Gary Lineker has opened up about his love life and admitted he is currently single, ten years after his second divorce.
The former England player, 65, claims he tried dating four years ago but prefers to be single.
While discussing his relationship status, he says, “I’m single [for] for quite a few years now. I was in a relationship for a while about three or four years ago, and haven’t been since.’
Appears on the Start podcast again alongside Davina McCallthe stunned TV presenter told him she couldn’t believe it, to which he responded: ‘I have a lot of female company and companions and friends.’
She quickly interjected to suggest he had friends with benefits – a term for casual sex with a friend – to which he shut down any talk of “benefits.”
He continued, “I have a lot of girlfriends for company. I like female company.’
Gary Lineker has opened up about his love life and admitted he is currently single, ten years after his second divorce
While discussing his relationship status, he says, “I’m single [for] for quite a few years now. I was in a relationship for a while, about three or four years ago, and haven’t been since’ (photo with ex-wife Danielle Bux in 2015)
“I have a lot of really good friends that I see quite often.”
Davina then pressed if the friends were his exes, to which he told her, “a few, but not many of them.”
He dismissed the idea that they are still in love, saying: ‘I don’t think so. I think they make me suffer. They put up with me.”
The former BBC pundit was married to his first wife, Michelle Cockayne, for 20 years, with whom he shares four sons.
He and his second wife, Danielle Bux, separated in 2016 after six years of marriage because she wanted children of her own. He says they are still “best friends” and see each other regularly.
Lineker continued, “I feel so comfortable when I’m alone. In that sense, I’m not sure if I can imagine sleeping with someone regularly again or not, I have to, share a bed.
‘As you get older you tend to have to go to the toilet a few more times during the night and things like that.
He emphasized that he “couldn’t imagine using dating apps” and said: “I’m not ruling anything out.” Who knows what could happen.’
The former BBC pundit was married to his first wife, Michelle Cockayne, for 20 years, with whom he shares four sons
In 2024, Gary was also linked to Jemima Goldsmith after they were pictured enjoying a cozy dinner together, but a source insisted they are ‘just good friends’.
In June, Gary insisted he was ‘done’ with finding love after his two divorces.
‘I like to be by myself. I’ve gotten so used to it now and I’m a bit selfish, but not accountable to anyone,” he admitted during a conversation on Louis Theroux’s podcast.
When asked if he’s ‘just alone in a big house’, Gary added: ‘Me and a dog. But my boys are always there. I’m absolutely happy on my own.’
When asked about romance, Gary was adamant, insisting, “No, I think I’m done with it.” I don’t know, you never know, but I just can’t imagine living with someone again.’
The ex-England striker was then asked about ‘physical needs’ but joked ‘you reach a certain age where it takes so much effort’, before joking about ‘a big blue pill’.
“It could change, but you know, I like the company of women. I have a lot of friends who I go out to dinner with.”
Gary’s first wife Michelle, with whom he shares his four sons George, 34, Harry, 32, Tobias, 30, and Angus, 28, filed for divorce in 2006.
The former couple met when he was an 18-year-old rising star for Leicester City.
During their marriage, Gary and Michelle experienced huge highs, as the footballer became one of the best strikers in the world – earning a pay packet to match, but also faced deep lows, including when the couple’s first-born son, George, battled leukemia at just eight weeks old and was given a survival rate of just ’10 to 20 percent’.
After his first divorce, Gary married Welsh actress and model Danielle in a ceremony in Italy in 2009.
After seven years together, they announced they were going their separate ways because the former didn’t want any more children, but they remain on friendly terms and are regularly seen together at dinner parties and vacations.
Danielle then moved to Los Angeles to pursue an acting career and found love with Nate Greenwald, an Ivy League-educated attorney at CAA.
The model, already parent to daughter Ella, 24, from a previous relationship, welcomed her second daughter, Romy Wren, in August 2017.
In 2024, Gary was also linked to Jemima Goldsmith after they were pictured enjoying a cozy dinner together.
A friend of Jemima said of the Lineker/Goldsmith pairing: “Jemima has known him for years and never known him with anyone until now.
‘They are not a couple, but they have been good friends for a long time. He’s not interested in dating, and hasn’t been for years.”
Jemima, daughter of the late financier Sir James Goldsmith, married cricket legend and former Prime Minister of Pakistan Imran Khan in 1995 before they divorced in 2004.
They have two sons together: Sulaiman Isa, born in 1996, and Kasim, born three years later.
Since then, she has maintained high-profile relationships with comedian Russell Brand and actor Hugh Grant.
Lineker is said to have attended a 50th birthday party held by Jemima at her mansion.
