Gary Winston Lineker OBE: English Sports Broadcaster and Former Professional Footballer

Early Life and Career

Gary Winston Lineker OBE, also known as Gary Lineker, was born on 30 November 1960, in Leicester, England. He started his professional football career at Leicester City in 1978, where he played until 1985. During his time with Leicester, he scored 103 goals in 208 league appearances.

Everton and Barcelona

In 1985, Lineker joined Everton for a then-British record transfer fee of £800,000. He played three seasons for Everton, scoring 80 goals in 138 league games. In 1986, he helped Everton win the FA Cup. In 1988, Lineker moved to FC Barcelona for a transfer fee of £2.5 million. He won the Copa del Rey with Barcelona in 1989 and the European Cup Winners' Cup in 1989.

Return to England and Retirement

Lineker returned to England in 1989, joining Tottenham Hotspur. He spent four seasons with Tottenham, scoring 68 goals in 138 league matches. He won the FA Cup again with Tottenham in 1991. In 1992, Lineker moved to Grampian, where he played for one season before retiring in 1994 at the age of 33.

Broadcasting Career

After retiring from football, Lineker began a successful broadcasting career. He worked as a commentator and presenter for various television and radio stations, including BBC, ITV, and Sky Sports. He is known for his witty and insightful analysis and is considered one of the most respected sports broadcasters in the world.

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