Kelly Cates: “It’s Strange to Still Be Asked About My Dad’s Football Career at Nearly 50!”

Kelly Cates is widely speculated to be transitioning from SkySports to BBC Match of the Day as one of Gary Lineker’s successors. Cates, the daughter of Liverpool icon Sir Kenny Dalglish, is expected to serve as one of three rotating presenters for Match of the Day in the upcoming season.

Mark Chapman and Gabby Logan will round out the trio, with an official confirmation anticipated in the new year. Lineker has already announced his intention to step down as host of Match of the Day after completing 25 years in the role.

The 2026 World Cup will coincide with the conclusion of his contract. This represents a significant opportunity for Cates, who began her broadcasting career as one of the inaugural SkySports News presenters back in 1998.

eScored had a conversation with her about her connection to football, covering her experiences of growing up watching her father play and her journey to presenting at World Cups.

What was the first game that you ever saw live?
Kelly Cates: “I cannot remember at all. When I was a baby, my mum used to take me to Celtic, but kids and women weren’t allowed in due to the ’70s culture – we would wait outside with the fans for my dad to come out so we could go home with him. After moving to England, my mum didn’t know anyone, had a two-year-old and a six-month-old, so we would attend Liverpool matches with her.”

Apart from the obvious names, who were your childhood heroes?
KC: “I never really saw footballers as heroes until I was older and my dad stepped away from the scene, which gave me some perspective. I always enjoyed watching Robbie Fowler play. I wouldn’t call him a hero, though; it might be awkward if I ran into him now! But I needed that distance from footballers; otherwise, they seemed just like everyone else.”

What was it like to grow up as the daughter of a football legend?
KC: “It’s strange to still be asked about it almost 50 years later! [Smiles] My life was, aside from my dad’s profession, quite ordinary. Being
 a footballer’s daughter back then didn’t carry the same attention that it does now. My life was genuinely not that extraordinary, and football only played a role every couple of weeks.”

Do you have any cherished memories from that era around football?
KC: “When you’re very young, football isn’t the main focus. My strongest memories are of the players’ lounge, a spacious room with a bar at one end where sandwiches would get passed around – it felt like paradise, as we could run around after the game! Ronnie Whelan taught me to blow bubbles in my Coke for extra froth. I do recall Liverpool winning trophies, attending Wembley, and my dad’s last game when he came on as a substitute, but those memories are all a bit hazy.”

What would you consider your finest moment from playing football yourself?
KC: “I never played organized football, just occasionally in someone’s backyard. I remember on holiday when I was about 11 or 12, we were having a kickabout on a gravel tennis court. I had a vision of running down the wing when someone passed me the ball, but I slipped, scraped my elbow, legs, and knocked myself out. If I needed a sign that football wasn’t my calling, that was it…”

Your brother Paul was also a footballer.
KC: “His way of coping with being dad’s son was to be overly loud and funny. This probably meant he wasn’t addressing it properly, so moving to the States was fantastic for him—it gave him room to develop on his own. Dad went to support him when he won the MLS Cup and told him, ‘This is better than anything I’ve ever won.’ The emotional intensity was unparalleled for him—it was incredible to witness when it’s your child.”

What motivated you to pursue a career in broadcasting?
KC: “I was working on a maths degree and had no interest in it. Then Sky Sports News launched and they hired numerous young individuals and graduates. They were looking for people for their new 24-hour sports TV channel and didn’t care if we had experience, as long as we were passionate about sports and had some football knowledge. We all showed up, a few seasoned professionals were there to guide us, and the first two years were pure chaos. We had an amazing time, learning without even realizing it. I was just lucky with my timing.”

What’s the best place you’ve experienced a game?
KC: “During our trip to Qatar, there was considerable controversy surrounding the lead-up to it – rightly so considering the construction issues. Covering it was challenging, but we enjoyed a night off and witnessed Argentina against Mexico at the Lusail Stadium. The atmosphere was somewhat sterile and forced until the Argentine and Mexican fans arrived; then it felt like, ‘Oh my god, this is a World Cup match.’ It reminded me of old ’70s footage on YouTube, so electric. I had never attended a match where both teams were from the Americas, and everything about the showmanship—the theatrics and crowd engagement—suddenly clicked for me. I absolutely loved it.”

Do you have a favorite football book?
KC: “Unsuitable For Females by Carrie Dunn, which explores the rise of the Lionesses. Carrie writes exceptionally well about women’s football, and her insights resonate with many women involved in the sport. I really appreciate her writing.”

Who’s your favorite player who has never played for Liverpool?
KC: “I always enjoyed watching Wayne Rooney. I liked his fiery nature. He had the flair, but he wasn’t pretentious, which made him appealing to me.”

How was it different for you when your dad returned to manage Liverpool, compared to his first term as manager?
KC: “When he returned to management, I was working and realized, ‘Oh dear, I have to cover this now’. It was quite daunting. Managing is incredibly stressful, and I wouldn’t wish it on anyone. Sometimes, I see pundits trying to return to management and think, ‘What for?’ Sure, the paychecks are great, but the stress isn’t worth it—especially when everyone thinks they can do it better than you. When dad returned, it seemed to work well; Liverpool needed a reminder of their identity, and they secured the League Cup. Jamie Carragher remarked that they had previously won trophies, but those finals were at the Millennium Stadium, so this was their moment at Wembley.”

Which Liverpool player would have made the best TV presenter?
KC: “John Barnes had some experience with Channel Five, but I believe he’s a better pundit than presenter. He would have a natural flair for it. Jamie Carragher would also be a great choice, as would Jamie Redknapp. Most players from that era typically avoided giving the media too much insight.”