Brought to you by Penguin

‘This is Lineker unleashed. Being a non-football nut I didn’t expect to enjoy it, but between laddish anecdotes are passages of unexpected tenderness . Lineker opens up, dislodging thoughts and reflections, not only about soccer but his very existence.’

THE TIMES

‘Football is a simple game. 22 players chase a ball for 90 mins, and at the end the Germans usually win.’

This book is inspired by the stories Danny and I have shared with one another in what life in football about Behind Closed Doors: Life, Laughs and Football is really like: in the dressing room, in the commentary box, for the pitch and – with the appropriate pixellation – in the showers afterwards.

What’s it certainly prefer to play with Messi? I wouldn’t understand, but I have starred alongside him in an advert for Walkers crisps. And, well, his performance was world-class.

And what is a existence in football enjoy? You won’t learn much from the dull-as-dishwater post-match interviews – it’s a world of secrets, superstitions, laughs and personalities, and let me tell you, half of it you won’t believe.

I’ve looked back again within my playing days, from Britain to Leicester, Everton to Barcelona, Tottenham to, er, Nagoya Grampus Eight, and distributed the chaotic behind-the-scenes secrets of Match of your day – and Danny provides chipped along with stories from a lifetime following the video game as a enthusiast.

From Italia ’90 to Leicester’s Premier League fairytale, from yellow credit cards to World Cup trophies (I’ve never been awarded either), its all here – everything you always wanted to know about football, but didn’t realise that you did.

Inspired with the Zero.1 podcast Behind Closed Doors