Gary Lineker

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

Post playing career

Following retirement from professional football, he developed a career in the media, initially as a pundit before replacing Des Lynam on the BBC's flagship football television programme Match of the Day, and as a team captain on the sports game show They Think It's All Over from 1995 to 2003, where he was heavily ridiculed for being a "goal hanger".

Related Topics:
Des Lynam - BBC - Match of the Day - Game show - They Think It's All Over - 1995 - 2003

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His popularity has enabled him to appear in a light-hearted series of commercials for Walker's crisps, playing a comical role as an arch-villain which sends up his reputation as a nice guy.

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In October 2003, Lineker announced a five million pound rescue plan for cash-strapped club Leicester City, describing his involvement as charity rather than an ego trip. Lineker said that he would invest a six-figure sum and other members of his consortium would invest a similar amount. Lineker met the fans' group to persuade them to try and raise money to rescue his former club.

Related Topics:
2003 - Pound

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In 2005 Lineker was sued for defamation by Australian footballer Harry Kewell over comments Lineker had made writing in his column in the Sunday Telegraph about Kewell's transfer from Leeds to Liverpool. However the jury was unable to reach a verdict. It transpired in the case that the article had actually been ghost-written by a journalist at the Sunday Telegraph.

Related Topics:
2005 - Defamation - Harry Kewell - Sunday Telegraph - Ghost-written

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