Gary Lineker (foto: //)
Gary Lineker criticised the BBC’s remote World Cup coverage, praised his Netflix move to New York, and revealed he still does not know why Jose Mourinho stopped speaking to him.
Gary Lineker has taken a clear swipe at BBC plans for this summer’s World Cup, admitting he is relieved not to be working remotely from England.
The broadcaster will run much of its coverage from its headquarters in Salford, with pundits not expected to travel to the United States until the later stages of the tournament. The decision has drawn criticism, with cost-cutting seen as the main reason.
Lineker, who led the BBC’s coverage for years, will not be part of the setup this time. Instead, he will host “The Rest is Football” podcast, which has been picked up by Netflix in a deal worth around £14 million.
Speaking at the launch of Netflix’s Sports Club, Lineker made his feelings clear.
"I was originally going to do it for the BBC, but that didn’t happen. I would have been in Salford in a green box, and now I’ll be in New York overlooking Times Square with great guests."
The former England striker will work alongside Alan Shearer and Micah Richards, bringing a more fan-driven and direct style to their daily coverage.
"We are fans as well. We will support England, but when you care, you often criticise your team more than anyone else."
Lineker pointed to his controversial comment during the European Championship when he bluntly said England “played s***”.
"If I said they played poorly, nobody would care. I said it because I cared. It was painful to watch."
His move away from the BBC followed a major controversy last year. He left the broadcaster after backlash over an Instagram post related to Zionism, which led to accusations of antisemitism.
The 64-year-old apologised and described his departure as the “responsible” decision, walking away from a salary of around £1.4 million per year.
At the same event, Lineker also spoke about his long-standing and unexplained fallout with Jose Mourinho.
"He used to message me all the time, saying he loved what I said on Match of the Day. Then it stopped. To this day, I don’t know why."
Lineker recalled an awkward moment at an awards ceremony during Mourinho’s time at Chelsea.
"I asked him if there was a problem. He said no. I asked again, he said no. I still don’t know what happened."
Now managing Benfica, Mourinho has been linked with a return to Real Madrid, where pressure is growing after a trophyless season under Alvaro Arbeloa.
Lineker believes the move is realistic.
"I think there’s a strong chance he becomes the next Real Madrid manager. The president likes him."
While BBC faces questions over its World Cup approach, Lineker is set for a very different experience, broadcasting from the heart of New York City with a global audience on Netflix.