Ha! Yeah that's true. He's so skilled at it now though, you'd forget he was ever a footballer.
Very different character to your usual middle-aged ex pro. Thoughtful, genuinely witty. Really good at controlling the room with a light touch, gets the tone just right for the big live England games, reminds me a bit of Des Lynam in that respect.
Think being a sports broadcaster is a harder job than it seems, and being the main anchorman presenter is way harder. Most of the Sky Sports presenters are identikit with that weird shouty nasal sports reporter voice that no-one does in real life. I like how Lineker does his own thing - I know he rubs some people up the wrong way by being so opinionated on social media about everything from politics onwards, but I like that, a bit of personality and independence.
You're right though, it takes them all a few years to get good at it.