Gary Lineker

Gary Lineker’s Biography

Gary Lineker’s name is synonymous with British football. During his playing days, Gary featured for hometown Leicester City, as well as Everton, Tottenham Hotspur, giants FC Barcelona and Nagoya Grampus Eight. He remains one of the most revered forwards in the history of the England National Team, having distinguished himself scoring the most goals at FIFA World Cup Finals.

Throughout a decorated career, extraordinary accolades include winning the Golden Boot at the 1986 World Cup, twice securing the Footballer of the Year Award and being voted runner up in the 1986 Ballon D'Or.

At the conclusion of his football career, Gary entered the broadcasting world and has flourished in several roles, most notably as host of the BBC’s immensely popular highlights and analysis show, Match of the Day. His expert knowledge of the game and charismatic persona led to further opportunities: Gary hosted BT Sport’s coverage of the UEFA Champions League for six years and he currently heads LaLiga TV's coverage of Spanish football for viewers in the UK and Ireland.

His ease in front of the camera... Gary Lineker’s name is synonymous with British football. During his playing days, Gary featured for hometown Leicester City, as well as Everton, Tottenham Hotspur, giants FC Barcelona and Nagoya Grampus Eight. He remains one of the most revered forwards in the history of the England National Team, having distinguished himself scoring the most goals at FIFA World Cup Finals.

Throughout a decorated career, extraordinary accolades include winning the Golden Boot at the 1986 World Cup, twice securing the Footballer of the Year Award and being voted runner up in the 1986 Ballon D'Or.

At the conclusion of his football career, Gary entered the broadcasting world and has flourished in several roles, most notably as host of the BBC’s immensely popular highlights and analysis show, Match of the Day. His expert knowledge of the game and charismatic persona led to further opportunities: Gary hosted BT Sport’s coverage of the UEFA Champions League for six years and he currently heads LaLiga TV's coverage of Spanish football for viewers in the UK and Ireland.

His ease in front of the camera served him well when he was chosen as the main presenter throughout the BBC’s coverage of the London 2012 Olympic Games. His calm and controlled manner ensured that the opportunity was both a personal and national success.

Away from football, Gary is a brand ambassador for Walkers Crisps. Produced in his home county of Leicestershire, the affiliation is the longest between a celebrity and brand in the world. Respectably never losing the connection to his roots, he is referred to as “Leicester’s favourite son” and has been honourably awarded the city’s freedom. READ MORE VIEW LESS

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The Mirror

Gary Lineker announces brand new role after tipping his Match of the Day replacement

Gary Lineker’s Background

Match of the Day

Host

Aug 1999 - Present

Salford, UK

Match of the Day is a football highlights and analysis show, traditionally broadcast on Saturday evenings, rounding up that day's action in the Premier League. Originally screened in August 1964, 2015 saw the Guinness World Records recognise the show as the longest running football television programme in the world.

BBC Sport

Presenter

Salford, UK

Providing national sports coverage for BBC television, BBC Sport was founded in 1988 and holds the broadcasting rights for several sports. Gary has displayed his diversity in linking up with BBC Sport to cover various events. Previous endeavours have included acting as the main host during the 2012 London Olympic Games and hosting golf for its spectrum of channels.

LaLiga TV

Presenter

Jul 2021 - Present

La Liga TV is a dedicated television channel that covers live La Liga football games and content from Spain for an audience in the UK and Ireland.

Sport Relief

Presenter

Jul 2002 - Present

Salford, UK

A biennial event in conjunction with Comic Relief and in association with BBC Sport, Sport Relief raises money for vulnerable people in the UK and the world's poorest countries. The process is aided with the involvement of stars from both entertainment and sport. Gary has proudly done his bit for the cause by serving as host of its main fundraising television show since 2002.

BT Sport

Sports Broadcaster

Jun 2015 - May 2021

London, UK

Launched in 2013, BT Sport is a series of pay-per-view television channels. BT Sport has become a major player in broadcasting in recent years, strengthened by the fact the company holds exclusive rights to 52 Premier League matches per season and all UEFA Champions League/Europa League fixtures. BT Sport also shares rights with the BBC to screen FA Cup matches.

Nagoya Grampus 8

Footballer

Nov 1991 - Sep 1994

Nagoya, JP

Nagoya Grampus was originally founded as Toyota Motor Corporation’s company team in 1939. The club plays in the J1 League, the highest league in Japanese Football. The highlight of the club’s history came in 2010 when they won the J1 League title for the first time. The team uses both the Mizuho Athletic Stadium and the larger Toyota Stadium as its home base.

England Football

Footballer

Jan 1984 - Jul 1992

London, UK

Alongside Scotland, England are one of the two oldest national teams in world football, with the two sides competing in the world's first international match in 1872. England have qualified for the World Cup 15 times, having first done so in 1950 and won the 1966 edition against West Germany, as hosts of the tournament.

Tottenham Hotspur FC

Footballer

Jul 1989 - Nov 1991

London, UK

Founded in 1882 and based in North London, Tottenham Hotspur were the first club to achieve a League and FA Cup double, completing the accomplishment in the 1960/61 season. Spurs, as they are nicknamed, were also the first British club to win a UEFA competition - The European Cup Winners Cup in 1963. Inaugural winners of the 1972 UEFA Cup, Tottenham have a bitter rivalry with neighbours Arsenal.

FC Barcelona

Footballer

Jul 1986 - Jul 1989

Barcelona, ES

Founded in 1899 by a group of Swiss, Spanish, English and Catalan footballers, Barcelona operate and are run by their supporters. The world's richest football club in terms of revenue and one of the best supported, "Barca's" home, the Nou Camp, boasts a staggering capacity of 99,354. The Catalan club has won 74 domestic trophies, including 30 La Liga championships, as well as 20 European titles.

Everton

Footballer

Jul 1985 - Jul 1986

Liverpool, UK

Based in Liverpool, Everton boasts the record of most seasons within the top division, standing at a remarkable 116. Nicknamed "The Toffees", their trophy haul comprises of nine League Titles, five FA Cups and one UEFA Cup Winners Cup. The team dons blue and white strips and have a long-standing rivalry with neighbours Liverpool, who play just a stone’s throw away from their Goodison Park home.

Leicester City

Footballer

Jan 1979 - Jul 1985

Leicester, UK

Founded in 1884, Leicester City compete in the Premier League and play their home matches at King Power Stadium. In 2015/16, the East Midlands based side were crowned Premier League Champions, a success heralded as one of the greatest sporting shocks of all time. "The Foxes" have spent all but one season in the top two divisions of English football and have won three League Cups.

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Other Business Interests

Goalhanger Films

Founder

May 2014 - Present

London, UK

Founded in 2014 with former ITV Controller Tony Pastor, Goalhanger films produces sports shows, films and documentaries for television channels all over the world. As well as a series of documentaries released during the 2014 World Cup and an FA Cup special, the company has also produced pieces on major players of other sports including cricketer Kevin Pietersen and boxer Anthony Joshua.

Walkers

Ambassador

Jan 1994 - Present

Leicester, UK

Walkers was founded in Leicester in 1948 and is best known for their production of potato crisps. The company holds the majority share in the crisps market and manages the largest production plant of its kind globally. The brand is a proud sponsor of the UEFA Champions League. Gary has appeared in 150 commercials for Walkers over 25 years.

Ticker Insurance

Investor

London, UK

Ticker is a 5-star Defaqto-rated brand of vehicle insurance. A Ticker box is sent to the driver and stuck on their windscreen. The gadget pairs to a phone via bluetooth, sending driving stats to the Ticker app. For normal, average drivers, the best insurance renewal price is provided and the better the driving, the lower the cost.

TM Lewin

Ambassador

London, UK

TM Lewin & Sons Limited is a menswear retailer. Established in 1898 by Thomas Mayes Lewin and based in the UK, the company initially focused on producing shirts but has since introduced additional ranges including suits, outerwear, knitwear, jackets, chinos, ties and accessories. From its humble beginnings, owning a lone store in London's Panton Street, the brand now boasts 150 stores worldwide.

BBC Radio 5 Live

Football Pundit

Salford, UK

BBC Radio 5 Live is the UK's flagship radio station for sport. Launched in March 1994, the channel features live sporting events, news, discussion, interviews and phone-ins.

NBCSN

Broadcaster

Stamford, CT, USA

Launched in 1995, NBCSN is a pay television channel. Originally focused on fishing and hunting, the company has since expanded and now covers more mainstream sports such as soccer, American football and motorsports. Towards the latter part of 2018, the service was available to approximately 83.3 million households within the US, a hugely impressive 90% of homes with cable.

beIN Sports

Anchor

Doha, QA

Formerly known as Al Jazeera Sport, beIN Sports is a group of sports channels serving the Middle East and North Africa. Primarily broadcasting in Arabic, the company made huge strides in 2013 when it successfully acquired the rights to screen live Premier League contests.

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Philanthropy

Cure Leukaemia

Patron

Jun 2024 - Present

Gary serves as Patron of the blood cancer charity, Cure Leukaemia. He is supporting the charity's fundraising to continue research into finding a cure in the fight against the disease that affected his son, George, as a young child.

British Red Cross Emergency Response

Supporter

Gary is a passionate charity ambassador and has donated £206,000 to the British Red Cross emergency response team to help fight Coronavirus. To donate and support this cause, please visit Gary's JustGiving page by clicking the link above.

Great Ormond Street Hospital

Patron

London, UK

Located in London, Great Ormond Street is a Children's hospital. Opened in 1852, the hospital specialises in heart surgery and in doing so, has developed the UK's largest such centre, which doubles up as one of the largest children’s heart transplantation centres worldwide. Gary acts as an advocate for the Tick Tock Club, helping raise over £13 million for a state of the art brain surgery suite.

Fight for Life

Patron

London, UK

Originally formed in 1996, Fight for Life was established to raise funds for the creation of a dedicated children's radiotherapy unit at Middlesex Hospital. Gary Lineker, an avid supporter, has been quoted as saying "I was delighted to become a patron to the charity. Fight for Life has my complete support and YOUR HELP will make a vital difference to its success".

Comic Relief

Supporter

London, UK

Founded in 1985 by comedy scriptwriter Richard Curtis and comedian Lenny Henry, Comic Relief is a British charity that aims to generate laughter, whilst also fundraising for a fantastic cause in the process. The organisation provides help to people in Africa and the UK. Its highlight is Red Nose Day and throughout its 30 years of operation, Comic/Sport Relief have raised a staggering £1 billion.

Age UK

Supporter

London, UK

Formed in 2009, Age UK is a charity that is an amalgamation of former independent bodies, Age Concern England and Help the Aged. Following the merger, Age UK has grown to become the largest UK charity for older people. The organisation provides companionship, advice and support for older people who need it most, ensuring individuals can make the most of later life.

Leukaemia Busters

Ambassador

London, UK

Founded in 1989 by three sets of parents with children who were undergoing treatment for the disease, Leukaemia Busters aims to treat effectively and easily, minus the potentially life-threatening side effects. The charity hopes for a world in which leukaemia is safely, quickly and completely cured in every patient.

Cancer Research UK

Ambassador

London, UK

Formed in 2002, Cancer Research UK is a research and awareness charity. It is the world's largest independent cancer research charity and aims to reduce the number of deaths from the disease. The work conducted is almost entirely funded by the public and the charity has over 40,000 volunteers nationwide.

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Media

Goalhanger Films

Media Appearance - "Marcus Rashford speaks to Gary Lineker"

Dec 2019

London, UK

Gary Lineker goes one-on-one with prolific Manchester United and England forward Marcus Rashford, covering working under the management of Solskjaer and his favoured playing position.

Features

Gary Lineker's return to Spanish Football

Article

Oct 2021

Madrid, ES

Roger Sabatés contemplates Gary Lineker's return to Spanish Football, this time as Ambassador of LaLiga and Commentator/Analyst on LaLigaTV.

Publications

Behind Closed Doors

Co-Author

Sep 2019

London, UK

Laden with laddish anecdotes and somewhat unexpected tenderness, Lineker partners up with Danny Baker to tell of the lighter side of football. Gary recalls conversations with his Father whilst on his deathbed and opens up on a whole host of matters, including life in general. Well renowned football magazine FourFourTwo remarks: "Without doubt, it’s one of the funniest books around".

Awards & Recognition

Football Writer's Player of the Year

Winner

May 1992

London, UK

In 1992 Gary recorded the remarkable feat of claiming his second Football Writer's Player of the Year, having previously won the award at Everton in the mid-1980s. This time, at Tottenham Hotspur, his natural goalscoring prowess led to him finding the back of the net on 35 occasions, reinforcing his proficiency in front of goal, even toward the latter part of his career.

FIFA World Cup Golden Boot

Winner

Jun 1986

Mexico City, MX

First officially awarded in 1982, the FIFA World Cup Golden Boot has been presented at every subsequent tournament since and is won by the competition's leading goalscorer. Gary acquired the accolade following his exploits at the 1986 edition, held in Mexico. He topped the scoring charts with 6 goals, helping his country, England, reach the Quarter-Finals stage.