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Kelly Cates, who grew up engaging in football conversations among her father’s friends, was perfectly prepared to take the reins of Match Of The Day.
Her father, Sir Kenny Dalglish, is a footballing legend with a celebrated history, particularly known for his remarkable tenure at Celtic and Liverpool, where he accumulated an impressive 102 Scottish caps, three European Cups, and multiple league titles, both as a player and as a manager.
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Among her father’s friends were renowned Reds players like Graeme Souness and Alan Hansen, both of whom have transitioned into well-known pundits.
Graeme, who used to babysit Kelly, noted: “She thrives in this role thanks to her lifelong exposure to football and our playful banter.
“I often found myself in the living room, with Alan Hansen chiming in, sharing opinions all around.
“She absorbed a deep understanding of the football landscape through all of this.”
Although Kelly has drawn wisdom from some of the sport’s finest, it is her own remarkable presenting skills that have catapulted her into the spotlight of sports broadcasting.
Now, alongside partners Gabby Logan and Mark Chapman, the 49-year-old is prepared to take over the Match Of The Day hosting duties from Gary Lineker.
In a significant success for the BBC, it seems they have successfully recruited Kelly from Sky Sports to lead its flagship football show.
However, it’s possible she still receives messages from her father if he disapproves of her guests’ commentary during her broadcasts.
She revealed last month: “He tends to text me while I’m live, especially if my mum isn’t around.
Selleck ’tache
“It’s usually when he has no one else to express his views to.
Deciding against accepting my Sky Sports contract was the most intimidating decision I’ve ever made
“He picks up on some of our talks and often sends me his reactions.
“If something truly bothers him, he might even call me on my way back home.”
As the eldest of four, Kelly was raised in Southport, Merseyside, after her father transitioned to Liverpool from Celtic in 1977.
Her mother, Marina, once remarked: “Glasgow and Liverpool have many things in common.
“The friendliness of the people in both cities made our move seamless.”
At that time, Kelly was just shy of two years old, while her brother Paul, who later played for Newcastle, Norwich, and Wigan, was merely a baby.
Two more sisters, Lynsey and Lauren, soon joined the family.
A dedicated Liverpool supporter, Kelly recounted: “As a baby, my mother brought me to see my dad play in matches.
My earliest memories are of spending time in the players’ lounge with other players’ children.
Kelly Cates
“I can’t remember a moment of not attending football matches.
“My earliest memories involve being in the players’ lounge, hanging out with other players’ kids.”
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Occasionally, Graeme would lend a hand with babysitting duties for Kelly.
A nostalgic black-and-white snapshot from 1979 shows a young Kelly playfully sticking her tongue out at the formidable midfielder, who sports a Tom Selleck-style mustache and unkempt hair.
He reminisced: “Kenny and I shared a room for over ten years at Liverpool and with Scotland, so I often spent time at his house.
“Being single, I’d drop by for Christmas dinners.
“I often took Kelly out in her stroller for a bit of voluntary babysitting.
Being single, I would show up for Christmas lunch. I’d volunteer to take Kelly out in her pram during the afternoons.
Graeme Souness
“Unbeknownst to me, she introduced me to some lovely young women.
“While out, I’d hear comments like, ‘What a beautiful baby!’”
Despite her father’s legendary reputation as both a Liverpool and Scotland star, Kelly shared: “At home, he was just Dad.
“I remember going to a Rod Stewart concert at Ibrox when I was about seven and found it odd how he was so frequently approached for autographs. I thought, ‘What do they want from him?’
“To me, his teammates were merely Dad’s friends hanging out and chatting about football.”
Her attempts to play the sport didn’t turn out well.
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Kelly shared her childhood experiences with football: “At 11, while playing on concrete, I miscalculated a run down the wing, fell, and lost consciousness.
“That effectively marked the end of my brief footballing journey.”
After finishing her A-levels in subjects like mathematics, further mathematics, physics, and chemistry, she earned a place at the University of Glasgow to pursue mathematics.
However, when Sky Sports News debuted in 1998, she daringly opted to leave her studies to join this new channel.
She explained: “The channel sought young talents passionate about football.
“The project was just beginning, with few viewers, so they offered roles to fresh, enthusiastic individuals, avoiding established personnel risks.
‘Go and play at being on the telly!’
“Leaving university was a crucial decision, but I thought, ‘This is an opportunity that might not come again.’”
Kelly regards Des Lynam as a pivotal influencer in her broadcasting career—who hosted Match Of The Day in the 1990s with remarkable poise—and also admires Gabby Logan, who shares a football legacy via her father, former Wales international and manager Terry Yorath.
“Des represented the highest standard for me.
“He was genuinely connected with fans and handled every situation meticulously.
“I admired that approach and strive to emulate it, though I recognize I’m not there yet.
“Gabby’s rise throughout her career has always intrigued me; it’s been wonderful to watch her journey as she ascended.”
Though broadcasting has notably favored men, Kelly maintains: “I didn’t forge the path; many others, like Gabby and Hazel Irvine, laid the groundwork.
“I’ve not encountered blatant sexism, although I am aware some female reporters have.
“While we see more women visible on screen now, I hope they achieve equal representation behind the scenes as well.
“As I’ve grown older, I feel a strong duty to assist younger women entering the industry.”
After her tenure at Sky Sports News, Kelly transitioned into roles as interviewer and presenter at Setanta and ESPN.
She later reported for ITV during the 2010 World Cup and represented Channel 4 at the 2012 Paralympics.
Kelly also hosted a Football League highlights show for Channel Five before returning to Sky Sports in 2016.
At the helm
Initially hosting Football League games, she later became a well-regarded presenter for significant Premier League matches.
Working alongside analysts like Gary Neville, Jamie “Carra” Carragher, and Roy Keane, she believes we are currently experiencing a “golden age” in punditry.
She noted: “It’s not always the players who were best on the pitch who can analyze it effectively.
“Those who are truly devoted to bettering their game excel.
“Carra, during his playing days, would go home to review footage of Franco Baresi and other great defenders repeatedly to enhance his skills.”
Kelly, who also hosts a program on BBC Radio 5, is recognized as one of the leading broadcasters in the country by both her colleagues and her audience.
Her friend and fellow host Gabby, 51, remarked that Kelly possesses an “effortless broadcast style along with a depth of knowledge that can compete with anyone.”
Furthermore, Gabby observed that Kelly can “silence fierce pundits like Roy Keane with just a raised eyebrow when she chooses to.”
Growing up surrounded by football, Kelly understands the pressures that managers navigate every day.
“I’ve met managers who might react sharply to a question, but often, it’s not directed at me; they’re just under significant strain.”
In 2007, Kelly wed TV producer Tom Cates, and together they had two daughters.
They separated in 2021, and Kelly recently remarked: “The girls spend their weekends with their dad.
“Even though we’re no longer a couple, we maintain a healthy relationship, and he is accommodating, allowing us to handle co-parenting effectively.”
Years ago at ESPN, we adopted a saying: ‘Take the sport seriously, but don’t take yourself too seriously’. That saying resonates deeply with me.
Kelly Cates
“The girls are growing up and seem to believe they don’t need as much from us, although they actually do, despite what they say.”
In 2021, Kelly expressed hesitation about dating, sharing: “I don’t have a clear vision of what makes a mid-aged, slightly overweight, mother-of-two attractive.
“This isn’t a question of low self-esteem; I just find it hard to envisage.
“I want to avoid wasting precious moments with a stranger.
“Can you imagine going out with someone only to realize halfway through that you can’t stand them—the babysitter would end up losing out on time.”
If Kelly has indeed secured a prime position in sports broadcasting, don’t expect this down-to-earth, composed presenter to take on an arrogant demeanor.
Recently, she displayed her characteristic humility by stating: “During my earlier tenure at ESPN, they emphasized the idea of ‘Take the sport seriously, but don’t take yourself too seriously’.
“In my opinion, that’s the best mindset.”
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A HAT-TRICK OF QUALITY TV TALENT
By SHAUN CUSTIS, Head of Sport
While opinions may differ regarding the BBC’s decision to split the hosting responsibilities of Match Of The Day, it is irrefutable that they couldn’t have selected more qualified individuals for the job.
I’ve teamed up with Kelly Cates numerous times, and she exemplifies professionalism.
The fact that many viewers were unaware of her being Kenny Dalglish’s daughter speaks volumes about her skills on screen.
Her achievements were not handed to her; she earned them through hard work, cultivating a relaxed yet knowledgeable style that resonates with guests and viewers alike.
Mark Chapman and Gabby Logan, her co-hosts, have also established themselves well, with Chapman being an outstanding all-rounder— in my view, the best sports presenter across both radio and television— while Logan has advanced from radio to host significant programming on BBC Sport.
Together, they form a dynamic trio.
