Gary Lineker joins LaLigaTV talent lineup in multi-year agreement

Former England captain and FC Barcelona striker Gary Lineker is set to join the on-air talent line-up of LaLigaTV, the 24/7 channel featuring all live matches from Spain’s top flight LaLiga Santander, from next season.

In a multi-year agreement, Lineker will present key fixtures on LaLigaTV and feature regularly on the channel’s Viva LaLiga studio programme, broadcast live from Barcelona, among other LaLiga-related promotional activities.

“I’m thrilled to become a part of LaLigaTV, a channel I’ve watched every weekend for the last two seasons,” said Lineker, who featured for FC Barcelona from 1986 to 1989, scoring 42 goals in 103 league appearances. “I have fond memories of my time playing in Spain and very much look forward to sharing the excitement of LaLiga with viewers in the UK and elsewhere.”

His addition to the LaLigaTV talent roster, alongside Spanish-football experts Guillem Balagué, Graham Hunter, Albert Ferrer, Terry Gibson, Sid Lowe, Gaizka Mendieta, Pete Jenson, Andrea Orlandi, Simon Hanley and others, bolsters the on-air talent pool for the linear TV channel, launched in the UK and Ireland in January 2020 as part of LaLiga’s partnership with Premier Sports. LaLigaTV is also available in the UK via Amazon Prime Video Channels.

Melcior Soler, audiovisual director at LaLiga, said: “Adding Gary Lineker to our talent pool is really exciting for LaLiga fans. He has a vast portfolio of presenting experience and an in-depth knowledge of Spanish football. We look forward to witnessing the expertise, energy and passion he will bring to LaLigaTV.”

Lineker has been the host of BBC’s Match of the Day since 1999, heading up the channel’s coverage of major international tournaments across the same time period and fronting BT Sport’s UEFA Champions League offering for six seasons.

LaLiga’s 2021/22 season kicks off on Friday 13 August.