WHAT I'VE LEARNT

Gary Lineker: ‘I’m happy being single now’

The footballer turned broadcaster talks dating, ageing and racism in football

Gary Lineker
Gary Lineker
ROBERT WILSON FOR THE TIMES MAGAZINE
The Times

The Leicester-born former footballer, 61, scored 48 goals for England and won the Golden Boot at the 1986 World Cup in Mexico before moving into broadcasting. He is now in his 22nd season presenting BBC1’s Match of the Day. Twice divorced, he has four grown-up sons from his first marriage and lives alone in south London.

Puberty came late for me, which was a bit embarrassing in the showers. I was still tiny when I made my debut for Leicester City and only had a growth spurt when I was 17 or 18. I did loads of work to strengthen my legs but the accepted wisdom in the late Seventies was that increasing upper-body strength made you immobile, which we now know is complete