to COVID regulations. This meant that supporters could hear everything the players were saying on the television broadcast and Gary Lineker took full advantage of this. The Arsenal striker screamed in a match against Burnley and Linker introduced a Scream O’Meter which Linker, Dion Dublin and Ian Wright put to the test at the end of the show.
I love the #MOTD scream’o’meter #lacazette pic.twitter.com/ffTR8b4YNL
— Rob Davidovitz (@RobDavidovitz) March 7, 2021
5. Linker’s debut on the show
The MOTD host is widely recognised for his footballing prowess but also his quick-wit and viewers took to him straight away. He took over from Des Lynam in 1999, in his biggest television role yet and opened with ‘Hey, tell you what. Football’s back. Any good? Have i got the job?”
Not taking himself too seriously and incorporating humour into his job has shown his ability to be unique, whilst also being completely authentic.
4. Darren Bent’s beach ball bonanza
In October 2009, Liverpool travelled to Sunderland under Rafa Benitez and they could not have predicted how they would concede. Sunderland’s Darren Bent saw his strike deflect off a rogue beach ball that had made its way onto the pitch and go straight into the Liverpool net.
The reaction from Lineker and Co. was symbolic of football fans across the country and is regarded as one of the funniest moments in the Premier League’s history.
3. Eric Cantona Kung-Fu kick
Before Lineker was on the show, MOTD was hosted by Des Lynam and it was the latter who had to cover this bizarre Premier League moment. As in January 1995, Manchester United’s star man, Eric Cantona, flew into the Crystal Palace fans with a Kung-Fu kick.
It was reported that a supporter had some choice words for the Frenchman and what followed put Cantona on the sideline with an eight-match ban.
2. Yet another crude Lineker joke
In an episode which featured Gary Lineker and Aaron Shearer debating a hand-ball which involved West Brom’s Jonas Olsson, Lineker was back with his jokes. Shearer debated how the defender may have made himself bigger, by spreading his arms to stop the ball.
To which Linker replied: “Well we’ve all made ourselves bigger with out hands.”
1. Gary Lineker in his pants
Without doubt one of the most historic, funny, and memorable moments was in the opening episode of the 2016/17 season. Lineker had tweeted saying that if his hometown club Leicester City win the Premier League, he would film the first episode of the following season in just his pants.
As history recalls, the foxes did win the league, in what is regarded as the best season in Premier League history and Lineker stuck to his word, leaving the UK in hysterics.
It’s crazy that presenting in his pants after Leicester winning the Premier League, won’t go down as the most surreal moment in Gary Lineker’s MOTD career! pic.twitter.com/Qew8ndo7lp
— Joël Grimal (@FFP83) March 11, 2023
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