Gary Lineker names the only footballer who 'had a pop' at him over Match of the Day scrutiny
Gary Lineker has been presenting Match of the Day for 25 years
BBC
Gary Lineker and the Match of the Day punditry team have not been afraid to criticise footballers during their analysis, but the show's long-time presenter has revealed only one footballer ever 'had a pop' over his comments.
Match of the Day celebrates its 60th birthday this season with Lineker presenting the iconic football highlights show for 25 years.
The former England international has had to work as a mediator at times as the show's presenter, but also isn't afraid of airing his own opinion from time to time.
During this summer's Euros, Lineker launched a stinging attack on England's 's***' performance against Denmark on his podcast and said captain Harry Kane 'needs to do a lot better'.
Gary Lineker has been presenting Match of the Day for 25 years
BBC
The Bayern Munich striker hit back in a press conference, calling for former players to be more respectful and understanding.
But Lineker was quick to brush off the back-and-forth as nothing but journalists 'stirring the pot'.
And the 63-year-old has revealed Vinnie Jones is the only footballer who has ever approached him regarding comments he made on TV.
When asked on the BBC whether players speak to him about his analysis, Lineker replied: "Very, very rarely.
"Not with players. Managers more so, managers are touchy.
"Footballers get it and they understand it. They know when they've made a mistake and they know when they've not played well.
"At the end of the Euros, there was all this talk because the papers wind things up a bit and try and cause a divide and I remember walking down at the end of the game of the final - the way we had to get out was via the tunnel - and we bumped into three or four of the players.
"They were coming over and saying 'we didn't really do this...' - no, I've never experienced from a player any kind of grief, except Vinnie Jones who had a pop one day.
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Vinnie Jones was renowned as one of football's hard men in the 1990's
GETTY
"But it was just Vinnie being Vinnie. It was fun and it was fine."
Lineker also stated that he has 'at least another year' on his Match of the Day contract and isn't sure yet whether he will continue.
One of his most iconic moments in the Match of the Day studio came after his boyhood club Leicester went on to win the Premier League title in 2016.
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Lineker looks back on the moment fondly, one that he calls the 'most surreal' thing he has done in his television career.
"When I did that tweet I knew there was categorically zero chance that Leicester would win the league," he added.
"But of course they did and I kind of had to do it. It was the most surreal thing I've ever done on television.
"I could see Wrighty and Shearer's shoulders just going behind me."
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