Wayne Lineker reveals his secret rehab stint after reuniting with brother Gary

Wayne Lineker has opened up about a major lifestyle change, revealing he quietly entered rehab earlier this year and is now more than two months sober.

The 63-year-old club owner admitted he is finally learning to enjoy life without alcohol or drugs – and has also reconnected with his brother Gary Lineker after nearly two decades of estrangement.

In a candid Instagram post shared on Friday, Wayne explained that he had just returned to Dubai for the opening of his famous O Beach venue. While he has been known to party excessively in the past, he said he behaved differently on this trip.

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“Just because I'm not drinking it's cool and I'm happy to experience it from a normal functioning brain for once in my life,” he wrote.

 

“Is actually quite exciting .. feeling sober is starting to feel normal to me now. But the difference is I feel fresh every single morning and cannot wait to get out of bed instead of wanting to stay in bed.”

Wayne added that he has gained mental clarity through this experience, confessing: “Brain focus is mad,” before promising to share more details about his journey soon.

“Yes I went in to rehab!! And I said yes yes yes! Best thing I ever did,” he continued. “It was for both alcohol addiction and other mind altering substances.. no one in the world has a story like mine it's impossible.. so get the popcorn ready.”

The businessman also thanked fans for their encouragement, saying: “I love you all and thank you again for your love care and undenying support/ concerns. I am 72 days clean I just want to help anyone I can now and if Wayne can give up ANYONE CAN!!”

The timing of Wayne’s new chapter has coincided with a reconciliation with his older brother, former England striker and Match of the Day host Gary Lineker.

The pair had been locked in a bitter feud for 17 years, which was allegedly caused by tensions around Gary’s ex-wife Danielle Bux.

According to Wayne, their relationship went sour after a tense family holiday in Ibiza in 2008. He has claimed that he struggled to connect with Danielle, describing their dynamic as “cold”.

After Gary married Danielle in 2009, Wayne distanced himself from the couple and never attempted to build a relationship with his brother's wife.

The relationship between the brothers became even more tense because Wayne was not invited to Gary’s wedding, despite having been best man at his brother’s first marriage to Michelle Cockayne in 1986.

From that point onwards, the siblings had little contact. Wayne previously admitted that he felt “confused” when their once-regular phone calls and visits abruptly stopped, and blamed Danielle for the sibling relationship breakdown.

In a 2015 interview, he told The Sun: “In my opinion, Danielle cost me my relationship with my brother. Sadly Gary is no longer a part of my life.”

Even milestone birthdays and family events failed to bring them back together. Wayne recalled trying to make amends on Gary’s 50th birthday, only for a phone call between them to last less than a minute.

However, last month the brothers embraced at the wedding of Wayne’s daughter Tia in Mallorca. Wayne later posted a photo of them smiling together, captioning it: “Great to see my bro and my nephews at my daughters wedding #reunited #happy #family.”

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