Gary Lineker: A Portrait of a Football Icon: ‘AN ESSENTIAL READ’ FourFourTwo

by Chris Evans

This new biography – the first for 30 years – provides a fascinating insight into the life of one of football's most celebrated players and personalities

There's no denying that whatever Gary Lineker does is big news, whether it's fronting some of the UK's most-watched sports coverage or causing controversy on social media. With 8.9 million followers on X, all eyes remain on Lineker.

While he's better known as a TV personality and philanthropist nowadays, Lineker's football career marks him out as one of England's best ever players. But he wasn't always destined for greatness. After helping on his dad's market as a youngster and being told he'd never make it by a school teacher, Lineker was a late bloomer, making his England debut at 24 and going on to play for a host of top clubs.

Written by FourFourTwo journalist Chris Evans, this comprehensive look at Lineker's career – on and off the pitch - covers his early years in Leicester, his rise to fame at Leicester City and Everton, and his successful years at Barcelona and Tottenham Hotspur.

Gary Portrait of a Football Icon looks at the phenomenal career of a sporting legend – one of England's deadliest strikers and one of the most respected sports figures today.

Genres: Football

288 pages, Hardcover

Published June 10, 2025

About the author

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Reviews

[Lucy H-W · Rating 3 out of 5]

I already knew a good amount of the stories/facts in this book (I am an avid listener of Gary’s ‘the rest is football’ podcast, and I am a thorough researcher!), but it was still nice to get a full picture biography and to hear a few new (to me) stories.

One issue I did have with the book was with the formatting. I didn’t like that the start of some chapters effectively ‘spoiled’ what was going to happen in the chapter. Luckily it didn’t affect me TOO much as I mostly already knew what would happen. But for example, I couldn’t remember whether Gary broke Bobby Charlton’s goal scoring record, and it felt disjointed to be told at the beginning of the chapter that he didn’t beat it, only to then read a chapter which tells us the build up as if we don’t already know that information.

Overall though I would recommend this book, especially to someone who doesn’t know too much about Gary’s career and wants a good overview.

I am quite sad again now about Gary leaving match of the day - I will have to go and rewatch the end of his last episode🥲🥲

[Jorgen Lundgren · Rating 4 out of 5]

Gary Lineker.
A true footballing icon.
I watched him for the last 25 years heading up MoD - Match Of The Day.
Before then he was the frontman and main striker for the three lions national team for a number of years. Great goal scorer, 3xgolden Booth winner.
From the biography Gary started his footballing career at Leicester City, then moved to Everton before joining Barcelona and a family move to Spain.
Joined Tottenham hotspurs before moving across to Japan to join a Japanese team in their newly started football J-league.
We follow him during the different world cups as well as European championships.

A true humble footballing legend who never got a red card during his career, beat that one!!

Played in Spain for Barcelona and for Japanese Nagoya Grampus Eight team in their J- league. Though he had his first serious injury while in Japan that cut his playing career shorter then planned.

Good read if you are into football ⚽️ 👍.