Ian Wright will step down from his regular punditry role with the BBC’s Match of the Day programme at the end of the football season in May 2024. The former Arsenal and England striker announced the news via social media on Sunday morning.
“After my debut show whilst still a player in 1997 and many more memorable years, I’ll be stepping back from BBC MOTD at the end of this season,” Wright posted on X, formerly Twitter. “I feel very privileged to have had such an incredible run on the most iconic football show in the world.”
The 60-year-old made the announcement alongside a separate post from the official Match of the Day account on X. “Ian Wright will step down as a pundit from Match of the Day at the end of the season,” it read. “Thank you for everything, Wrighty.”
"It will always be my Graceland and I will always be watching."@IanWright0 🥹#BBCFootball #MOTD pic.twitter.com/vHH6qLB8uD
— Match of the Day (@BBCMOTD) December 17, 2023
Wright made his debut on the long-running football programme in 1997, while he was still a player, and went on to become a regular pundit after his retirement in 2002. “Anyone that knows my story knows how much the show has meant to me since I was [a] young boy,” Wright added in his statement.
“MOTD is my Holy Grail. On my first ever show, I told Des Lynam, ‘This is my Graceland’. It will always be my Graceland and I will always be watching.”
“I’m stepping back having made great friends and many great memories,” Wright continued. “This decision has been coming for a while, maybe my [60th] birthday earlier this year fast tracked it a little, but ultimately it’s time to do a few more different things with my Saturdays.”
“I’m really looking forward to my last months on the show and covering what will hopefully be an amazing Premier League title race.”
In March this year, Wright was among the first pundits to withdraw from participating in an edition of Match of the Day after the programme’s main presenter, Gary Lineker, was suspended. “Everybody knows what Match of the Day means to me, but I’ve told the BBC I won’t be doing it tomorrow. Solidarity,” Wright tweeted at the time.
Lineker was stood down by the BBC for breaching impartiality guidelines after criticising the government’s asylum policies on social media. The decision led to the programme being broadcast without a presenter, a pundit or commentary, before Lineker returned to the programme for the following week.
On Sunday, Lineker paid tribute to Wright after his former England teammate’s announcement. “It has been an absolute pleasure and privilege to work alongside you, Ian. One of my favourite people on the planet. Farewell my friend.”
Alan Shearer, another former England forward who regularly works alongside Wright on the programme, wrote: “See you in three hours. I’ll give you a big hug!!!”
