The Louis Theroux Podcast

Podbit · The Louis Theroux Podcast

S8 EP1: Gary Lineker on England’s losing streak, leaving the BBC, and his frosty relationship with Cristiano Ronaldo

Explore episode Jun 8, 2026

Where this was said

Emotional Coldness as a Young Footballer

At 13:15 · chapter starts 13:00

Following the nerves discussion, Lineker opens up about the personality he had to build to be a successful striker. He describes himself as 'almost cold' — very ambitious, very driven, emotionally switched off. He wonders whether becoming a parent, and particularly going through his son George's illness, changed him. He mentions that Mark Hughes once said to him at Barcelona, 'God, you're really cold, aren't you?' and he just went, 'Oh, really? Yeah, maybe.' It's a rare moment of unguarded self-criticism from a man whose public persona is warmth itself.

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