Soccer Saturday has long been a weekly ritual for British football fans, but the show has undergone significant changes in recent times. The immensely popular Sky Sports programme has given fans countless unforgettable moments over the years, catapulting the likes of Jeff Stelling , Chris Kamara , Phil Thompson , Matt Le Tissier , Charlie Nicholas and Paul Merson to broadcasting fame. Since its inception in 1998, Soccer Saturday has remained a staple part of many football fans' weekend routines. However, ahead of the 2020/21 season, major alterations were made to the line-up , with long-standing analysts Thompson, Nicholas and Le Tissier all being shown the door. Former host Stelling announced his intention to step down at the end of the following campaign but stayed on as presenter until 2023 , while Kamara chose to depart one year earlier . Mirror Sport takes a look at the former Soccer Saturday cast and what they've been up to since leaving the show, which has taken a new direction with a fresh set of pundits. Having hosted Soccer Saturday for roughly 25 years, Stelling finally hung up his broadcasting boots in 2023. His boundless enthusiasm, extensive knowledge of clubs across the UK, and ability to manage the rolling score updates made him a firm favourite among viewers. "It is now the right time to move on and give Sky Sports viewers a break from my relentless rants, bad gags and over the top celebrations of Hartlepool United goals," he said in 2023. "It's been a lot of fun - for me at least!" He later started presenting for talkSPORT and opened up about his Sky departure to The Guardian : "I had the most fantastic run on the show; I made the greatest mates and was paid well for one of the best jobs in the world . But the show was heading in a direction which meant it wasn't quite the same. "Even though I'd been there a long time, I felt some of my views weren't considered at all. Every week I was fighting a battle. I got tired of fighting and it was making me ill. Eventually, I went to Sky's management and said: 'This is making me unwell. I've got to step away from it.'" The ex-Soccer Saturday presenter, who has been succeeded by Simon Thomas , has toured UK theatres in the past with Q&A shows called 'An Evening With Jeff Stelling'. Here, he chats about his Sky Sports presenting career while sharing countless anecdotes from his time in the business. Liverpool legend Phil Thompson was among the initial batch of alterations to Soccer Saturday's most recognisable line-up. Thompson, 71, did acknowledge the decision to replace him was handled with care. Following his departure from the programme, he tweeted: "I've had a great 22 years with @SkySports. Enjoyed every minute with some amazing people on the show and behind the scenes which made it the iconic show it is today." Having established a quartet of pundits alongside Nicholas, Le Tissier and Merson, Thompson added: "It was three parts of a midfield. The others could have continued." Since departing Sky Sports, Thompson has remained active as a pundit across different platforms and also operates as an after-dinner speaker. Southampton legend Matt Le Tissier was among the legendary trio to be shown the door in 2020. Stelling has confessed that Le Tissier was "hit hardest" by the announcement as the 56-year-old was considerably younger than his colleagues. Responding to the decision on social media, Le Tissier wrote: "Enjoyed my time at Sky Sports, time to look forward to life's next challenge." Having observed the fresh format since, in an interview with TheSportsDaily.com, Le Tissier said: "Occasionally, if I'm in I'll watch it. There doesn't seem to be the same humour, the same level of camaraderie there than there used to be. "I think it's difficult because we had a team there that was together for a long time. Jeff Stelling's left now as well – that's a tough job for Simon Thomas, because Jeff was incredible at that job. For me the show was built around Jeff. We were there simply as the extras." Le Tissier sparked controversy with his anti-vaccination stance throughout the Covid-19 pandemic. He has also displayed fascination with conspiracy theories and has taken on the role of associate director at non-league Sholing. Dubbed 'Champagne' throughout his playing career, former Scotland star Charlie Nicholas chose to remain silent when firings first broke out. A Sky Sports statement declared: "We are changing some parts of our football coverage Matt, Charlie and Phil have done a great job for us over the years, and they will leave us with our sincere thanks and very best wishes." Nevertheless, Nicholas launched a scathing attack on his previous employers in 2021. He slammed Sky Sports for failing to stand by his former colleague Andy Walker following his ban from Rangers and Celtic over on-air remarks. The Soccer Saturday threesome temporarily reunited for the 'Where's Jeff' podcast. Nicholas made an appearance in the BBC documentary Pitch Invasion this year, also starring in a Paddy Power advertisement featuring Scottish legends backing Spain before the Euro 2024 final. A roving reporter, Kamara's charisma and love for football, combined with some memorable on-air blunders, made him a vital component of Soccer Saturday. His 'Unbelievable Jeff' catchphrase only enhanced the programme's appeal. 'Kammy' departed Sky Sports following 24 years with the broadcaster at the conclusion of the 2021/22 campaign after receiving a speech apraxia diagnosis: "My time on Soccer AM, Goals on Sunday and, of course, on Soccer Saturday with Jeff has been – to coin a phrase – unbelievable. I've had the time of my life, and look forward to tuning in every Saturday as a fan." The 67-year-old featured on The Masked Singer and published his second autobiography, Kammy: My Incredible Life, in 2023. He opened up about his speech condition in 2023, which had prompted him to withdraw from most of his broadcasting duties. He told Good Morning Britain : "The [words] come out very slow so I thought that defined me. So, my apologies to everybody who's got a speech condition because it doesn't define who you are. I get upset talking about it because I was in denial, I was ashamed that I couldn't speak." Tony Cottee was another of the names who departed Soccer Saturday at the end of the 2020/21 season, a year following the initial wave of alterations. The former West Ham and Everton forward has frequently featured on talkSPORT and continues working as a pundit. Nevertheless, he acknowledges it wasn't his decision to leave Soccer Saturday as he told the Undr the Cosh podcast : "I had 20 great years there and I look back and I don't like the way it ended. It was their choice more than my choice. I wanted to carry on being part of the show, obviously Soccer Saturday. "But I also look back and think I had 20 wonderful years. Some of the characters - Jeff Stelling's an amazing presenter. Then you think of like the Kammys and the McInallys [Alan McInally], and then the lads who were on the panel. Merse, Le Tiss, Charlie, Thommo. Just wonderful characters." An exit from Soccer Saturday that occurred well before the programme's shift in direction was Rodney Marsh. The ex-Manchester City forward was dismissed by Sky Sports in 2005 following a gag that made reference to the catastrophic Indian Ocean tsunami. Since his Sky departure, Marsh has featured on various television programmes, including I'm a Celebrity Get Me Out of Here in 2007. The 80-year-old is currently employed by Sirius XM in a punditry role. Thomas has presented the programme since Stelling departed in 2023, and the panel of experts, featuring Michael Dawson, Sue Smith, Tim Sherwood, Clinton Morrison and Kris Boyd, will continue unchanged for the upcoming season. Former Premier League ref Mike Dean also offer his analysis on Sky Sports regarding officiating and VAR rulings. Join our new WhatsApp community and receive your daily dose of Mirror Football content. We also treat our community members to special offers, promotions, and adverts from us and our partners. If you don't like our community, you can check out any time you like. If you're curious, you can read our Privacy Notice.