Ex football sensation, the renowned English football legend, recently disclosed that he once declined an opportunity to become the manager of Aston Villa. Gary Lineker, who enjoyed a remarkable career as a player, is widely regarded as one of the most prolific strikers in the history of the national team, having scored 48 goals in 80 games. His exceptional performance earned him the prestigious Golden Boot at the 1986 World Cup.
Following his retirement in 1994, Lineker had a brief stint in Japan with Nagoya Grampus. During this time, he received a phone call from Doug Ellis, who was the chairman of Aston Villa at the time, offering him the chance to manage the club. However, Lineker turned down the offer, stating that management was not for him, and expressing gratitude to Ellis.
It is speculated that Lineker would have been considered for the job after the departure of Ron Atkinson in November 1994. Ultimately, the position was filled by Brian Little, who spent four years in the managerial role, with the highlight of his tenure being the League Cup win of 1995/96.
Following his playing career, Lineker transitioned to television and became the presenter of Match of the Day in 1999, a role he continues to hold. Although Lineker had a successful career as a player, he never entertained the idea of pursuing a career in management. He attributed this to various factors, such as not feeling suited for the role and not having a passion for training. Lineker stated that management never crossed his mind and he never found it appealing.
