8 Everton Players Who Won Trophies After Leaving Goodison
2. Gary Lineker
Gary Lineker is currently famous for being the host of Match of the Day, but back in his footballing career he was easily one of the best strikers in the world and another player to win several trophies after leaving Everton. Back in 1985, Everton were the defending league champions and in need of a striker. Gary Lineker was the First Divisions top goal scorer the year before with 24 goals, having been runner up to Ian Rush the previous year. That attracted the attention of Everton, who paid £800,000 to Leicester City for his services in the summer of that year. He would only spend one year at Goodison Park, but managed to score an astounding 40 goals in 57 appearances for his new team, again finishing as the leagues top goal scorer but sadly losing out on the title to rivals Liverpool. That summer he signed for Barcelona for £2.8 million after winning the Golden Boot at the 1986 World Cup in Mexico. He would score 21 goals in 41 games during his first season, winning the Copa del Rey in 1988 and European Cup Winners Cup in 1989. He joined Tottenham Hotspur in July of that year, and over three seasons scored 67 goals in 105 league games, winning the FA Cup in 1991, his only piece of silverware in England. Although far from a failure at Goodison Park, it is clear Linekers success came after leaving the club. Nevertheless, he has consistently stated since retiring that his time on Merseyside was one of the most successful periods of his career.
