Gary Lineker

Sports broadcaster Gary Lineker’s role in the consortium that rescued Leicester City was fitting, for it was where, in 1978, his playing career began, Known for lightning acceleration, he scored 26 goals in 1983, helping Leicester back into the First Division. Two years later; he signed for Everton and scored 30 goals in his first season, winning him the PFA and Football Writers' Player of the Year

He did well initially at Barcelona underTerryVenables, but was later less consistent. Though he contributed to Barca’s Cup Winners’ Cup victory in 1989, he came back to England that summer to join Venables at White Hart Lane. In 1991 Spurs won the F. A, Cup, beating Nottingham Forest, and in his final season at the club put away a relegation-saving 28 League goals.

It is as a marksman for England, however that he’s most celebrated, with 80 caps and 48 goals - only one fewer than Bobby Charlton. Six of those, including a hat-trick against Poland, came in the 1986 World Cup in Mexico, winning him the Golden Boot. Four years later at Italia 90, it was Lineker's 80th-minute equaliser that kept England in the semi-final against West Germany, though the side went out on penalties. The 1992 European Championships made a frustrating end to Lineker’s England career as he was substituted by Graham Taylor in the final game, against Sweden. He ended his playing days with two seasons in the Japanese League, at Grampus Eight.