Gary Lineker, 65, has shared that he is content being single a decade after his second divorce and enjoys the company of women without romantic involvement.
Speaking on the Begin Again podcast with Davina McCall, Lineker revealed he has been single for "quite a few years now." He mentioned attempting to date around three to four years ago but has not pursued relationships since. "I have a lot of female company and companions and friends," he told McCall, clarifying that he has many close female friends whom he sees frequently. While a couple of these friends are ex-partners, he stated they are not in love and merely "suffer" him.
Lineker was married to his first wife, Michelle Cockayne, for 20 years, with whom he has four sons. His second marriage to Danielle Bux ended in 2016 after six years because she desired children, a path Lineker was not pursuing at the time. He described his relationship with Bux as still being "best mates," and they maintain regular contact.
Reflecting on his current relationship status, Lineker expressed a feeling of comfort in being alone. "I'm not sure I could imagine regularly sleeping with someone again or not that you have to, sharing a bed," he said, humorously adding that as people get older, nighttime bathroom trips increase. He also dismissed the idea of using dating apps, though he did not entirely rule out future possibilities, stating, "Who knows what might happen."
Lineker's first marriage to Cockayne began when he was an 18-year-old rising star at Leicester City. During their union, they experienced significant highs as Lineker became a top striker, but also faced a profound low when their eldest son, George, battled leukemia as an infant. After his divorce from Cockayne, Lineker married Bux in 2009. They announced their separation seven years later. Bux subsequently moved to Los Angeles, where she pursued an acting career and later married lawyer Nate Greenwald, with whom she has a daughter.