Alan Hansen, Mark Lawrenson and Des Lynam - Where 90s Match of the Day stars are now
Match of the Day has been a staple of British TV for the last 60 years, with a number of football players turned pundits fronting the BBC show since 1964
Des Lynam and Jimmy Hill on Match of the Day (Image: BBC)
Match of the Day, a cornerstone of British television, has been gracing our screens for an impressive 60 years, with a host of footballing legends transitioning from the pitch to the punditry chair since its inception in 1964.
But what became of the iconic figures from the nineties who dissected the week's footballing action? Today's viewers will instantly recognise Gary Lineker, Mark Chapman, and Alan Shearer as the familiar faces of the show, but those who tuned in during the 90s will nostalgically recall the likes of Alan Hansen, Mark Lawrenson, and Des Lynam steering the ship.
Ever wondered what paths these presenters took after their tenure on the BBC's flagship football programme? The Mirror combed the archives to examine what some of British football's most well-known faces have been up to since.
Alan Hansen was a staple of Match of the Day (Image: BBC Sport)
Alan Hansen
Alan Hansen, celebrated as one of Scotland's finest footballers and ex-captain of Liverpool, joined the Match of the Day team as an analyst in 1992. After a remarkable 22-year stint, he stepped back from the spotlight following the 2014 World Cup, opting for a quieter life.
In a concerning update, Liverpool recently announced Hansen is "seriously ill" in hospital. The club expressed their solidarity on X (formerly Twitter), in a statement that read: "The thoughts and support of everyone at Liverpool FC are with our legendary former captain Alan Hansen, who is currently seriously ill in hospital."
Des Lynam also hosted the Premier League highlights show (Image: ITV)
Invalid email
We use your sign-up to provide content in ways you've consented to and to improve our understanding of you. This may include adverts from us and 3rd parties based on our understanding. You can unsubscribe at any time. Read our Privacy Policy
Des Lynam
Des Lynam, the iconic face of Match of the Day for over a decade, has swapped the studio for storytelling, becoming an unexpected 'real-life Dr Doolittle'. The veteran broadcaster, who began his career with Sportswide in 1977 and led MOTD from 1988 to 1999 before moving to ITV, has now turned his talents to penning animal-themed books.
His literary journey began with the whimsical 'Now Who's Talking?' series. Reflecting on this surprising pivot, Lynam revealed: "It never occurred to me about writing about animals. I was looking out of the window one day.
"The two magpies who usually stood together were at opposite ends of the garden. I wondered if they'd had a row. Obviously, we don't know how they communicate, so I made it up from there. I made them speak English obviously, and created some dialogue, that was the first one and it grew from there, doing other animals. I thought it was quite funny and hoped somebody else would."
Trending
Mark Lawrenson was part of the MOTD cast for 21 years (Image: PA)
Mark Lawrenson
Another household name, Mark Lawrenson parted ways with the BBC after a remarkable two-decade stint on the show. Lawrenson, who graced the screens on MOTD from 1997 to 2018 and continued with Football Focus until his retirement at the close of the 2021/22 season, has controversially suggested that his departure was due to being "65 and a white male."
In a candid chat with The Times back in 2022, Lawrenson disclosed: "The Beeb are probably the worst at giving you bad news. It was just, 'We are going on the road next season with Focus. We don't think it is really something for you.' I haven't watched the programme since to see if they have gone on the road."
He further lamented: "I just wish they had said to me at the start of my contract last year, 'You've had a great run, thanks very much and you are not working next season.'"
Two years after his exit, Lawrenson's opinion of the BBC remains low, earlier this year branding the broadcaster as "top of the woke league."
Jimmy Hill (left) and Bob Wilson (right) on Match of the Day (Image: BBC)
Bob Wilson
Ex-Arsenal shot-stopper Bob Wilson made his Match of the Day debut in 1976, joining forces with the legendary Jimmy Hill. He stayed with the programme until 1994, then switched to ITV to cover Champions League, League Cup and FA Cup matches.
Wilson also founded The Willow Foundation in honour of his daughter Anna, who tragically passed away at 31 from malignant schwannoma - and he was honoured with an OBE in 2007 for his charitable efforts.
Jimmy Hill is one of the most recognisable faces of MOTD (Image: BBC)
Jimmy Hill
Once a distinguished player for Brentford and Fulham, and a dedicated manager for Coventry City, Jimmy Hill swapped the pitch for the broadcasting studio in 1973. Joining Match of the Day, he served as a presenter for 15 years, racking up 600 appearances.
Hill made a comeback to the show as an analyst in 1994, contributing for another three years.
In 1999, he made the switch from BBC to Sky Sports. Hill was diagnosed with Alzheimer's in 2008 and sadly passed away at the age of 87 in 2015. A statue honouring his six-year managerial career now stands outside Coventry's Ricoh Arena.
Ray Stubbs was a stand-in presenter (Image: BBC SPORT)
Ray Stubbs
Ray Stubbs began his broadcasting journey with BBC Manchester in the late '80s, primarily covering snooker and darts. His big break came with Grandstand, Sportsnight and as a stand-in presenter for Match of the Day.
Between 1993 and 2009, Stubbs would occasionally appear on the BBC show as relief before leaving the corporation.
Stubbs then transitioned to ESPN, later working with BT Sport and talkSPORT. Most recently, he presented the World Seniors Championship of snooker in May.
