Gary Lineker

Gary Winston Lineker OBE, (born 30 November, 1960), was a notable English international footballer.

Career in football

He began his career at his hometown club of Leicester City in 1976 and broke into Leicester's first-team squad in 1978. He rose to fame with Everton (1985-86) scoring 40 goals in 42 games, before signing with Barcelona with whom he won the European Cup Winners' Cup in 1989. He returned to England, funded by a sports scholarship from Lady Margaret Hall, Oxford, to play three seasons at Tottenham Hotspur, scoring 67 goals in 105 games and winning the FA Cup, before ending his career with an injury-plagued spell in the J. League with Nagoya Grampus Eight.

Related Topics:
Leicester City - 1976 - 1978 - Everton - Barcelona - European Cup Winners' Cup - 1989 - Lady Margaret Hall - Oxford - Tottenham Hotspur - FA Cup - J. League - Nagoya Grampus Eight

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He first played for England's national team against Scotland in 1984, winning the Golden Boot at the 1986 FIFA World Cup and reaching the semi-finals in the 1990 FIFA World Cup. He retired from international football with 80 caps and 48 goals, one fewer than Bobby Charlton's England record (although Charlton took 26 more caps to score his extra goal). In what proved to be his last England match, he was controversially substituted in favour of Arsenal striker Alan M. Smith, ultimately denying him the chance to equal the total.

Related Topics:
England's national team - Scotland - 1984 - Golden Boot - 1986 FIFA World Cup - 1990 FIFA World Cup - Bobby Charlton's - Alan M. Smith

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He was PFA Players' Player of the Year in 1986 and, despite his long career, was never cautioned by a referee for foul play (never once receiving either a yellow let alone a red card (a feat equalled only by Billy Wright and Sir Stanley Matthews). He acquired a Mr "nice guy" image; some cynics have suggested that this was because he rarely joined in defensive duties.

Related Topics:
PFA Players' Player of the Year - 1986 - Cautioned - Red card - Billy Wright - Sir Stanley Matthews

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