For millions of football fans across the country, Gary Lineker was the face of commentary for over two decades.
In his final speech on the BBC‘s flagship punditry programme, Lineker struggled to follow the emotional tribute to his career that capped off Sunday night’s Match of the Day.
As the cameras turned back to Lineker in the studio, he could be seen wiping his cheeks with a tissue, struggling for a moment to address his final show.
He said: “Let me take this opportunity to thank all the pundits I’ve worked with over the years, you’ve made my job a lot easier.
“Rather like my football career everyone else did all the hard work and I got all the plaudits.”
After choking up, he continued: “It’s been an absolute privilege to have hosted Match of the Day for a quarter of a century, it’s been utterly joyous. I’d like to wish Gabby, Mark and Kelly all the very best when they sit in this chair. The programme is in the very best hands.
“My final thank you goes to all of you. Thank you for watching, thank you for all of your support over the years. It’s been so special and I’m sorry that your team was always on last. Time to say goodbye… goodbye.”