Inside Gary Lineker’s love life as he hosts the Euros 2024 (Picture: Tom Dulat/Getty Images for Premier League)
As England starts its campaign in the Euros 2024, one face we will be seeing on screens lots over the next few weeks is pundit Gary Lineker.
The sports broadcaster and former professional footballer is the only player to have been the top goal scorer in England with three clubs: Leicester City, Everton and Tottenham Hotspur, starting his career in 1977.
He also played for Barcelona in Spain and won 80 caps for England.
In the late 1990s he went on to present the BBC’s flagship football programme Match of the Day, a position he still holds today.
Gary, 63, is also the national broadcaster’s lead presenter for live football matches, including coverage of international tournaments.
As the Euros kicks off, here’s everything we know about Gary’s life away from the cameras.
Is Gary Lineker married?
He was a professional footballer before joining BBC’s Match of the Day in 1999 (Picture: Michael Regan – The FA/The FA via Getty Images)
Gary Lineker is not currently married.
Who aare Gary Lineker’s ex-partners and does he have any children?
In 1986, Gary married Michelle Cockayne, with the couple going on to have four sons together – George, Harry, Tobias and Angus.
He married Michelle Cockayne in 1986 (Picture: Rex/ Shutterstock)
However, 20 years after they tied the knot, Michelle filed for divorce on the grounds of her husband’s ‘unreasonable behaviour’, with documents submitted to the court claiming that Lineker’s actions in their marriage had caused her ‘stress and anxiety’.
They later stated their marriage breakdown was amicable.
The couple share four sons (Picture: Rex/Shutterstock)
They were married for 20 years (Picture: Nils Jorgensen/REX/Shutterstock)
The following year Gary started dating model Danielle Bux, who was 20 years younger than him.
Two years after being set up on a blind date, they married in Italy.
But, in 2016 the couple announced they had split following reports they had different wishes on whether to start a family together.
He then married Danielle Bux in 2009 (Richard Young/Rex/Shutterstock)
He said at the time: ‘Thank you for all your kind words. Danielle and I had many wonderful years together. We remain very close and the greatest of friends.’
Despite their break-up, he told The Mirror in 2019 they remained close.
‘Danielle and I are best mates, we still speak three times a day, we text all the time. When she comes to London she stays with me, and when I go to LA I see her,’ he said.
They eventually split a decade later (Picture: REX/Shutterstock)
Speaking to The Times that same month, Gary suggested that Danielle’s desire for children caused their split.
He recalled: ‘Obviously I would have done, but she said, “It’s not fair on you.” Then I said, “Well, I’d feel terrible if I stop you doing it”.’
Danielle went on to marry American entertainment lawyer Nate Greenwald, with the couple sharing a daughter Ella together.
Is Gary Lineker in a relationship?
The BBC star appears to currently be single (Picture: Richard Young/Rex/Shutterstock)
In 2019 it was reported Gary was dating chef Gizzi Erskine after they were seen partying together backstage at All Points East festival, however rumours of a relationship were quickly shut down.
Since then he hasn’t been linked publicly to anyone else, but did say in 2021 he ‘liked being on my own’.
‘I like being on my own. I know it sounds a bit mad,’ he told The Times.
‘I have lots of company. I’ve got lots of friends and I’ve also got my boys who come around a lot and I cook for them. I don’t feel lonely.
‘I have the odd date here and there, but nothing, not in terms of a long relationship.’
He added: ‘I’ve been married most of my adult life. Two really good marriages, I’m friends with both. Danielle’s kind of my best mate, so I have that female connection with her. I’m not saying whether it’ll change. It might do. But at the minute I’m very comfortable.’
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