BBC pundit Danny Murphy has Gary Lineker, commending his "welcoming" and "warm" nature.

As prepares to leave his role at the end of the current season, he's not saying farewell to the entirely; he's set to continue his broadcasting journey with the corporation through to the 2026 World Cup and will also be the face of their FA Cup coverage next season. The beloved figure has been at the helm of Match of the Day since taking over from Des Lynam back in 1999.

Murphy, who played for clubs such as Liverpool and before often joining Lineker on the program, shares that the affable host's absence will be keenly felt. It was 2013 when Murphy kicked off his own BBC career, receiving a heartening welcome that he's never forgotten.

"I'll never forget how he [Lineker] treated me and how welcome he made me, how good he made me feel," Murphy told talkSPORT. "You know, Gary's a friend of mine, and he's been phenomenal to me since the day I walked in the building.

"And a warm, charismatic, intelligent man who knows his football and has become part of everybody's furniture, if you like, on a Saturday evening. I'll just tell you quickly, I mean, from my first... I'd done a few shows, and he was always great."

Besides the camaraderie, it's Lineker's insight into the beautiful game that stays lodged in Murphy's mind with the former Reds star stating further: "[He is] just a very intelligent football man, loves his football. You know, him and his sons, they all love the football as well. And he's doing so many good things.

"He's getting on a bit, just because he looks good for his age doesn't mean he isn't old. He's getting tired in his old age, probably wants to just cook his Sunday roast."

When asked about a potential replacement for his friend, Murphy suggested a fellow BBC colleague: "I feel that they've got [a candidate], Mark Chapman, who I work with a lot on Sundays. I think he's a brilliant presenter and very, very knowledgeable on sport and football.

"Somebody who is ready-made for it. Whether he wants it or not, I don't know. That's a different question, you'd have to ask him. But he would be the glaring, obvious choice for me."