Gary Lineker
Profile Verified by The Marque
Last Updated: 22 Sep 2026
Presenter
London, GB
Profile Verified by The Marque
Last Updated: 22 Sep 2026
THE MARQUE
In Their Own Right
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 headed LaLiga TV's coverage of Spanish football for viewers in the UK and Ireland. He is active online with his podcast 'The Rest Is Football'.
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.
The Record
Background
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Present
Presenter
BBC Sport
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.
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2002 — Present
Presenter
Sport Relief
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.
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2021 — Present
Presenter
LaLiga TV
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.
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1984 — 1992
Footballer
England Football
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.
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1989 — 1991
Footballer
Tottenham Hotspur FC
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.
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1979 — 1985
Footballer
Leicester City
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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1985 — 1986
Footballer
Everton
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.
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1991 — 1994
Footballer
Nagoya Grampus 8
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.
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2015 — 2021
Sports Broadcaster
BT Sport
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.
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1986 — 1989
Footballer
FC Barcelona
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.
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1999 — 2025
Host
Match of the Day
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.
In The News
Newsfeed
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19 June 2026 · The Guardian
Gary Lineker to appear as special guest on ITV during World Cup broadcast
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5 June 2026 · The Guardian
Gary Lineker’s Goalhanger named UK’s fastest-growing business
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10 September 2025 · BBC
Gary Lineker ends Ant and Dec's 23-year winning streak at TV awards
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19 August 2025 · BBC
Lineker nominated for National Television Awards
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5 August 2025 · talkSPORT
Gary Lineker signs deal with ITV to host gameshow dubbed as cross between I’m a Celeb and SAS
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26 May 2025 · BBC
Lineker says emotional farewell on final Match of the Day
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8 June 2024 · The Mirror
Gary Lineker announces brand new role after tipping his Match of the Day replacement
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18 December 2022 · BBC Sport
World Cup 2022: Gary Lineker says the legacy of tournaments is short-lived
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23 November 2022 · BBC
Gary Lineker: BBC should have spoken up about Russia at 2018 World Cup
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18 November 2022 · Bloomberg
World Cup Set Apart by Bid and Rights Controversies, Football Legend Says
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23 October 2021 · The Irish Times
Gary Lineker: Barcelona spell is when it dawned on me that I was good at this
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24 August 2021 · Sky News
Gary Lineker among former players demanding help from football authorities in dementia fight
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30 July 2021 · Evening Standard
Gary Lineker joins LaLigaTV in ‘multi-year agreement’
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6 July 2021 · BBC Sport
Euro 2020: Gary Lineker says England have been 'near to perfect'
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Formative Years
Education
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Caldecote Primary School
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City of Leicester College
Areas Of Focus