The Premier League is one of the biggest football competitions in the world, with clubs such as Manchester United, Arsenal and Liverpool drawing fans from across the planet.
Every week during the season, all eyes turn to England as its clubs do battle in the country's top division, with television cameras in every stadium across the land.
As well as live action, fans are able to tune in to Match of the Day to take in the day's action and it is one of the most popular sports programmes in the country.
Goal brings you everything you need to know about the programme, including when it's on, who presents it and more.
What is Match of the Day?
Match of the Day is a football highlights programme which focuses on the top division of the English football pyramid - known nowadays as the Premier League.
First launched in 1964, it is one of the longest running football television shows in the world and one of British television's longest running programmes.
The premise of Match of the Day is to show all the goals and best bits from that day's action, as well as airing post-match interviews with both managers and players.
Furthermore, a panel of pundits - usually ex professional footballers - discuss and debate the on and off-field events.
What channel is Match of the Day on?
| TV channel | Online stream |
|---|---|
| BBC One | BBC iPlayer |
Match of the Day is broadcast on BBC One and generally airs every Saturday for the duration of the English football season.
As well as being able to watch the show live on television, Match of the Day is also available to watch online via the BBC iPlayer.
Match of the Day Theme Tune
The music which introduces the show is known as the Match of the Day theme and it was first used 1970, six years after the first broadcast.
Barry Stoller composed the music after consultation with the show's then-editor Sam Leitch, who was in the process of moulding a new look for the programme at the time.
"I felt like I had just been asked to find the Holy Grail," Stoller wrote in a piece for the BBC recalling the composition.
The song itself has become iconic, with its fanfare style, incorporating trumpets, proving ideal for heralding the beginning of a football feast.
You can listen to the theme tune here.
Match of the Day Presenters & Pundits
There have been a number of different presenters since Match of the Day's launch in 1964, with five permanent fixtures during that time.
Kenneth Wolstenholme, who would later deliver the famous 'They think it's all over...' line at the 1966 World Cup final, was the first presenter of the show.
Wolstenholme was replaced by David Coleman, who also presented Grandstand and was the BBC's senior football reporter at the time.
Match of the Day presenters 1964-present
| Presenter | Duration |
|---|---|
| Kenneth Wolstenholme | 1964-1967 |
| David Coleman | 1967-1973 |
| Jimmy Hill | 1973-1988 |
| Des Lynam | 1988-1999 |
| Gary Lineker | 1999-present |
In 1973, a former professional footballer took the Match of the Day hotseat for the first time as Jimmy Hill became the show's presenter. The former Fulham star was at the helm of the show until 1988 when he was replaced by Des Lynam.
Lynam, who like Coleman before him also presented Sportsnight and Grandstand, took the show into the 1990s and the Premier League era, remaining in the post until 1999. He was succeeded by former Tottenham and Barcelona striker Gary Lineker, who had been a regular analyst on the show.
There have also been a number of different guest presenters over the years, with Gabby Logan and Dan Walker filling in on occasion.
Match of the Day Pundits
A major part of the highlight show is the analysis of games and this is provided by a panel of pundits, who tend to be former professionals, though sometimes current professionals also feature.
The current line-up of pundits includes the likes of Alan Shearer, Ian Wright, Jermaine Jenas, Phil Neville and Martin Keown.
In the past, the chief analysts were former Liverpool defensive duo Alan Hansen and Mark Lawrenson, but the former retired in 2014.
What is Match of the Day 2?
Match of the Day 2 follows the exact same premise as Match of the Day, but it is broadcast on Sundays.
It also features a different presenter - Mark Chapman is the incumbent - but there is a lot of crossover when it comes to the featured analysts.