Wayne Lineker, the man once crowned the undisputed 'King of Ibiza', has endured a harrowing year that culminated in a life-threatening health crisis, forcing him to trade his famous pool parties for a hospital bed.
A Sobering Reality in Paradise
For decades, the 63-year-old businessman was the face of hedonistic summers at his iconic O Beach club, a magnet for influencers and party-goers. However, in 2025, Lineker made a series of candid admissions, revealing he had quietly entered rehab to address his lifestyle and was now sober. The vibrant atmosphere of his own empire—the music, dancers, and sea of orange cups and bikinis—became a powerful trigger, making his former life "impossible" to maintain.
In an emotional social media post in October, he announced he was leaving the Spanish island for good, confessing that attempting to run the venue while sober was detrimental to his mental health, causing him to hide away or leave early.
A Sudden and Severe Health Scare
Just weeks after his life-changing decision, a far more immediate danger struck. Lineker disclosed that he caught a "very bad infection" while travelling from Mauritius to Dubai for an anniversary celebration. Initially suspecting COVID-19, his condition deteriorated rapidly after returning to the UK.
At 3am one morning, he woke up and found he could not walk. Fearing a heart attack, he was rushed to hospital by ambulance. Doctors diagnosed him with chronic pneumonia, a condition he described as "extremely dangerous" for a man of his age. The illness was so severe that he required a 10-day stay in intensive care before being moved to a respiratory ward.
The Long Road to Recovery
While now out of immediate danger, the club mogul faces a challenging rehabilitation. The pneumonia has left significant damage, and Lineker revealed the stark reality: "I still cannot walk at all and have around two months rehabilitation and physio ahead of me." This physical struggle marks a profound contrast to his high-energy former life.
Throughout his ordeal, Lineker has drawn strength from his family, including his brother, football presenter Gary Lineker, with whom he recently reconciled after nearly two decades of estrangement. Reflecting on his journey, he offered a message of hope to others, stating that going to rehab was "the best decision of my life" and urging anyone in a similar situation to seek help and face their demons.
