Inside Gary and Wayne Lineker’s bitter 17-year feud after falling out over ex wife Danielle Bux
Gary and Wayne Lineker have reunited at a family wedding in Ibiza, ending years of estrangement between the brothers. The pair were captured drinking together in an Instagram video at Gary’s son Harry’s nuptials over the weekend.
The footage showed the former Match of the Day presenter, 64, downing an alcoholic beverage before passing the bottle to his younger brother Wayne, 63, who runs the O Beach Club on the Spanish island. The moment represents their first public appearance together in years.
The brothers’ reconciliation comes after a bitter 17-year rift that began in 2008. Wayne had previously stated that he and Gary “don’t really speak very often” despite remaining his “number one fan”.
The siblings pursued markedly different professional paths from the outset. Gary dedicated himself to football punditry, hosting Match of the Day for 25 years before departing the programme last month.
Wayne, meanwhile, channelled his enthusiasm for nightlife into a thriving enterprise, establishing the popular O Beach Club in Ibiza. Their relationship deteriorated when Wayne expressed his dislike for Gary’s then-partner Danielle Bux.
“In my opinion, Danielle cost me my relationship with my brother. Sadly Gary is no longer a part of my life,” Wayne revealed to The Sun in April 2015. The entrepreneur described an uncomfortable encounter during a 2008 Ibiza holiday.
“They came to Ibiza in August 2008 and it was really awkward. I didn’t spark with Danielle and our relationship was cold,” Wayne explained.
The wedding celebration saw both brothers dressed smartly for the occasion. Wayne posted on Instagram showing himself in a grey blazer and white trousers alongside his son Freddie.
“The boys are ready for the big family wedding today as my nephew @harry_lineker weds the beautiful @bellacfh #ibizawedding,” he wrote. He later shared an image enjoying wine with his daughter Tia.
Gary appeared in a tan blazer alongside his eldest son George, with their coordinated attire suggesting they served as groomsmen.
Speaking on The Rest Is Football podcast on Monday, Gary told co-host Alan Shearer about the celebration.
“I had Harry’s wedding which went swimmingly well. He had an amazing speech and the bride looked amazing, it was a beautiful day. The sun was shining and it was great,” he said, admitting he felt “a bit fuzzy and a little bit jaded” afterwards.
The feud’s origins trace back to that fateful 2008 holiday. Wayne claimed Danielle remained in her room on the first day and they didn’t speak during a night out the following evening.
Their weekly phone conversations and home visits ceased abruptly after the trip.
Wayne wasn’t invited to Gary’s 2009 wedding to Danielle, having served as best man at his brother’s first marriage to Michelle Cockayne in 1986.
The club owner refused to attend after being told he couldn’t bring his girlfriend of 18 months, Ana Tanaka. “She was a lovely, polite girl, and not a five-minute girlfriend,” Wayne argued.
Reconciliation attempts proved fruitless, including a phone call on Gary’s 50th birthday that lasted under a minute.
Gary and Danielle divorced in 2016, though they maintain regular contact.
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Gary’s recent departure from the BBC adds another dimension to the brothers’ reunion. The presenter left the corporation following controversy over sharing an Instagram story about Zionism that featured a rat, which he acknowledged caused “error and upset”.
“Stepping back now feels like the responsible course of action,” Gary stated, insisting he “would never consciously repost anything antisemitic”.
He had been scheduled to front the BBC’s 2026 World Cup coverage and FA Cup broadcasts.
With Gary’s television commitments reduced, the timing may prove fortuitous for mending family ties.
Despite their prolonged estrangement, Wayne’s sons have maintained connections with their uncle, frequently visiting O Beach during Ibiza holidays, which made Harry’s wedding invitation a natural bridge for reconciliation.