Season 1999/2000 Plot
Before the season began, on 2 August, Des Lynam resigned from the BBC and moved to ITV to become their main football presenter. Gary Lineker took over as the main presenter for the show.
Match of the Day Season 1999/2000 aired on August 7th, 1999.
Season 1999/2000 Episodes
1. 7th August 1999
The best of the action and all the goals from the opening day of the season in the Premiership. The pick of the games are Gianluca Vialli's Chelsea clash with Peter Reid's newly promoted Sunderland, while fellow new boys Watford, managed by Graham Taylor, meet a Wimbledon side adjusting to life under Egil Olsen.
2. 11th August 1999
Highlights from the midweek Premiership programme. Among the games featured are Aston Villa's home game against Everton, and Sheffield Wednesday against treble winners Manchester United. Plus the goals from last night's games.
3. 14th August 1999
Gary Lineker introduces action from three of today's games in the FA Premiership including Manchester United's clash with Leeds United at Old Trafford. Plus a roundup of all the day's goals and important incidents.
4. 21st August 1999
Highlights from three of today's games in the FA Premiership including Coventry City's match with Derby County. There's also a roundup of all the day's goals and talking points.
5. 25th August 1999
Tonight's football highlights are dominated by the latest episode in one of the game's fiercest rivalries, Newcastle v Sunderiand. Newcastle manager Ruud Gullit and Sunderland manager Peter Reid have each added new players to their squad over the summer, with Kieran Dyer transferring to Newcastle from Ipswich for £6 million, and former Arsenal team mates Steve Bould and Stefan Schwartz among Sunderland's new signings. The night's other highlights include Manchester United v Coventry City and Chelsea v Tottenham.
6. 27th August 1999: Uefa Super Cup: Manchester United v Lazio
The winners of last season's Champions' League, Manchester United, take on European Cup Winners' Cup heroes Lazio in the Uefa Super Cup in Monaco. The Red Devils' amply stocked silverware cabinet could be augmented if the likes of David Beckham, Dwight Yorke and Ryan Giggs are on peak form. Their fanbase will also hope new goalkeeper Mark Bosnich , who has filled the yawning gap left by Peter Schmeichel , adapts quickly to continental competition in United's first night of European action this season. Lazio lost striker Christian Vieri to Inter Milan in a world-record deal in the close season, but their side is still one of Europe's strongest, with the Argentinian duo of Diego Simeone and Juan Veron providing midfield inspiration. Coach Sven Goran Eriksson's side narrowly missed out on the Italian league title last season, but clinched the last ever Cup Winners' Cup when they beat Real Mallorca at Villa Park in May.
7. 28th August 1999
Gary Lineker presents highlights from today's FA Premiership matches including the Anfield meeting between Liverpool and Arsenal. There's also the usual roundup of goals and talking points from the day's other fixtures which include Leeds United's trip to White Hart Lane to play Spurs, and the Selhurst Park clash between Wimbledon and Chelsea.
8. 8th September 1999: Euro 2000 qualifier: Poland v England
Gary Lineker introduces highlights of this evening's crucial Euro 2000 qualifier between Poland and England in Warsaw, with analysis from former England captain David Platt.
9. 11th September 1999
Gary Lineker introduces the day's Premiership action including extended highlights of Arsenal v Aston Villa. Plus the August Goal of the Month competition.
10. 18th September 1999
Gary Lineker introduces today's Premiership highlights, with Leicester City v Liverpool as the featured match.
11. 25th September 1999
Gary Lineker with FA Premiership action including highlights of Middlesbrough v Chelsea.
12. 2nd October 1999
Gary Lineker with highlights from today's FA Premiership programme.
13. 3rd October 1999
Highlights of today's Premiership matches, including Arsenal's trip to West Ham, and Middlesbrough's visit to Bobby Robson 's new-look Newcastle.
14. 16th October 1999
Gary Lineker introduces highlights of Leeds United v Sheffield Wednesday, plus action from today's other Premiership ties.
15. 23rd October 1999
Gary Lineker introduces highlights of Chelsea v Arsenal, plus action from today's other Premiership ties.
16. 30th October 1999: FA Cup First Round
Gary Lineker with FA Premiership highlights including Leeds United v West Ham. Plus FA Cup first-round action.
17. 6th November 1999
Gary Lineker with FA Premiership action including highlights from Middlesbrough v Sunderland.
18. 13th November 1999: Euro 2000 payoff: Republic of Ireland v Turkey
Gary Lineker introduces coverage of this Euro playoff, first-leg encounter at Lansdowne Road, Dublin. Mick McCarthy 's men will need a healthy lead to take into the intimidating atmosphere of Wednesday's return leg in Turkey.
19. 20th November 1999: FA Cup Second Round
Gary Lineker introduces highlights of this afternoon's FA Premiership action, including Everton's clash with Chelsea at Goodison Park. Plus a roundup of today's FA Cup second-round matches.
20. 27th November 1999
FA Premiership action including highlights from the derby between Coventry and Leicester.
21. 4th December 1999
FA Premiership action including highlights from Derby's clash with Leeds.
22. 11th December 1999: FA Cup Third Round
Gary Lineker unveils highlights from today's FA Cup third-round clashes.
23. 18th December 1999
Gary Lineker unveils highlights from today's Premiership programme, with Liverpool's game against Coventry City the featured match.
24. 26th December 1999
All the news, goals and action from the day's traditional Boxing Day fixture list, which sees Newcastle take on Liverpool at St James' Park, Bradford face Manchester United at Old Trafford, and struggling Sheffield Wednesday play host to Middlesbrough.
25. 28th December 1999
All the goals from today's Premiership matches, including Arsenal v Leeds.
26. 3rd January 2000
Gary Lineker introduces highlights from the new year's first FA Premiership fixtures. Featuring Wimbledon v Sunderland from Selhurst Park, with the Wearsiders aiming for a place in Europe, thanks largely to the goal-scoring exploits of Kevin Phillips and Niall Quinn, and the Dons making a solid recovery after a shaky start to the season. Plus goals and action from the rest of the Premiership programme.
27. 6th January 2000: Fifa Club World Championship
Coverage of the first two matches in the inaugural Club World Championship from Brazil. Sao Paulo is the venue for tonight's Group A games, which begin with Real Madrid versus Al-Nassr of Saudi Arabia, holders of the Asian Super Cup. Followed by full match coverage of Brazilian champions Corinthians against Raja of Morocco, recent winners of the African Champions' League.
28. 6th January 2000: Fifa Club World Championship: Manchester United v Necaxa
Coverage as Manchester United open their challenge for the Club World Championship at the Maracana Stadium in Rio de Janeiro. United had unprecedented domestic and European success last season and recently became the first British club to win the World Club Cup. Their opponents tonight are the Mexican Concacaf Champions' Cup winners Necaxa. With an average age of over 30, they may be heading into their final season as a strong force, but they do boast the Champions' Cup top scorer Agustin Delgado.
29. 8th January 2000: Fifa Club World Championship
Ray Stubbs introduces coverage of the Club World Championship match between Real Madrid and Brazilian champions Corinthians, the bookmakers' favourite to lift the trophy. Plus full delayed coverage of Asian Super Cup holders Al-Nassr's clash with the African Champions' League winners, Raja of Morocco.
30. 8th January 2000: Fifa Club World Championship: Manchester United v Vasco da Gama
Manchester United play their second game in the championship at the Maracana Stadium in Rio de Janeiro, the home stadium of their opponents tonight. Vasco da Gama are the Copa Libertadores winners and are second favourites to take the tournament title behind fellow Brazilian rivals Corinthians. The United defence will have to be at its sharpest to contain the undoubted talents of the club's top scorer and Brazilian international, Edmundo, who is one of the most gifted players in the world.
31. 8th January 2000: FA Cup Fourth Round
Ray Stubbs unveils all the best action and goals from today's FA Cup fourth-round matches.
32. 11th January 2000: Fifa Club World Championship
Full coverage of two Group A matches. Real Madrid of Spain take on African club champions Raja Casablanca, followed by Al Nassr of Saudi Arabia against Corinthians from Brazil.
33. 11th January 2000: Fifa Club World Championship: Manchester United v South Melbourne
Coverage from the Maracana Stadium in Rio de Janeiro as Alex Ferguson 's men take on the Oceania club champions in their final Group B fixture. The triple-winning Reds will begin the match as firm favourites and a victory over the Australian side tonight could earn United a place in Friday's final.
34. 12th January 2000: Fifa Club World Championship
Vasco da Gama v Necaxa. Coverage of this Group B game at the Maracana Stadium in Rio de Janeiro. The match brings the group phase of the tournament to a close. Plus a rerun of Manchester United's game against South Melbourne.
35. 14th January 2000: Fifa Club World Championship Third Place Playoff
Gary Lineker presents coverage of the third-place play-off.
36. 14th January 2000: Fifa Club World Championship Final
From the Maracana stadium in Rio de Janeiro, the final of this inaugural tournament in which many see the British representatives Manchester United as clear favourites. If there is a draw after 90 minutes then golden goal extra time will be played followed by penalties.
37. 15th January 2000
Ray Stubbs unveils all the best action and goals from today's Premiership matches.
38. 22nd January 2000
Gary Lineker introduces the best action and goals from today's Premiership matches, with Chelsea's visit to Aston Villa the featured match.
39. 29th January 2000: FA Cup Fifth Round
Gary Lineker introduces action from today's FA Cup fifth round matches, focusing on Coventry City v Charlton Athletic and Gillingham v Sheffield Wednesday.
40. 31st January 2000: FA Cup Fifth Round
Highlights of tonight's FA Cup fifth-round clash which saw First Division Blackburn Rovers at home to Premiership Newcastle United.
41. 5th February 2000
Gary Lineker introduces action from today's Premiership matches, focusing on Liverpool's clash with Leeds.
42. 12th February 2000
Gary Lineker introduces action from today's Premiership matches, including highlights of Leeds against Tottenham.
43. 19th February 2000: FA Cup Sixth Round
Gary Lineker introduces highlights of the day's only FA Cup sixth-round tie, between Bolton Wanderers and Chariton Athletic.
44. 20th February 2000: FA Cup Sixth Round
Gary Lineker introduces action from today's FA Cup quarter-finals, featuring Everton v Aston Villa, Chelsea v Gillingham and Tranmere Rovers v Newcastle United.
45. 26th February 2000
Gary Lineker introduces all the goals and the best of the day's action from the Premiership, including highlights of Middlesbrough v Leeds United.
46. 4th March 2000
Gary Lineker introduces all the goals and the best of the day's action from the Premiership, including highlights of Liverpool v Manchester United and Derby v Wimbledon.
47. 11th March 2000
Gary Lineker introduces the day's Premiership action, including highlights of Liverpool v Sunderland.
48. 18th March 2000
Gary Lineker introduces all the goals and the best of the day's Premiership action, including highlights of Leicester City v Manchester United.
49. 25th March 2000
Gary Lineker introduces the best of the day's Premiership action, including Bradford v Manchester United.
50. 1st April 2000
Gary Lineker introduces the best of the day's Premiership action, including Leeds United v Chelsea.
51. 8th April 2000
Gary Lineker introduces the best of the day's Premiership action, including Bradford v Southampton.
52. 9th April 2000: FA Cup Semi Final: Chelsea v Newcastle
Highlights of today's FA Cup semi-final between Chelsea and Newcastle from Wembley. Plus the best of the day's Premiership action, including Leeds United's visit to Aston Villa.
53. 15th April 2000
Gary Lineker introduces the best of the day's Premiership action.
54. 22nd April 2000
Gary Lineker introduces the pick of the day's matches from the Premiership.
55. 24th April 2000
Highlights of today's FA Premiership fixtures, including extensive action from Derby v Southampton and the top-of-the-table clash between Manchester United and Chelsea at Old Trafford.
56. 29th April 2000
Gary Lineker introduces the pick of the day's Premiership matches.
57. 6th May 2000
Gary Lineker introduces Premiership highlights, including Arsenal v Chelsea.
58. Match of the Day - the Musical
A light-hearted celebration of the link between music and football, featuring classic clips from the BBC sport archives. Presented by Gary Lineker.
59. 14th May 2000
On the final day of the Premiership, Liverpool travel to struggling Bradford intending to secure a Champions' League place, while West Ham entertain Leeds and Southampton take on Wimbledon at the Dell.
60. 17th May 2000: Uefa Cup Final: Arsenal v Galatasaray
Coverage of the Uefa Cup final from the Parken stadium in Copenhagen. Both Arsenal and their Turkish opponents began their European campaigns in the Champions' League, before entering the Uefa Cup after elimination at the first group stage. The north London side will start as favourites, particularly as their squad boasts several players who have already tasted victory in European and international finals. Galatasaray, who became the first Turkish club to reach a European final after defeating Leeds United in two highly-charged semi-final legs, will be determined to stop Arsenal emulating their 1994 Cup Winners' Cup win in this stadium.
61. 20th May 2000: FA Cup Final: Chelsea v Aston Villa
Highlights of this afternoon's FA Cup final between Chelsea and Aston Villa at Wembley.
62. 10th June 2000: Euro 2000
Group B: Ray Stubbs introduces highlights of Belgium v Sweden from the first day of Euro 2000 for the Henri Delaunay trophy, plus a look at tomorrow's fixtures.
63. 11th June 2000: Euro 2000
Group B: Turkey v Italy from the Gelredome in Arnhem, Netherlands. Turkey will have a tough match against an Italian side desperate to prove themselves on the European stage.
64. 11th June 2000: Euro 2000
Group D: Netherlands v Czech Republic from the Amsterdam Arena. The Dutch are many people's favourites to win the tournament and will be hoping to capitalise on their home advantage, but the Czech side, largely unchanged since reaching the Euro 96 final, will be hoping to make their mark early on in the competition.
65. 12th June 2000: Euro 2000
Group A: Germany v Romania. The opening match in England's group, from Liege, Belgium. Defending champions Germany, a vastly experienced side, are bidding for their fourth European championship title.
66. 12th June 2000: Euro 2000
Group A: Extended highlights of England's crucial opening game against Group A outsiders Portugal from Eindhoven, Holland. Also includes a preview of tomorrow's action including Yugoslavia v Slovenia and Spain v Norway.
67. 13th June 2000: Euro 2000
Group C: Yugoslavia v Slovenia at the Stade Communal in Charleroi, Belgium, where England play Germany on Saturday, is the setting for this Group C match. The Yugoslavs' qualifying progamme was severely disrupted by the war in Serbia but they eventually clinched Group 8 ahead of the Republic of Ireland and Croatia. Slovenia reached the finals via the playoff route, overturning a talented Ukrainian side after finishing eight points behind Norway in their qualifying group.
68. 14th June 2000: Euro 2000
Group B: Italy v Belgium from the King Baudouin stadium in Brussels. As automatic qualifiers, Belgium have had the tricky task of preparing for the tournament without the benefit of competitive matches, but their recent results have included their first-ever victory on Italian soil - a 3-1 win over tonight's opponents - in Lecce last November. Italian coach Dino Zoff will be looking for a significant improvement in his side's patchy form since being eliminated on penalties in the 1998 World Cup quarter-finals by host nation France. Although they should start as favourites tonight, the Italians will be wary of an upset, having not beaten Belgium in four attempts since 1977.
69. 16th June 2000: Euro 2000
Group B: Highlights of today's match between Sweden and Turkey, from Eindhoven.
70. 16th June 2000: Euro 2000
Group D: Czech Republic v France from Bruges. The Euro 96 runners-up take on the world champions in what is potentially one of the best games in the group stages.
71. 16th June 2000: Euro 2000
With less than 24 hours to go before kick-off Ray Stubbs previews England's crunch Group A game against Germany at Charleroi. Including profiles of the key players on each side and areas where the game could be won or lost in what will be one of Kevin Keegan 's most vital games since he took charge of the team last year. There's also a look ahead to the other Group A match to be played tomorrow featuring Romania and Portugal and a look back the Netherland's match against Denmark in Group D.
72. 17th June 2000: Euro 2000
Group A: England v Germany at the Stade Communal in Charleroi, Belgium. In a tight group England cannot afford to slip up against their old rivals as they bid for a quarter-final place. Four years ago Germany ended England's hopes of a place in the Euro 96 final in a sudden-death shoot-out. Today's match will not go to penalties, but offers Euro 96 survivors such as David Seaman , Tony Adams and Alan Shearer the ideal opportunity to redress the balance. Neither side impressed in qualifying, but that means nothing as two of the big names in world football go head to head once again.
73. 18th June 2000: Euro 2000
Group A: Ray Stubbs introduces highlights of England's crucial clash with Germany, plus action from the other Group A match between Romania and Portugal, which could have a real impact on England's progress in the competition.
74. 18th June 2000: Euro 2000
Group C: Slovenia v Spain from the Amsterdam Arena. Spain have gained a reputation in recent years for failing to perform on the big stage, while Slovenia have proved they are capable of beating higher-ranked opponents by winning the playoff against Ukraine to qualify for Euro 2000.
75. 18th June 2000: Euro 2000
Group C: Norway v Yugoslavia from the Sclessin stadium in Liege, Belgium. Some familiar faces are more than likely to feature in the Norwegian side, with Manchester United's Ole Gunnar Solskjaer and Henning Berg , as well as Chelsea's Tore Andre Flo in the squad. The team qualified by finishing top of their group by a comfortable margin and are a difficult side to beat. The Yugoslavs, however, are for many people the dark horses of the competition and could do well if the likes of Fiorentina striker Predrag Mijatovic and Lazio defender Sinisa Mihajlovic can hit top form.
76. 19th June 2000: Euro 2000
Group B: Ray Stubbs introduces highlights of today's important Group B matches: Turkey v Belgium in Brussels and Italy v Sweden at Eindhoven in the Netherlands. Plus a preview of tomorrow's action in Group A.
77. 20th June 2000: Euro 2000
Group A: England v Romania from the Stade Communal at Charleroi in Belgium. England play Romania in their final, and potentially decisive, Group A game. Tonight's programme also includes highlights from Rotterdam of the other Group A match between Germany and Portugal, which is being played at the same time as the England game.
78. 21st June 2000: Euro 2000
Group C: Yugoslavia v Spain, Slovenia v Norway. On the day that the group stage reaches its conclusion, these Group C matches will decide the quarter-final places. Spain's qualifying form suggests they are capable of making the breakthrough, and Norway will be favourites to beat tournament outsiders Slovenia, having overcome them twice in qualifying.
79. 21st June 2000: Euro 2000
Group D: Highlights of the final day of the group stage. In Group D, world champions France meet co-hosts the Netherlands in Amsterdam, while Denmark take on Euro 96 finalists the Czech Republic at Liege.
80. 24th June 2000: Euro 2000
Quarter-final: Turkey v Portugal. Gary Lineker introduces coverage of the first quarter-final match from the Amsterdam Arena.
81. 24th June 2000: Euro 2000
Quarter-final: Italy v Romania. Gary Lineker introduces the second quarter-final from the King Baudoin Stadium in Brussels.
82. 24th June 2000: Euro 2000
Quarter-finals: Highlights of today's two quarter-final matches: Turkey v Portugal, Italy v Romania.
83. 25th June 2000: Euro 2000
Quarter-final: Netherlands v Yugoslavia. Gary Lineker introduces coverage of the third quarter-final from the Feijenoord stadium in Rotterdam.
84. 25th June 2000: Euro 2000
Quarter-final: Spain v France. Gary Lineker introduces coverage of the last quarter-final from the Jan Breydel stadium in Bruges.
85. 26th June 2000: Euro 2000
Highlights of today's quarter-finals: Netherlands v Yugoslavia, Spain v France.
86. 28th June 2000: Euro 2000
Semi-final: Coverage from the King Baudouin stadium in Brussels of the first semi-final: France v Portugal.
87. 28th June 2000: Euro 2000
Semi-final highlights. France v Portugal.
88. 29th June 2000: Euro 2000
Semi-final: Gary Lineker hosts coverage from the Amsterdam Arena of the second semi-final match: Italy v Netherlands.
89. 30th June 2000: Euro 2000
Yesterday's semi-final highlights.
90. 2nd July 2000: Euro 2000 Final: France v Italy
With 30 matches of the tournament having been played, and with just one more left to play, the efforts of two squads will be rewarded as they step out onto the pitch to decide the final outcome of Euro 2000.