Gary Lineker
Gary Winston Lineker was born on the 30th of November 1960 in Leicester. His father Barry ran a fruit and vegetable stall at Leicester Market. Gary helped out there as a child while his grandfather William and great-grandfather George also worked as greengrocers. He grew up with one brother named Wayne who is two years younger. The family lived in the city where he played football with his sibling. He attended Caldecote Road School before moving to City of Leicester Boys' Grammar School. A teacher once wrote on his report card that he concentrated too much on football. That same teacher predicted he would never make a living from the sport. Despite this warning he joined the youth academy at Leicester City in 1976. He turned professional during the 1978, 79 season. His senior debut came on New Year's Day 1979 in a match against Oldham Athletic.
Lineker began his career at Leicester City after leaving school in 1977. He scored nineteen goals in all competitions during the 1981, 82 season. He became the First Division's joint top scorer in 1984, 85 with twenty-four goals. Everton signed him for £800,000 in the 1985 close season. He scored forty goals in fifty-seven games for Everton during the 1985, 86 season. This included three hat-tricks against Birmingham City and Manchester City. He won both the PFA Players' Player of the Year and FWA Footballer of the Year awards that year. Barcelona paid £2.8 million to sign him next. He scored twenty goals in forty league games during his first season there. The club won the 1987, 88 Copa del Rey and the 1989 European Cup Winners' Cup while he was playing. He finished as the highest scoring British player in La Liga history until Gareth Bale surpassed him in March 2016. Tottenham Hotspur signed him for £1.1 million in July 1989. He scored sixty-seven goals in one hundred five league games over three seasons.
Lineker made his England debut in 1984 against Scotland. He earned eighty caps and scored forty-eight goals over an eight-year international career. His six goals in the 1986 World Cup made him the tournament's top scorer. He received the Golden Boot for this achievement. He came second in the 1986 Ballon d'Or vote. Lineker played most of the tournament wearing a lightweight cast on his forearm. He scored four goals in the 1990 World Cup to help England reach the semi-finals. He still holds England's record for goals in the World Cup. He retired from international football with eighty caps and forty-eight goals. This left him one goal short of Sir Bobby Charlton's England record. He missed a penalty kick in a pre-tournament friendly against Brazil that would have brought him level. His final England match took place at Euro 92 against Sweden where he was substituted by coach Graham Taylor.
Lineker replaced Des Lynam as the BBC's lead presenter for Match of the Day in 1999. He became BBC Sport's highest paid presenter during this tenure. Payments ranged between £1.75 million and £1.76 million each year between 2016 and 2020. In May 2010 he resigned from his role as columnist for The Mail on Sunday in protest over a sting operation involving Lord Triesman. He began working as an anchor for Al Jazeera Sport in 2010 before leaving the Qatar-based network in 2012. On the 9th of June 2015 he was unveiled as the lead presenter of BT Sport's Champions League coverage. A tweet from December 2015 promised he would present Match of the Day in just his undies if Leicester City won the Premier League. He fulfilled this promise on the 13th of August 2016 wearing only boxer shorts. On the 11th of November 2024 it was announced he would step down from presenting Match of the Day following the conclusion of the 2024, 25 season. He presented his final episode on the 25th of May 2025.
Lineker backed a £5 million bid to rescue his former club Leicester City in October 2002. The club had recently gone into administration. He invested a six-figure sum while other members of his consortium contributed similar amounts. The club was eventually saved from liquidation. He is now honorary Vice President of Leicester City. His eldest son survived a rare form of leukaemia in November 1991 while he was a baby. The child was treated at Great Ormond Street Hospital in London. Lineker supports children's cancer charity CLIC Sargent and has appeared in promotional clips encouraging people to give blood. Between 1994 and 2005 Gary and Michelle were patrons for Leukaemia Busters. In April 2020 during the COVID-19 pandemic he donated £140,000 to the British Red Cross towards research into the virus. He also won an appeal against HM Revenue and Customs over a bill that totalled £4.9 million in March 2023.
Lineker married Michelle Cockayne in July 1986 in Knighton, Leicester. They have four sons. Cockayne filed for divorce in May 2006 on the grounds of Lineker's alleged unreasonable behaviour. Documents submitted to court claimed his actions caused her stress and anxiety. The couple stated the situation was amicable. He married Danielle Bux on the 2nd of September 2009 in Ravello, Italy. They announced they were divorcing on the 13th of January 2016 after six years of marriage. The reason given was Gary not wanting more children. Lineker lives in Barnes, London. In November 2017 he was named in the Paradise Papers in connection with a tax avoidance scheme relating to property owned in Barbados. A company set up in the British Virgin Islands was involved. He speaks fluent Spanish which he learnt during his time playing for FC Barcelona. He is an advocate for the teaching of foreign languages in schools.
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Common questions
When was Gary Winston Lineker born and where did he grow up?
Gary Winston Lineker was born on the 30th of November 1960 in Leicester. He grew up in the city with one brother named Wayne who is two years younger.
What were Gary Lineker's major football achievements during his playing career?
Gary Lineker scored forty-eight goals over an eight-year international career for England. He won the Golden Boot as the top scorer at the 1986 World Cup and holds England's record for goals in the tournament.
How much money did Gary Lineker earn as a BBC presenter between 2016 and 2020?
Payments to Gary Lineker ranged between £1.75 million and £1.76 million each year between 2016 and 2020 while serving as the lead presenter for Match of the Day. He stepped down from presenting the show following the conclusion of the 2024, 25 season.
Why did Gary Lineker donate £140,000 to the British Red Cross in April 2020?
Gary Lineker donated £140,000 to the British Red Cross towards research into the virus during the COVID-19 pandemic. This contribution was made alongside his support for children's cancer charity CLIC Sargent.
When did Gary Lineker marry Danielle Bux and where did the ceremony take place?
Gary Lineker married Danielle Bux on the 2nd of September 2009 in Ravello, Italy. The couple announced they were divorcing on the 13th of January 2016 after six years of marriage.