The race is officially on for the BBC to find Gary Lineker’s successor as Match of the Day host, but Danny Murphy already know who he’d pick.
The BBC confirmed Lineker will step down from his Match of the Day role at the end of the 2024/25 season.
However, he will still have a presence with the broadcaster after he signed an 18-month extension which will see him through to the end of the 2026 World Cup.
By the end of the 2024/25 season, Lineker will have hosted Match of the Day for a staggering 26 years.
His shoes will not be easy to fill, meaning the BBC must get it right when it comes to Lineker’s successor.
But who will that all-important figure be?
According to former Liverpool star Danny Murphy, who has worked alongside Lineker on Match of the Day and other BBC shows over the years, believes the next host is hidden in plain sight.
“I feel that they’ve (BBC) got one,” Murphy said on talkSPORT’s Kick Off.
“Mark Chapman, I work with a lot on Sundays. I think he’s a brilliant presenter and very, very knowledgeable on sport and football. Somebody who is ready-made for it.
“Whether he wants it or not, I don’t know. That’s a different question, you’d have to ask him.
“But he would be the glaring, obvious choice for me.”
Chapman began his broadcasting career with the BBC in 1996 and later became the cricket correspondent for BBC North East radio.
Along with hosting Match of the Day 2 on Sundays, Chapman is a highly-visible presence for the BBC’s rugby league coverage and is their chief rugby league presenter.
Chapman also hosts Sports Report on BBC 5 Live, which is one of the longest-running sports radio shows on the planet.
The 51-year-old even hosted two NFL shows for the BBC, further highlighting Murphy’s point regarding his versatility and in-depth knowledge of multiple sports.
Chapman also fronts Sky Sports’ coverage of the Carabao Cup.
Whoever ends up becoming Lineker’s successor, they will be just the third permanent host of Match of the Day since 1988.
Legendary broadcaster Des Lynam was in the hosting role for 11 years before he was replaced by Lineker in 1999.
An official announcement regarding Lineker’s impending exit is expected to be made on Tuesday.
