Kelly Cates' vast net worth, dating life and famous father as she ...

Kelly Cates is reportedly in line to take over from Gary Lineker on next season's Match of the Day.

After a distinguished 25-year spell, Gary Lineker disclosed his intentions to leave the popular Saturday evening show after the 2024/25 season, with plans to continue with the BBC on projects including FA Cup coverage and as the face of the 2026 World Cup broadcasts.

The daughter of football legend Sir Kenny Dalglish, Cates is believed to be stepping up alongside current MOTD2 host Mark Chapman and presenter Gabby Logan to fill Lineker's shoes post-departure. But what's the story behind the 49-year-old who has been leading at Sky Sports since 2016?

Sky Sports beginnings

Beginning her broadcasting journey in Glasgow, Cates has been recognised for her skilled presenting on Sky Sports News and Setanta Sports before her unexpected departure from Sky following the 2006 World Cup in Germany despite a solid reputation for her work both in-studio and at ground level, reports the Mirror.

Speaking on The Overlap's Not Just Football podcast, Cates shared insights on her move from Sky Sports News. She said: "I left Sky Sports News in 2006, after the Germany World Cup. I'd been there for eight years and I had just turned 30, or I was just turning 31.

"I was engaged but not yet married. I knew I wanted to have children quite soon at that point. It had just been, for a long time, kind of filtering away and running in the back of my head. I came to the end of my contract and was working under my new contract and within the space of about three days, made the decision. I was driving into work one day, I walked in and I said, 'I don't want to sign this new contract, I want to go'."

Cates resumed her stint with Sky Sports in August 2016 as she fronted their live coverage of the Football League, subsequently moving on to Premier League duties by the next year, often seen presenting Friday Night Football and engaging viewers during Saturday morning slots. Not a stranger to the BBC either, Cates frequently makes appearances on BBC Radio 5 Live's 5 Live Sport show midweek.

Match of the Day job

Poised for a new Match of the Day challenge, reports from the Daily Mail suggest that Cates is singled out as the prime external choice to take up Lineker's mantle after he departs from Match of the Day upon season's closure. After succeeding Des Lynam in 1999, Lineker has become synonymous with the leading BBC platform.

Nonetheless, the broadcasting giant could be ushering in a new era of programming beginning 2025/26, hinting at an arrangement where Cates, along with Chapman and Logan, would rotate hosting responsibilities. Discussing his decision to leave, Lineker reflected: "I feel this is now the right time."

According to The Mail, when the next Premier League highlights contract is due for renewal, the BBC plans to refresh the format of Match of the Day, meaning it makes sense for someone else to present it. The report also claims that Cates' current employer Sky is "deeply saddened" by her decision to switch roles.

Famous father

Cates is the daughter of Liverpool legend Kenny Dalglish. Nicknamed 'King Kenny', he had a stellar playing career at Anfield between 1977 and 1990 and returned twice as manager.

He scored 170 goals and provided 186 assists in 511 appearances, winning six First Division titles, four League Cups, an FA Cup and a European Super Cup.

Dalglish also enjoyed success as a manager, winning the 1994/95 Premier League with Blackburn Rovers, the 2000 Scottish League Cup with Celtic and the 2011/12 League Cup with Liverpool. Cates has previously spoken about how her father would discourage her from mixing with players while he was manager. She said: "When I was the manager's daughter, I was not encouraged to hang around footballers; quite the opposite.

"I was like 13 or 14 and then a bit older. It was, 'you come into the office, you stand with us and stay clear of everybody'. It wasn't really a mingling opportunity. My first experience of footballers were my mum and dad's friends. I would see the wives and kids as much as I would see the footballers. When it's your dad's workmates they're not really that interesting. That's kind of how I first saw footballers."

Personal life

Cates tied the knot with TV producer Tom Cates in 2007 and they have two daughters together. However, their marriage ended in 2021 and Kelly has started dating again.

Despite this, she admitted to feeling "nervous" about getting back into the dating game. Speaking on Gabby Logan's Mid Point podcast, she said: "I don't have a picture in my head of why a middle-aged, slightly overweight mother of two could possibly be attractive.

"I can't get my head round that. It's not that I'm putting myself down and it's not a lack of confidence or a low self-esteem. It's just I don't know what that would look like."

She continued: "The thought of going on a date, spending an evening with someone and at the end of it thinking, 'Well, I don't really like you', I would be so resentful of them taking up my time. Obviously it's vice-versa, too, but I'm not really bothered about it from their perspective bearing in mind I don't get to see the people I do like very often."

Staggering net worth

Although the exact net worth of Cates remains a closely guarded secret, some reports suggest it could be as high as £7.9million ($10m). Her broadcasting career is undoubtedly the primary contributor to her estimated wealth.

However, it's also reported that she has boosted her earnings through brand deals and investments over the years.