Gary Lineker: A Portrait of a Football Icon

Chris Evans's biography of Gary Lineker arrives at a fascinating moment in the football icon's career. As Lineker prepares to step down from Match of the Day after 25 years, this comprehensive work offers both a timely retrospective and a fresh perspective on one of English football's most enduring figures.
Evans skilfully weaves together Lineker's remarkable journey from Leicester schoolboy to international superstar. The statistics alone tell part of the story: 281 career goals, and perhaps most remarkably, not a single yellow or red card in 567 matches over 16 years. But it's the human story behind these numbers that Evans captures so effectively. 
The book's exploration of Lineker's Barcelona years is particularly illuminating. At age 26 and fresh from winning the World Cup Golden Boot, his move to Catalunya represented both a personal and professional gamble. Evans details how Lineker adapted to Spanish football while maintaining his deadly instinct in front of goal, scoring 52 goals during his time at the club. 
What sets this biography apart is its careful attention to Lineker's evolution beyond the pitch. His transformation from golden boot winner to one of the BBC's highest-profile presenters is chronicled with particular insight. Evans doesn't shy away from recent controversies, including Lineker's 2023 suspension over social media comments, providing important context for understanding both the man and the changing landscape of sports media.
The author's extensive research and interviews yield fascinating details about Lineker's playing career at Leicester, Everton, Tottenham, Barcelona, and Nagoya Grampus Eight. Each chapter builds upon the last to create a portrait of a player who combined natural talent with intellectual understanding of the game. The book is particularly strong in analysing Lineker's goalscoring technique—his ability to find space, time his runs, and finish with clinical precision.
Evans's writing style matches his subject—clean, efficient, and engaging without unnecessary flourish. The biography benefits from the author's background in football journalism, bringing both historical perspective and contemporary relevance to Lineker's story. The narrative seamlessly integrates match reports, personal anecdotes, and cultural context to create a rounded portrait of both the player and the era he helped define.
Particularly poignant is the coverage of the 1986 and 1990 World Cups, where Lineker's goals helped write some of England's most memorable football chapters. The description of his hat trick against Poland in 1986 and his reaction to Gazza's tears in 1990 remind readers why he became such a beloved figure in English football.
The book's timing proves especially pertinent as Lineker enters a new chapter in his career. His upcoming departure from Match of the Day marks the end of an era in British sports broadcasting, making this biography not just a historical document but a contemporary reflection on how football and media have evolved over four decades.
While the book excels in most areas, some readers might wish for a more detailed exploration of Lineker's influence on modern football punditry and his role in shaping public discourse around the sport. However, this is a minor quibble in what is otherwise an accomplished biography.
Chris Evans has delivered a worthy addition to football literature—one that captures not just the career highlights of a remarkable player and broadcaster but the intelligence, wit, and principled stance that have made Gary Lineker such an enduring presence in British sporting life. For anyone interested in football history, sports media, or the evolution of the modern game, this biography offers valuable insights and entertaining reading in equal measure. 
ROYAL MAIL TRACKED 48 
Publisher: Bloomsbury Sport
Published: January 30, 2025
Hardback: 288 pages - £18.99
Paperback: 336 pages - £14.99