Gary Lineker is an English former professional footballer turned broadcaster, celebrated for his clinical finishing and enduring public profile. Born on 30 November 1960, he rose from local promise to global recognition, and his career remains a frequent feature for collectors and fans on Walkouts seeking authentic memorabilia. Lineker combined a natural goalscoring instinct with clean play, a record that has made signed shirts and authenticated autographs from his era highly sought after.
Lineker began his senior career at Leicester City, progressing through the youth ranks and making his full debut as a teenager. He helped Leicester to the Football League Second Division 1979-80 title and established himself as a prolific striker in the early 1980s. A move to Everton in 1985 brought immediate impact, with Lineker finishing the 1985-86 English First Division as the league's top scorer and claiming both the PFA Players' Player of the Year and FWA Footballer of the Year awards that season.
Following his breakthrough in England, Lineker joined Barcelona where he continued to find the net in La Liga and in European competition, contributing to the club's Copa del Rey 1987-88 and the European Cup Winners' Cup 1988-89. In 1989 he returned to England with Tottenham Hotspur, finishing top scorer in the 1989-90 First Division and later lifting the FA Cup 1990-91. Lineker finished his playing career in Japan with Nagoya Grampus Eight, retiring from the game in 1994.
On the international stage Lineker earned 80 caps for England and scored 48 goals, finishing his England career as one of the country's most efficient goalscorers. He was the FIFA World Cup Golden Boot winner in 1986 after scoring six goals in Mexico, and he played a central role as England reached the semi-finals of the 1990 World Cup. Notably, Lineker completed his career without ever receiving a yellow or red card, and he was honoured with the FIFA Fair Play Award 1990.
Following retirement Lineker established a high-profile media career, most prominently with the BBC where he presented flagship coverage of domestic and international football from 1999 until 2025. He has expanded into production and podcasting through Goalhanger Films and Goalhanger Podcasts, further increasing the appeal of memorabilia that carries documented provenance from television appearances alongside match-worn items.
For collectors, Lineker's career milestones create clear provenance markers: club shirts and signed items relating to his spells at Leicester City, Everton, Barcelona, Tottenham Hotspur and Nagoya Grampus Eight, plus items linked to his World Cup performances, are particularly prized. Authentic autograph verification, photographic provenance, and documented chain of custody are central to the value and desirability of these collectibles. Signed shirts, match programmes, and authenticated autographs provide tangible links to memorable moments such as the 1986 World Cup Golden Boot and the 1991 FA Cup success.
As a cultural figure who bridged on-field excellence and a sustained broadcasting presence, Lineker's memorabilia remains compelling for both sports collectors and fans of contemporary football history. His achievements and public profile ensure that signed and authenticated pieces continue to circulate among reputable collections, preserving provenance and narrative. In closing, Lineker's legacy endures on and off the pitch, and Walkouts remains a destination for those seeking verified Gary Lineker collectibles and signed shirts that celebrate his career.
