Match of the Day will add Phil Neville, Ruud Gullit and Rio Ferdinand to its punditry team for the 2014/15 season, it has been revealed.
The trio will replace Alan Hansen, who retired from BBC Sport after the Brazil World Cup.
Neville lands the role despite criticism of his performance at the World Cup, which sparked a huge amount of jokes and mockery on Twitter.
Alan Shearer, Robbie Savage and Danny Murphy will remain as the core punditry team as the show celebrates its 50th anniversary.
Gary Lineker also returns as the host for his 16th year at the helm, delivering augmented reality graphics, Opta statistics and live social media votes.
Commentators for the new season are Guy Mowbray, Steve Wilson, Jonathan Pearce, Simon Brotherton, Steve Bower and John Motson, who has been with the programme for over 40 of the 50 years.
Match of the Day's 50th anniversary will be celebrated...
The trio will replace Alan Hansen, who retired from BBC Sport after the Brazil World Cup.
Neville lands the role despite criticism of his performance at the World Cup, which sparked a huge amount of jokes and mockery on Twitter.
Alan Shearer, Robbie Savage and Danny Murphy will remain as the core punditry team as the show celebrates its 50th anniversary.
Gary Lineker also returns as the host for his 16th year at the helm, delivering augmented reality graphics, Opta statistics and live social media votes.
Commentators for the new season are Guy Mowbray, Steve Wilson, Jonathan Pearce, Simon Brotherton, Steve Bower and John Motson, who has been with the programme for over 40 of the 50 years.
Match of the Day's 50th anniversary will be celebrated...
- 8/6/2014
- Digital Spy
Despite uttering the infamous line "you can't win anything with kids", Alan Hansen went on to become one of the longest-running and most well-respected football pundits in the UK.
After 22 years, Hansen has appeared on his final edition of Match of the Day on BBC One, leaving Alan Shearer as the only regular pundit alongside Gary Lineker on the flagship football show.
With a place to fill, Digital Spy has selected 11 potential candidates to replace Hansen as the next full-time pundit from the 2014/15 season onwards.
1. Gary Neville
The BBC may be tempted to sensationally poach arguably the best pundit working today in Gary Neville. Sky are highly unlikely to let the older Neville leave, but he would bring a modern, technology-filled touch to proceedings. Despite only working on TV for a couple of seasons, he has already built a reputation as an intelligent expert, rather than just an ex-player saying a few words on screen.
After 22 years, Hansen has appeared on his final edition of Match of the Day on BBC One, leaving Alan Shearer as the only regular pundit alongside Gary Lineker on the flagship football show.
With a place to fill, Digital Spy has selected 11 potential candidates to replace Hansen as the next full-time pundit from the 2014/15 season onwards.
1. Gary Neville
The BBC may be tempted to sensationally poach arguably the best pundit working today in Gary Neville. Sky are highly unlikely to let the older Neville leave, but he would bring a modern, technology-filled touch to proceedings. Despite only working on TV for a couple of seasons, he has already built a reputation as an intelligent expert, rather than just an ex-player saying a few words on screen.
- 7/14/2014
- Digital Spy
I never thought I'd ever say this, but ITV aren't as bad as everyone makes out when it comes to live football. Hear me out - it's not as crazy as it may first sound.
For years, I've been baffled that anyone would choose to watch ITV over BBC One if given the choice. However, as this year's World Cup has proved so far, both channels have had their fair share of gaffes and errors.
The BBC is pretty stellar when it comes to live tennis, snooker, athletics and many other sports, and Match of the Day is clearly light years ahead of ITV's The Premiership, but has ITV suddenly gained back some ground this year?
There's probably two words that you're thinking which throws out my argument: Adrian Chiles. The former BBC man has become the face of ITV football, possibly because they're stuck with him and don't know where to plonk him.
For years, I've been baffled that anyone would choose to watch ITV over BBC One if given the choice. However, as this year's World Cup has proved so far, both channels have had their fair share of gaffes and errors.
The BBC is pretty stellar when it comes to live tennis, snooker, athletics and many other sports, and Match of the Day is clearly light years ahead of ITV's The Premiership, but has ITV suddenly gained back some ground this year?
There's probably two words that you're thinking which throws out my argument: Adrian Chiles. The former BBC man has become the face of ITV football, possibly because they're stuck with him and don't know where to plonk him.
- 6/19/2014
- Digital Spy
Alan Hansen bid farewell to the Match of the Day studio last night as he called time on the 2013/14 Premier League season and also his own career at the BBC.
Hansen has been one of the key faces of BBC Football for 22 years, but after one more World Cup in Brazil, the former Liverpool captain will be hanging up his punditry boots for good.
He managed to turn "shocking defending" into a catchphrase and his line, "you can't win anything with kids" - referring to a Manchester United team who went on to win the double in 1995 - still haunts him to this day.
But Hansen hasn't been universally liked as a pundit for many years. From criticisms about his hefty pay packet, to his partnership on the Match of the Day panel with Alan Shearer, there are plenty of football fans who consider him a crossed-legged cliché machine and uninspiring.
Hansen has been one of the key faces of BBC Football for 22 years, but after one more World Cup in Brazil, the former Liverpool captain will be hanging up his punditry boots for good.
He managed to turn "shocking defending" into a catchphrase and his line, "you can't win anything with kids" - referring to a Manchester United team who went on to win the double in 1995 - still haunts him to this day.
But Hansen hasn't been universally liked as a pundit for many years. From criticisms about his hefty pay packet, to his partnership on the Match of the Day panel with Alan Shearer, there are plenty of football fans who consider him a crossed-legged cliché machine and uninspiring.
- 5/12/2014
- Digital Spy
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