Gary Lineker and his wife Danielle decide to file for divorce

Match Of The Day host Gary Lineker and his wife Danielle have split after six years of marriage.

The ex-England footballer, 55, said the couple are still the “greatest of friends” and had a “wonderful” time together, while the 36-year-old model said she will “cherish” their relationship.

Lineker tweeted: “Thank you all for your kind words. @DanielleBux and I had many wonderful years together. We remain very close and the greatest of friends.”

Bux retweeted his message, and added: “We have shared the most incredible 8 years that I will always cherish. We will remain the best of friends.”

The couple, who do not have any children, wed in Ravello, Italy, in 2009 after dating for two years.

It was Lineker’s second marriage following his divorce in 2006 from Michelle, the mother of his four sons, after 20 years, and Bux’s first.

Bux is a former Virgin Atlantic air stewardess who has become a successful lingerie model.

She took part in television cooking show Hell’s Kitchen and has also appeared as a panellist on lunchtime chat show Loose Women.

A spokesman for the couple told The Sun: “Gary and Danielle have decided to end their marriage. They remain the greatest of friends and wish each other every happiness.”

It was Bux’s first marriage. She has a daughter from a previous relationship.

Reports suggested the couple had been living separate lives for a while with Bux spending more time in the US while Lineker continued with his work in the UK.

There were also suggestions that Bux wanted more children while he did not.