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BBC's Match of the Day is changing hands — and it's official: Kelly Cates is one of the show's new female hosts. The news marks an exciting new era for the beloved football roundup show, with the announcement that Kelly will join Gabby Logan and Mark Chapman as a three-person team fronting the show.
BBC Sports revealed the big MOTD news on social media on 15 Jan, captioning a photo of the trio: “New squad for next season! We’re delighted to announce that Kelly Cates, Mark Chapman and Gabby Logan will share Match of the Day presenting duties from 2025-26.”
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Cates is also a host at Sky Sports, where she will continue to present. She told the BBC of her new role and colleagues: "We are all friends and we've known each other for a long time and that's a really lovely part of it. Not only is it a great role just on its own but I'm sharing it with two people I really admire, respect and genuinely like. It's a great set-up."
So, MOTD is getting a dose of female energy – but who is Kelly Cates? Here's what we know about the new host of Match of the Day.
Here's everything we know about the sequel.
Kelly Cates grew up surrounded by football
Cates grew up in Glasgow surrounded by the beautiful game. Her father, Kenny Dalglish, was a former Liverpool player and manager, while her brother Paul, later became a professional footballer who played for Newcastle, Norwich and Blackpool and later became a coach in the United States.
Although Cates fell in love with the sport, she quickly realised she was not destined to play. “I ran down the wing thinking, ‘Oh, this will be easy,’ tripped over and knocked myself out!” she said in an interview, recalling playing as an 11-year-old. “That was the end of my football career.”
Kelly Cates joined Sky Sports News in 1998
Although Cates quickly realised that she wasn't meant to be a player, her upbringing gave her a unique perspective on the game.
“Growing up around footballers means I have a different understanding about how they think,” she said. “Especially with managers. You are often asking them questions in the heat of the moment straight after a game. I’ve had managers get a bit annoyed by a question but it’s often not me they are angry at. They are under a lot of pressure.”
This insight made her perfect for the Sky Sports News channel, which launched in 1998. After she was offered the role, she gave up her maths degree and the University of Glasgow and dove headfirst into presenting.
With candid interviews from the Spanish women's football team.
Kelly Cates has hosted a range of sports shows and events
Since then, Cates has taken on numerous presenting gigs. In 2012, she hosted Channel 4’s coverage of the Paralympic Games in London. In 2015, she co-hosted Channel 5’s Football League Tonight with George Riley.
In 2016, after a hiatus from Sky, she returned to the network to host first their Football League matches and later their Premier League games.
