Jeff Stelling to leave Sky Sports’ Soccer Saturday in summer but isn’t retiring

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Jeff Stelling has announced that he will be calling full time on his role as presenter of Soccer Saturday at the end of the current season.

The popular 66-year-old said he is not retiring completely but confirmed he would be stepping down as host of the iconic Sky Sports results show that he has anchored for over 25 years.

Stelling made the shock announcement at the start of Saturday's programme. In a press release he said: "I have loved every moment of my 30 years with Sky, but like every Saturday afternoon the time eventually comes to blow the final whistle.

"I am proud to have been part of such a winning team for so long and look forward to the many more special moments on Soccer Saturday for rest of this season – and perhaps even another promotion push from Hartlepool United.”

Jonathan Licht, Managing Director of Sky Sports, paid tribute to Stelling's longevity and praised him for growing Soccer Saturday into something that is loved by football fans of all ages around the country.

He said" "Jeff is a true broadcasting legend and has been a big part of Sky Sports growth and popularity over the last 30 years.

"Jeff’s pure passion and dedication to the game has set him apart and made Soccer Saturday a fixture for millions of fans every Saturday afternoon.

"The goals, the laughs, the red cards and the missed red cards have helped create one of the most popular TV shows in sport and Jeff has been the centrepiece of that.

"Jeff will be sorely missed, but we are delighted that he will leading the team through to the end of the season. There will rightly be many tributes to Jeff, and Sky Sports will be giving him the great send off in May that his remarkable and enduring contribution deserves."

Stelling joined Sky Sports in 1992 and hosted the broadcaster's coverage of the Champions League between 2011 and 2015 as well as Monday Night Football for a time.

He also presented Sky's darts coverage for a period.

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