
How Old Is Gary Lineker – Age, Birth Date and Biography
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How Old Is Gary Lineker? Age, Birth Date and Biography
Gary Lineker was born on November 30, 1960, in Leicester, England, and is currently 65 years old as of 2024. The former England striker and current Match of the Day presenter celebrated his 65th birthday in late November 2025. Lineker stands as one of England’s most celebrated footballers, renowned for his exceptional goal-scoring record both domestically and internationally. His career spanned from 1978 to 1993, during which he became the only player to top the goalscoring charts for three different English clubs: Leicester City, Everton, and Tottenham Hotspur.
How Old Is Gary Lineker: Quick Overview
65 years old
November 30, 1960
Leicester, England
Former footballer, Sports broadcaster
Key Insights About Gary Lineker
- Lineker is 65 years old as of November 2025, having been born on November 30, 1960, in Leicester, England.
- He remains England’s all-time top goalscorer at FIFA World Cups with 10 goals across two tournaments.
- Lineker won the Golden Boot at the 1986 FIFA World Cup in Mexico with 6 goals.
- He scored 243 goals in 466 senior club appearances across Leicester City, Everton, Barcelona, and Tottenham Hotspur.
- For England, he earned 80 caps and scored 48 goals between 1984 and 1992.
- Lineker transitioned to broadcasting after retiring from football in 1993, becoming the main presenter of BBC’s Match of the Day.
- He was previously married to Michelle Cockayne from 1986 to 2006, with whom he has four sons.
| Category | Details |
|---|---|
| Full Name | Gary Winston Lineker |
| Date of Birth | November 30, 1960 |
| Place of Birth | Leicester, England |
| Age (2025) | 65 years old |
| Nationality | British (English) |
| Height | Approximately 1.77m–1.80m |
| Position | Striker |
| Professional Career | 1978–1993 |
| Total Club Goals | 243 goals in 466 appearances |
| England Caps | 80 caps, 48 goals |
| Major Trophies | 2 league titles, Copa del Rey, European Cup Winners’ Cup |
| Current Role | Match of the Day presenter, BBC |
Gary Lineker Biography and Career
Gary Winston Lineker was born on November 30, 1960, in Leicester, England, making him 65 years old today. His middle name Winston was chosen because he shares his birthday with Sir Winston Churchill. Growing up in Leicester, Lineker was the son of Barry, a greengrocer, and Margaret Lineker, and had a younger brother Wayne. He helped at the family fruit and vegetable stall during his youth, a fact that would later become part of his sporting mythology when he became known for never scoring a goal with his hand during his entire professional career.
Lineker attended Caldecote Road School and later City of Leicester Boys’ Grammar School, where he excelled in both football and cricket. Remarkably, he captained the Leicestershire Schools cricket team from ages 11 to 16 and initially favored a career in cricket before football became his primary focus. He left school with four O-Levels and turned professional with his hometown club Leicester City in 1978, debuting on New Year’s Day 1979. He helped Leicester win the Second Division in 1980 and became the First Division’s joint-top scorer in the 1984–85 season.
In 1985, Lineker transferred to Everton, where he enjoyed immediate success during his debut 1985–86 season. The club won the league championship that year, and Lineker earned both the PFA Players’ Player of the Year and FWA Footballer of the Year awards, establishing himself as England’s premier striker. His performances caught the attention of European giants Barcelona, who signed him in 1986 for what was then a record fee for the club. According to Wikipedia, he won the Copa del Rey in 1987–88 and the European Cup Winners’ Cup in 1989 during his time in Catalonia.
Lineker then moved to Tottenham Hotspur from 1989 to 1992, where he continued his prolific goal-scoring form. Across his club career, he scored 243 goals in 466 senior appearances across five teams. As documented by Famous Birthdays, he retired from professional football in 1993, having achieved the remarkable distinction of being the only player to top the goalscoring charts for three different English clubs.
For the England national team between 1984 and 1992, Lineker earned 80 caps and scored 48 goals, making him England’s fourth-highest goalscorer of all time, behind Harry Kane, Wayne Rooney, and Bobby Charlton. His World Cup record remains unparalleled—he scored 10 goals across the 1986 and 1990 tournaments, making him England’s all-time leading World Cup goalscorer. He won the Golden Boot at the 1986 World Cup in Mexico with six goals and helped England reach the semi-finals in 1990, scoring four goals in that tournament.
Gary Lineker Personal Life
Gary Lineker, who is 65 years old as of 2024, was first married to Michelle Cockayne from 1986 to 2006. During their 20-year marriage, the couple had four sons together: George, Harry, Tobias, and Angus. According to Famous Birthdays, Lineker later married Danielle Lineker in 2009, though the couple separated in 2016. Sources currently lack detailed information about his relationship status following the 2016 separation.
In terms of physical attributes, Lineker stands approximately 1.77 to 1.80 meters tall, though sources vary slightly on the precise measurement. Despite his pale complexion as a white footballer, Lineker has spoken about experiencing racial abuse during his childhood in Leicester due to his darker features, a sobering reflection on the complexities of identity and prejudice in 1960s and 1970s England.
Lineker’s family has maintained a connection to professional sports beyond Gary himself. His younger brother Wayne Lineker has also been involved in football, though at different levels than his famous sibling. The Lineker family’s humble roots in Leicester, stemming from their fruit and vegetable market stall, have often been cited as grounding influences throughout Gary’s illustrious career and subsequent media work.
Gary Lineker Health and Current Status
As of 2025, Gary Lineker remains in good health with no significant illnesses or health issues documented in public sources. At 65 years old, the former footballer continues to lead an active professional life as one of the BBC’s most prominent sports presenters. He has been the host of Match of the Day since his retirement from football, a role that has made him one of the most recognizable faces in British sports broadcasting.
According to Simple Wikipedia, Lineker was BBC Sport’s highest-paid presenter as of 2020, earning approximately £1.75 million annually. Despite periodic controversies and public debates throughout his broadcasting career, particularly regarding his social media use, Lineker has maintained his position as the leading voice of football coverage on British television.
The question of Gary Lineker’s age remains straightforward—he is 65 years old as of November 2025, born on November 30, 1960. Sources consistently confirm his birth date across multiple references, including Kids Kiddle and Transfermarkt, which track his player profile. There have been no public health concerns or significant updates to his status as of 2024-2025, with Lineker continuing his broadcasting work and maintaining his presence in the public eye through his television work and occasional appearances in other media contexts.
Gary Lineker Career Timeline
- November 30, 1960: Born in Leicester, England
- 1978: Turns professional with Leicester City
- January 1, 1979: Makes professional debut for Leicester City
- 1980: Helps Leicester City win the Second Division
- 1984–85: Becomes First Division’s joint-top scorer with Leicester
- 1985: Transfers to Everton
- 1985–86: Wins PFA Players’ Player of the Year and FWA Footballer of the Year; Everton wins league championship
- 1986: Makes England debut; scores in 1986 World Cup
- 1986: Signs for Barcelona
- 1986–87: Scores 16 league goals in first Barcelona season
- 1987–88: Wins Copa del Rey with Barcelona
- 1989: Wins European Cup Winners’ Cup with Barcelona
- 1989: Transfers to Tottenham Hotspur
- 1990: Helps England reach World Cup semi-finals; scores 4 goals
- 1986: Wins Golden Boot at FIFA World Cup Mexico
- 1992: Plays final England match; ends international career with 48 goals in 80 caps
- 1993: Retires from professional football after 243 goals in 466 appearances
- 1993–Present: Becomes BBC Match of the Day presenter
- 2009: Marries Danielle Lineker
- 2016: Separates from Danielle Lineker
- November 2025: Celebrates 65th birthday
Gary Lineker: What We Know and What Remains Unclear
Well-Established Facts
The core facts about Gary Lineker are well-documented and corroborated across multiple reliable sources. His date of birth (November 30, 1960), birthplace (Leicester, England), and current age (65 years old) are consistently confirmed by Wikipedia, Famous Birthdays, and other biographical sources. His professional football career from 1978 to 1993, his scoring records, and his major achievements including the 1986 World Cup Golden Boot are thoroughly documented. His broadcasting career with the BBC and his role as Match of the Day presenter from 1993 to the present are established public knowledge.
Unclear or Disputed Information
Several details remain less precisely documented. His exact height varies slightly across sources (reported as either 1.77m or 1.80m), with no definitive measurement consistently cited. His current relationship status after the 2016 separation from Danielle Lineker is not clearly established in public sources. Precise net worth figures are not detailed in the available research materials, with sources generally avoiding specific financial figures. Additionally, while no significant health issues are mentioned in any sources, comprehensive medical information is not publicly available, which is typical for privacy reasons.
Gary Lineker: What Sources Say
“Gary Winston Lineker (born 30 November 1960) is an English former professional footballer who played as a striker, and is now a sports broadcaster. He is England’s all-time top goalscorer.” — Wikipedia
“Born November 30, 1960, in Leicester, England, Gary Lineker is a former professional footballer and current sports broadcaster who played as a striker. He is 65 years old as of 2024.” — Famous Birthdays
“Lineker is noted for being the only player to have topped the goalscoring charts for three different English clubs: Leicester City, Everton, and Tottenham Hotspur.” — Kids Kiddle
Summary: How Old Is Gary Lineker?
Gary Lineker is 65 years old as of November 2025, having been born on November 30, 1960, in Leicester, England. His age has been consistently verified across multiple reliable sources including Wikipedia, Famous Birthdays, and Kids Kiddle. Born with the middle name Winston to share his birthday with Churchill, Lineker grew up helping at his family’s fruit and vegetable market stall before embarking on a legendary football career that took him from Leicester City through Everton and Barcelona to Tottenham Hotspur.
His achievements speak for themselves: 243 goals in 466 club appearances, 48 goals in 80 England caps, the 1986 World Cup Golden Boot, and status as England’s all-time leading World Cup scorer with 10 goals. Since retiring from football in 1993, he has successfully transitioned to broadcasting, becoming the BBC’s Match of the Day presenter and one of British television’s most recognizable sports personalities. At 65, Lineker remains active in his broadcasting role, with no reports of significant health issues, continuing to be a major figure in sports media more than three decades after hanging up his boots.