If you were to ask anyone interested in fashion to nominate a stylish male footballer in 2023, they might – depending on their generation – namecheck Héctor Bellerín, Dominic Calvert-Lewin or David Beckham. But for most men watching Match of the Day on a Saturday night, it would probably be Gary Lineker. The former footballer and host of the highlights show for almost 25 years is a style icon for millions, whether he’s wearing a crisp shirt and Clark Kent glasses on the pundit couch or Blundstone boots on a walk with his dog, Filbert.
Lineker has, of course, been in the headlines for more than his style recently. Thanks to his tweet criticising the government’s asylum policy, he was suspended by the BBC. With Alan Shearer and Ian Wright boycotting the show in solidarity, Match of the Day was broadcast without any presenters on 11 March. Now back on the couch, Lineker can settle into less controversial territory – like working on an edit of clothes for Next. Here, he chats about his outfit choices over the years, Match of the Day wardrobe policies, that tweet and who is going to win the Premier league.
