The story of Gary Lineker and his brother Wayne is one of fraternal bonds tested to their absolute limit. For 17 long years, a bitter feud kept the once-inseparable siblings apart, a rift that captivated public attention and left a family divided.
The Unbreakable Bond That Shattered
Growing up together in Leicester, Gary Lineker and his younger brother Wayne shared an exceptionally close relationship that continued well into their adult lives. The football legend, now celebrating his 65th birthday, maintained regular contact with his nightclub mogul sibling, meeting twice weekly for golf games and speaking frequently on the telephone.
Their strong connection seemed unbreakable until everything changed dramatically in 2008. The catalyst for their estrangement emerged when Gary began dating his former wife, Danielle Bux. Wayne Lineker revealed in an April 2015 interview with The Sun that their relationship deteriorated rapidly following this development.
The Holiday That Changed Everything
The turning point occurred during a family holiday in Ibiza in August 2008. Wayne described the atmosphere as "really awkward" and admitted he never connected with Danielle. The Spanish holiday proved to be the final time Wayne spoke with Danielle, and marked the beginning of their nearly two-decade separation.
The situation escalated further when Wayne was excluded from Gary's 2009 wedding. The absence stemmed from Wayne's then-partner, model Ana Tanaka, being left off the guest list. Wayne took a principled stand, explaining: "He was my brother and he was telling me that I couldn't bring my girlfriend of a year and a half to his wedding."
The Long Road to Reconciliation
Attempts at reconciliation proved difficult over the years. A telephone call on Gary's 50th birthday lasted less than 60 seconds, leaving Wayne pessimistic about ever repairing their relationship. He previously admitted: "I would love nothing more than him to call me up tomorrow and ask to go to lunch to speak about it, but I don't think it's going to happen."
However, circumstances began to shift in August 2017 when Wayne disclosed the brothers had resumed communication. While their bond hadn't fully returned to its pre-dispute strength, they were gradually rebuilding their relationship.
The most significant breakthrough came earlier this summer when the siblings publicly reunited at Wayne's daughter Tia's wedding in Majorca. Wayne shared a photograph on Instagram with the caption: "Great to see my bro and my nephews at my daughters wedding," signaling to fans that the 17-year feud had finally come to an end.
The emotional family occasion represented a full-circle moment for the brothers, who have now put their difficult past behind them and are working toward restoring their once-strong fraternal connection.
