Gary Lineker has reignited his feud with legendary Manchester United boss Sir Alex Ferguson by saying he “doesn’t care” what Ferguson thinks of him. Lineker and Ferguson had a public falling out during Ferguson’s time in charge at Old Trafford. The frosty nature of their relationship was discussed in a recent episode of The Rest Is Football podcast, hosted by Lineker, along with his BBC colleagues Alan Shearer and Micah Richards. During a game of ‘start, bench, sell’, Lineker revealed his decision to sell Sir Alex Ferguson, stating that he never got along with him and therefore doesn’t care about his opinion.
The origin of Lineker and Ferguson’s disagreement goes back to a magazine interview that Lineker did in the late 2000s, where he spoke about managers feeling annoyed after games and thinking the media were against them. These comments were later misconstrued to imply they were directed at Ferguson. Lineker tried to explain this to Ferguson, but he didn’t believe him. Ferguson then made remarks in an interview with Sir David Frost in 2008, alleging Lineker was not “whiter than white” like people thought and had “super-injunctions all over the place”. Despite both being speakers at Sir Bobby Robson’s memorial the following year, their relationship remained strained. Even in recent years, Ferguson allegedly snubbed Lineker’s attempt at a handshake at his local restaurant, Riva. The banter between them continued, with Ferguson refusing to speak to the BBC for seven years from 2004 to 2011 after they aired a documentary about his agent son, Jason.
The dispute between Lineker and Ferguson dates back to the late 2000s, originating from a magazine interview Lineker did, which was later misinterpreted to reflect poorly on Ferguson. Despite Lineker’s attempts to clarify the situation, Ferguson made public comments alleging Lineker was not as virtuous as he appeared. The tension between them persisted, with Ferguson continuing to make snide remarks about Lineker, indicating that their relationship was far from amicable. Even years after the initial disagreement, the two football icons still haven’t reconciled, as evidenced by Ferguson’s refusal to shake Lineker’s hand at a restaurant, showcasing the lasting bitterness between them.
The ongoing feud between Gary Lineker and Sir Alex Ferguson highlights the complexities of relationships in the world of football. Despite their shared experiences as former players and managers, personal disputes and misunderstandings have caused a lasting strain on their relationship. The public nature of their disagreements, from misinterpreted comments to snide public remarks, reveals the challenges of maintaining professional relationships in a high-profile industry. The refusal to reconcile, evidenced by Ferguson’s snub at a restaurant, underscores the deep-rooted nature of their animosity. As two prominent figures in English football, Lineker and Ferguson’s feud serves as a reminder of the personal dynamics that can influence professional interactions in the sports world.
The feud between Lineker and Ferguson has had a lasting impact on their interactions over the years, with public comments and gestures reflecting the underlying tension between them. Despite attempts to clarify misunderstandings and move past their disagreements, the strained relationship persists, as evidenced by Ferguson’s continued snubs and Lineker’s candid comments about not caring what Ferguson thinks. The history of their dispute, rooted in misinterpreted magazine interviews and public statements, showcases the challenges of maintaining professional relationships in the public eye. As they continue to coexist in the football world, their ongoing feud serves as a reminder of the personal dynamics that can shape interactions between individuals, even in the realm of sports.
