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Gary Lineker picks his top 10 Premier League moments

24 May 2025
Lineker Top10

The legendary broadcaster marks his final Match of the Day appearance by selecting his stand-out memories

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For 26 years, former Leicester City, Everton, Barcelona, Tottenham Hotspur and England striker Gary Lineker has been one of the faces of TV coverage of the Premier League in the UK, as the presenter of the BBC's weekend highlights programme Match of the Day.

Sunday's show, covering the final day of the 2025/26 season, will be Lineker's last as Match of the Day host.

To mark the occasion, Lineker has talked us through his top 10 Premier League moments while presenting the programme, as well picking 11 players he has most enjoyed watching.

10: Liverpool end long wait for title, 2019/20

"I’m starting with Liverpool ending their 30-year wait. I know because of the COVID-19 restrictions they didn’t get a chance to celebrate their achievement with their fans, but in a way it was even more special - doing it in the most difficult of circumstances.

 

"They had missed out to Manchester City quite a few times before that, and a couple of times with big points totals.

"Even though it was an odd moment, it was also quite a poignant one, lifting the trophy with nobody around."

9: Arsenal’s Invincibles crowned, 2003/04

"Their last match came against Leicester City, who actually took the lead in that game.

 

"Arsenal had some great players, they were a really strong side, and they managed to do it. As a former Spurs man, it pains me a little bit, but I think the Invincibles are definitely worthy of a mention.

"No one ever thought a team would go the whole season unbeaten."

8: Man Utd completing part one of the Treble, 1998/99

"Another team one is Manchester United beating Spurs in the year they went on to win the Treble. That is why it is so significant.

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"They actually went 1-0 down but managed to turn it around. They had to beat Spurs.

"A week or two later, they'd won all three trophies, beating Newcastle United in the FA Cup final and - somehow - Bayern Munich in the UEFA Champions League." 

7: Kompany's cracker in title race, 2018/19

"My next one involves Leicester, too! Man City had to win the game, they were going toe-to-toe with Liverpool.

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"I was watching as a Leicester fan, and I have to say, when Vincent Kompany got the ball and decided to hit it from 30 yards, I thought; ‘yeah, good luck - that’ll be in the stands’. Then it rocketed into the corner!

"I have a lot of time for Kompany, so much respect for him. He's had some really big moments, but that was something special.

"You just knew they were going to win it that season."

6: Leicester's great escape, 2014/15

"I will have to go for Leicester's great escape next. Leicester were doomed, they were definitely going down! We all thought they were.

 

"Then, they won seven of their last nine games of the season. None of us knew it at the time, but it was giving us a little feel of what was to come. 

"You have to remember in the summer that Leicester lost their manager Nigel Pearson, and in came Claudio Ranieri.

"Without that escape, there would have been none of the other incredible Leicester stories."

5: Gundogan rescuing Man City's title bid, 2021/22

"I’ve gone with Ilkay Gundogan's two goals after Man City went 2-0 down to Aston Villa. We all thought they were going to let it slip on the last day of the season, they needed to win. 

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"It wasn’t quite the Aguero moment but it wasn’t far away. This is my list, and he’s not quite No 1. But this, and the Kompany moment, was a period that sums up Pep Guardiola’s control and brilliance. 

"We’ll have to wait and see if that comes back after a difficult season for them." 

4: 'Remember the name, Wayne Rooney!', 2002/03

"I didn't know whether to go with Wayne Rooney's overhead kick against Man City or his opening career goal, but I decided it had to be that incredible moment as a 16-year-old against Arsenal.  

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"‘Remember the name, Wayne Rooney’ was Clive Tyldesley’s commentary of a brilliant goal. What followed was obviously one of the most extraordinary careers. It was just a brilliant goal.

"I only want to use players once but could have had both of his best goals, so I have to give an honourable mention to his overhead kick. That was right up there with the best goals ever scored in the Premier League." 

3: Aguero clinching City’s first PL title, 2011/12

"We’re all biased towards our own clubs, and I make no apology for that! But that is probably the reason why this isn’t first.

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"The Sergio Aguero moment was incredible. Nobody needs to be reminded of where they were. I was in the Match Of The Day office. We had one Man City fan in there with us, and one Man Utd fan.

"There were 15 or 16 of us all together. Apart from the Man Utd fan, the whole office erupted. It wasn’t just the fact it was a last-minute goal, but that they were trailing with minutes to go.

"If I was neutral, this is No 1 - but I’m not!" 

2: Hazard goal wins title for Leicester, 2015/16

"My top two are Leicester-related. This first match doesn't involve them directly, but it’s the Battle of Stamford Bridge.

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"It has to be Eden Hazard's moment when he bent the ball into the top corner against Spurs. I was downstairs at home with all my boys and a couple of friends and we just hugged and we cried, and it still makes me emotional now. Then we all saw the scenes at Jamie Vardy’s house! 

"It was a miracle. The thing about that experience with Leicester was that the closer it got, the more terrifying that it wouldn’t happen became.

"If Spurs would have won that game at Chelsea, it could have all gone wrong. That would have been unbearable, so in terms of an emotional moment, Hazard’s goal has to be in there."

1: Leicester’s crowning glory, 2015/16

"So that leaves one, and it was actually not a moment in terms of a football match.

"It was just before it, when Leicester collected the Premier League trophy. I cried my eyes out in the office. Everyone is looking at me crying, and nobody is giving me any stick for it! 

"Andrea Bocelli performing Nessun Dorma, Ranieri on the pitch, it was incredible, I couldn’t believe what I was watching. I sat there in tears for 15 minutes!

"Leicester winning the Premier League was not possible. I did the silly bet about presenting in my pants, but I felt when I wrote that tweet that it was not possible, there was categorically zero chance. It was impossible. Yet somehow, they managed it.


"I don't think it's just the biggest miracle in football or in the Premier League, but it’s the biggest miracle in sporting history.

"I was always going to do the bet, I work out a lot anyway! I just stopped eating for two days before. It was the most surreal, weird thing I have ever done. But it was fun."

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