GARY LINEKER

SINCE ending his football career in 1994, Gary has fronted sporting programmes such as Match Of The Day. The 51-yearold discusses his latest Walkers Crisps campaign, his Olympics experience and why he doesn’t miss his playing days

YOU’VE HAD A BUSY SUMMER ...

I know! It has certainly been the busiest summer I have ever had, especially because of the Olympics. Doing 18 nights of programmes on the bounce – it’s like having a real job. I’ve never had one of those before! It has been intense but wonderful. It has been such a triumph for Britain and London. WHAT WAS YOUR FAVOURITE MOMENT? There were so many highlights, but if I had to pick one, I would go for Mo Farah’s second gold medal. It was such an unbelievably brilliant race, the way he just was not letting anybody past – it was staggering. AND NOW THE FOOTBALL IS BACK ... I always look forward to the start of the season, despite the fact this year there has a hangover from the end of the Olympics. But Match Of The Day is always an exciting show. Football is still hugely important to a lot of people in this country. IT HAS BEEN A LONG TIME SINCE YOU HUNG UP YOUR BOOTS. DO YOU MISS PLAYING? Not really. There are aspects of football that can be quite tiresome – being treated like a kid, being shouted at all day, being told what time to do stuff, being told what to eat, etc, etc. But I still loved it and it was great. The one thing I do miss is scoring a big goal in an important match, and the euphoria that brings. You can’t replicate that in any other form of life. SO WHAT CAN YOU TELL US ABOUT WALKERS DEEP RIDGED CRISPS? I am eating some now, salt and malt vinegar flavour – and they are very nice.