Alan Shearer

At 53 years old, Alan Shearer has this physical status:

Alan Shearer, CBE, DL (born 13 August 1970) is an English retired footballer.

He played as a striker in the top level of English league football for Southampton, Blackburn Rovers, Newcastle United and the England national team.

He is Newcastle's and the Premier League's record goalscorer.

He was named Football Writers' Association Player of the Year in 1994 and won the PFA Player of the Year award in 1995.

In 1996, he was third in the FIFA World Player of the Year awards.

In 2004 Shearer was named by Pelé in the FIFA 100 list of the world's greatest living players.Shearer scored 283 league goals in his career (all in the first tier of English football), including a record 260 in the Premier League (of which 58 were penalties) with a joint record 11 Premier League hat-tricks, and a total of 422 in all competitions including international at all levels.

Until his retirement from international football in 2000, he appeared 63 times for his country and scored 30 goals.

Shearer had a goals-to-game ratio of 0.667 throughout his career. Since retiring as a player in 2006, Shearer has worked as a television pundit for the BBC.

In 2009, he briefly left his BBC role to become Newcastle United's manager in the last eight games of their 2008–09 season, in an unsuccessful attempt to save them from relegation.

Shearer is a Commander of the Order of the British Empire (CBE), a Deputy Lieutenant of Northumberland, a Freeman of Newcastle upon Tyne and an honorary Doctor of Civil Law of Northumbria and Newcastle Universities.

Early life

Shearer was born in the Gosforth area of Newcastle upon Tyne on 13 August 1970, the son of Anne and sheet-metal worker Alan Shearer. His parents were working class. His father encouraged him to play football in his youth, and Shearer continued with the sport as he progressed through school. He was educated at Gosforth Central Middle School and Gosforth High School. Growing up, he played on the streets of his hometown and was originally a midfielder because "it meant [he] could get more involved in the games". Shearer captained his school team and helped a Newcastle City Schools team win a seven-a-side tournament at St James' Park, before joining the amateur Wallsend Boys Club as a teenager. It was while playing for the Wallsend club that he was spotted by Southampton's scout Jack Hixon, which resulted in him spending his summers training with the club's youth team, a time he would later refer to as "the making of me". Shearer had successful trials for First Division clubs West Bromwich Albion, Manchester City and Newcastle United, before being offered a youth contract with Southampton in April 1986.

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Club career

After two years with the youth team, Shearer was promoted to the first team. On March 26, 1988, he made his professional debut for Southampton as a replacement in a First Division match against Chelsea before breaking national notices in his complete debut at The Dell two weeks later. He had a hat-trick, assisting the team in a 4–2 victory over Arsenal, making him the youngest player in the top division at 17 years, 240 days old, smashing Jimmy Greaves' 30-year-old record. Shearer scored three goals in five games in his first professional career in 1987–88, and was rewarded with his first professional contract.

Despite his good start to his career, Shearer was only introduced to the first team gradually and made only ten goalless appearances for the club the following season. Shearer was praised for his athleticism throughout his career, which, during his time at Southampton, allowed him to play the ball and provide teammates with opportunities. Shearer scored three goals in 26 appearances, as a lone striker between wide men, Rod Wallace and Matt Le Tissier, and four in 36 games in the next two seasons. The fans quickly recognized his role in the Saints' center, who named him Player of the Year for 1991.

Shearer was a member of the England national under-21 football team in Toulon, France, in 1991. Shearer was the star of the tournament, scoring seven goals in four games. Shearer came to national prominence during the 1991–92 season. The Saints scored on his debut, and they were heavily influenced in the media with a summer transfer to Manchester United. 13 goals in 41 appearances culminated in an England call-up; he scored on his debut; and was strongly linked to the press. During the late fall of 1991, Shearer's potential transfer to Southampton was being discussed in the media, but he denied talk of a transfer and vowed to see out the season with Southampton, despite the temptation of a transfer to the two clubs that dominated the championship race for the majority of the season. An FA Cup winner escaped from Liverpool, who also came to nothing.

"The most popular manager in English football" in the middle of 1992, Southampton's manager, Ian Branfoot, became "the most popular manager in English football" as he received phone calls from clubs "attempting to negotiate with players they don't want more money." Although Branfoot accepted that a sale was inevitable, he maintained that "whatever happens, we are in the driving seat." Shearer was sold to Blackburn Rovers for £3.6 million in July 1992, with David Speedie reluctantly moving to The Dell as part of the agreement. Despite Branfoot's claim to be "in the driving seat," the Saints were unable to include a "sell-on clause" in the contract. Shearer, who turned 22 years old less than a month before his 22nd birthday, was the most expensive player in British football. Shearer made 158 appearances in all competitions during his four years as a member of Southampton's first team, scoring 43 goals.

Despite making just one goalless appearance as England struggled to progress past the Euro 1992 group stages, Shearer was soon subjected to an English transfer record-breaking £3.6 million bid from Blackburn Rovers. Despite Manchester United's general interest, Blackburn benefactor Jack Walker's millions were enough to disarm the striker from Southampton, and Shearer relocated north to Ewood Park in 1992.

Shearer scored twice against Crystal Palace with two strikes from the edge of the 18-yard box on August 15, 1992, the first weekend of the first Premier League season. He missed half of his first season with Blackburn due to injury, but he scored 16 goals in the 21 games in which he appeared. Shearer has also been a regular in the England team this season and scored his second international goal; it came in a 4–0 1994 FIFA World Cup qualifier over Turkey. Shearer was forced to miss January to May due to injury, and England's World Cup qualification hopes were harmed by a stretch of poor form.

As Blackburn finished runners-up in the Premier League, he returned to fitness for the 1993–94 season. His work for the club earned him the award of the Football Writers' Association Footballer of the Year for the second season. England had failed to qualify for the 1994 World Cup finals, but Shearer had three more goals to his international record before embarking on his most enjoyable domestic season as a player to date.

Chris Sutton's arrival at Blackburn in the 1994–95 season established a strong attacking partnership. Lancashire's 34 goals, as well as Sutton's 15, helped the club win the Premier League title from archrivals Manchester United on the final day of the season, and the pair earned the nickname "the SAS" (Shearer And Sutton). Shearer replied with "creosoting the fence" after being asked by the media how he intended to celebrate winning the award. Shearer had also seen European football in the first round of the UEFA Cup this season, scoring in the second leg as Blackburn lost to Trelleborgs FF of Sweden in the first round. Shearer was named PFA Player of the Year for 1995 thanks to his work with the club.

Despite the fact that the club could not hold the trophy the following year, Shearer's (now 38-game) season as Blackburn's top scorer, with 31 goals in 35 games, finishing fifth in the Premier League. The club also qualified for the Champions League after finishing first in the previous season. In a 4–1 victory over Rosenborg BK in the final fixture, Shearer's only goal in six complete Champions League games was a penalty, and Blackburn finished third in their division, losing to advance to the next stage.

On September 23, Blackburn reached a 100-goal milestone in all competitions, scoring a hat-trick in their 5–1 home victory over Coventry City in the Premier League. In a 2–1 home victory over Tottenham Hotspur on December 30, he scored his 100th Premier League goal, making him the first player to reach the landmark. The club's final tally was 112 goals in the Premier League and 130 in all competitions. His last goals for the club came on April 17, 1996, when he scored twice in a 3–2 home league victory over Wimbledon.

Shearer's international strike rate had also decreased, with no goals in the twelve matches leading up to Euro 96. Due to injury, he missed the last three games of the season for his club, but he returned in time to compete in England's UEFA European Championship campaign.

Manchester United and Real Madrid tried to sign Shearer after she had been banned from playing in the tournament for his signature after Euro 96. However, Manchester United chairman Martin Edwards and Real Madrid president Lorenzo Sanz announced that Blackburn Rovers refused to let Shearer go to Old Trafford or Estadio Bernabéu. Shearer joined Newcastle United, Manchester United's title rivals, in a nutshell.

Shearer joined his hometown club and league runners-up Newcastle United under his tutee, George Keegan, on 30 July 1996 for a world transfer record-breaking £15 million (equivalent to £30 million today). Shearer made his league debut against Everton on August 17th in 1996 and maintained his form throughout the season, winning another PFA Player of the Year award as a result, despite a groin injury forcing him to miss seven games. Newcastle's best game of the season came on February 2nd, 1997, when the team came 3-1 down at home to Leicester City in the league, but Shearer won the game 4–3 by scoring a late hat-trick. However, the league championship eluded the club, who finished second in the league for the second year in a row, with Keegan resigning midway through the season.

Shearer's only goal in 17 games in the 1997–98 season was an ankle ligament injury sustained in a pre-season match at Goodison Park. Newcastle finished 13th in the Premier League, owing to his injury. Paul Ferris, a club physiotherapist, invented unusual techniques to help Shearer recover from the injury. Ferris stacked six school benches and placed Shearer on top of high-jump mats, either side – the striker trying to develop his balance by standing on one leg and bending over to pick up coins as objects were thrown at him, while a crowd of student onlookers stood on. United (now managed by Shearer's old boss at Blackburn, Kenny Dalglish) had a good run in the FA Cup, winning by a 2-1 victory over Sheffield United as the team advanced to the final, but Shearer scored the winning goal in a semi-final victory over Sheffield United. At Wembley Stadium, the team was unable to get on the score sheet and lost the game 2–0 to Arsenal.

Shearer was charged with misconduct by the FA during a game against Leicester City in the league, with media reports claiming that a video clip showed him intentionally kick Neil Lennon in the head following a challenge. Shearer's referee took no action against him and was eventually cleared of all charges by the FA, with Lennon testifying in the player's defense. Former Football Association chief Graham Kelly, who brought the charges against the player, later confessed that if the charges were upheld, Shearer had threatened to withdraw himself from the 1998 World Cup team, a charge Shearer denied.

Shearer's record in the 1998-1999 season was up by nearly injury-free season, with the striker scoring 14 goals in 30 league games and replacing Rob Lee as Newcastle captain, but Newcastle finished 13th, with Ruud Gullit replacing Kenny Dalglish right away, and Newcastle continued to finish 13th, despite renaming him as Newcastle captain. He also helped Newcastle United reach their second consecutive FA Cup final and qualification for the UEFA Cup next season, scoring twice in the semi-final against Tottenham Hotspur, but the team lost 2–0, this time to treble-chasing Manchester United.

In his 100th appearance for Newcastle, Shearer received his first red card of his career on the first day of the 1999–2000 season. The unpopular Gullit resigned to be replaced by Bobby Robson, 66, after losing Shearer to the bench in a Tyne-Wear derby loss against Sunderland. Despite Gullit's gifting Shearer the captain's armband, reports of a split between the club captain and boss were troubling, Gullit's decision to fire Shearer caused a rift between the club captain and manager, and the departure ended a dismal start to the season. Shearer and Gullit's animosity was later revealed by the former, who told the striker that he was "the most overrated player I've ever seen." Robson had hoped to sign Shearer for Barcelona in 1997, but for the second time in 12 months, the British transfer fee record has been broken. However, Newcastle manager Kenny Dalglish turned down the bid.

Shearer scored five goals in an 8-0 loss of Sheffield Wednesday in Robson's first game in charge. With Robson as head of the team, the team stepped away from the relegation zone, finishing in mid-table, but the FA Cup semi-finals were beyond them, as they were defeated by Chelsea. Shearer appeared in just one league game and scored 23 goals.

Shearer retired from international football following the UEFA EURO 2000 tournament to concentrate on club football in the 2000–01 season. In 19 games in the league, he scored only five goals in 19 games. The 2001–02 season was much better: Newcastle finished fourth in 37 league games, their highest ranking since 1997 — meaning they would qualify for the following season's Champions League tournament. Roy Keane was sent home after a game with Shearer during Newcastle's 4–3 victory over the Red Devils in September 2001, one of the season's most memorable events. Shearer was suspended for the second time in his career this season after reportedly elbowing an opposition player during a match against Charlton Athletic.

Shearer and Newcastle made their return to the UEFA Champions League in 2002-2003. Newcastle lost their first three matches in the first group stage, but Shearer's goal against Dynamo Kyiv, as well as further victories against Juventus and Feyenoord, saw the club advance to the second group stage.

Shearer's Champions League hat-trick against Bayer Leverkusen and a brace against Inter Milan in the second group stage helped him reach a total of seven Champions League goals, as the team expanded to finish in third place in the Premier League as the team climbed to third position in the standings.

Newcastle will have one more chance to advance in the Champions League in early 2003, after Shearer was one of those who failed to score as the team was eliminated in a penalty shootout by Partizan Belgrade in the third qualifying round. United progressed well in the UEFA Cup last season, with Shearer's six goals helping the club progress to the semi-finals, where they were thrashes by eventual runners up Olympique de Marseille. He had a good season in 37 appearances, but it did not stop the club from finishing fifth in Champions League qualifying once more.

Shearer's form in the 2004-05 season was patchy; with new signing Patrick Kluivert, he scored only seven goals in his 28 games. The club did better in cup competitions, but Sporting CP was ultimately disqualified from the FA Cup quarter-finals and Manchester United in the FA Cup semi-finals. In the first round victory over Hapoel Bnei Sakhnin, Shearer scored a hat-trick, and ended the season with a total of 11 European goals, in comparison to his one goal in domestic cups.

Shearer's decision to resign in the middle of 2005 after Persuasion from manager Graeme Souness. He decided to continue playing in a player-coach role until the end of the following season. In the 2005–06 season, he was back for one more season. He scored his 201st strike for Newcastle United this season, breaking Jackie Milburn's 49-year-old record of 200 goals (not including his 38 World War II Wartime League goals) when he struck his 201st strike on Sunday in a home Premier League match against Portsmouth, making the club's highest-ever league and cup competition goalscorer with 201 goals. Shearer suffered a tear to the medial collateral ligament in his left knee during a 4–1 victory over Sunderland in which he scored his 206th and final goal in his club's 395th appearance. Because of the injury, he was forced to miss the final three games, effectively bringing forward his retirement. Shearer scored ten goals in 32 league games in his last season.

The club unveiled a large banner of Shearer on the outside of the cantilever superstructure at Newcastle United for more than ten years. The banner, which was 25 meters (82 ft) high by 32 meters (105 ft) wide, covered more than half of the Gallowgate End, which was formally attached to the club bar, Shearer's Bar, which opened in 2005. The banner featured Shearer as the "Gallowgate Giant," with one arm raised in his club's signature goal celebration, and was included in the media coverage chronicling his play at the club, with the banner running from 19 April 2006 to May 6, 2006. The banner could be seen around the city and even further away as Gateshead across the River Tyne, standing taller than the Angel of the North's iconic local landmark.

Shearer was honoured with a testimonial match against Scottish side Celtic. All funds raised during the match went to charitable causes. Shearer was unable to participate in the whole game due to his injury suffered three weeks earlier in Sunderland; however, he kicked off the game and stepped off the bench to score a penalty, assisting Newcastle in the 3–2 victory. The match was a sell-out, and Shearer's family enjoyed a lap of honour at the end of the game, with his teenage son covering his ears as a result of the volume of chaos created by the crowd.

International career

Shearer's international career began in 1990 when he was given a call-up to the England under-21 squad under Dave Sexton. He scored 13 times in 11 games during his time with the team, a record return that is also unbeaten. Coach Graham Taylor announced the striker's goals at this level, as well as his club form, and he was soon promoted to the senior squad. With a goal in February 1992, he made his first appearance for the England B team a month later. Shearer played only in the qualifying campaign for the 1994 FIFA World Cup due to injury, and the team failed to qualify for the competition finals. Gary Lineker, who retired from international service after UEFA Euro 1992, was killed in the England attack.

Both Shearer and England had a more positive experience at Euro 1996. Shearer did not appear in 12 games in the 21 months before, and even his overall goalscoring record for England was not impressive, with five goals in 23 games. In the 22nd minute of the first game against Switzerland, he found the net. Scoring once in the following game against Scotland and twice in a 4–1 victory over the Netherlands, Shearer assisted England in the transition to the next stage in front of their own supporters in Wembley.

England was defeated by Spain in the quarter-finals, but after a goalless draw, they were able to a penalty shootout. Shearer scored the first England penalty, but the Spaniards failed to score from two of their three players, putting England into the semi-final against Germany. After three minutes, Shearer led England into the lead, but the Germans soon equalized and the game went back to penalties. This time, Germany won from the spot; although Shearer scored, his colleague Gareth Southgate missed his kick, and England was disqualified. Shearer's five goals made him the competition's top scorer, and he and colleagues David Seaman and Steve McManaman were named in the tournament's official UEFA team.

Shearer captain Glenn Hoddle was named captain of the 1998 FIFA World Cup qualifier against Moldova on September 1, 1996, and the player retained the captaincy after scoring once in that match and twice against Poland in the following game. He scored a total of five goals in England's thrilling qualification campaign for the World Cup, as well as attacking Georgia and Poland to raise his total number. Shearer was sidelined for much of the 1997–98 season, but she returned to play in the World Cup finals. Shearer's return to Shearer as Shearer's strike partner resulted in England's first goal of the tournament, scoring his first goal of the tournament, his first goal in the three group matches. In the second round, England met Argentina, a long-time rivalry. Before David Beckham was dismissed early in the second half, Shearer scored a first-half equalizer from the penalty spot. Sol Campbell went into what may have been the winning goal, but Shearer elbowed goalkeeper Carlos Roa in the final minutes of the game. The scores were tied 2–2, and the game went to penalties. Shearer scored again, but England was eliminated after David Batty's shot was saved by the Argentina goalkeeper, but England was forced to forfeit. England's participation in what was supposed to be Shearer's only World Cup tournament came to an end thanks to this loss.

Shearer scored his first England hat-trick in a UEFA Euro 2000 qualifier against Luxembourg in September 1999. This helped England win the game over two legs and qualified for the European Championships. Shearer's 30th birthday had arrived by now, and he had announced that after the Euro 2000 tournament, he would withdraw from international football.

Shearer did not score in England's first 3–2 loss to Portugal, but she did not score in Charleroi as England defeated Germany 1–0, ensuring that England defeated their European neighbors for the first time since the 1966 World Cup Finals. England only wanted a draw against Romania in the final group match, and Shearer scored a penalty, but Romania defeated Romania 3–2. England's tournament was over, and Shearer's international career was also over. He captained the team 34 times and scored thirty goals; with Nat Lofthouse and Tom Finney, he ranks joint-sixth in the England all-time goalcorers list. Despite rumors of a return during the 2002 World Cup and 2004 European Championship campaigns, Shearer resigned as assistant manager to Steve McClaren after the 2006 World Cup, which was ultimately filled by Terry Venables.

Managerial career

Shearer denied rumors of a quick switch to teaching by saying that he'll take some personal time to "enjoy life" for the next two years. He was also quoted as saying that he'd like to move into leadership "when the time was right," but he was yet to start the UEFA Pro Licence course, which is required to be allowed to coach a team in the Premier League and European competition as of March 2009.

In July 2006, reflecting his desire for personal time off to "enjoy life," he resigned from a coaching position with England, citing his BBC commitments and desire to be away from the demands of a football job. Despite this, Shearer was often mentioned in the media with managerial or coaching positions at his three former clubs.

Shearer appeared in the dugout for his last three games under Glenn Roeder for a brief period of time. Shearer had rejected calls for teaching or assistant positions at Newcastle under both Kevin Keegan in February 2008 and Joe Kinnear in November 2008. Shearer had previously held discussions about, but not been offered, a full-time manager's position at Newcastle until his appointment on April 1.

It was announced on April 1st, 2009, that Shearer would take over as the head coach of Newcastle United's remaining eight games of the season, after temporary boss Joe Kinnear recovered from heart surgery on February 7. "It's a club I love and I don't want them to go down." "I'll do everything I can to prevent that from happening."

Shearer was announced by club managing director Derek Llambias at a press conference the following day. Shearer said he would not have done this for any other club in this situation, as well as his two previous Premier League clubs. Llambias announced Shearer would be the boss of the remaining eight games amid persistent doubts regarding the permanency of the appointment, and Joe Kinnear would return as manager after the season's end. Shearer confirmed that the BBC had agreed to sabbatically from his Match of the Day job. Dennis Wise had left his managerial position at the club, and there were no plans to select a replacement, according to Shearer, "the people who had changed had nothing to do with me." Wise's presence had previously been predicted as a stumbling blocker in the event of a managerial vacancy. Shearer accepted the surprise invitation on Monday on the condition that he could bring in Iain Dowie as his assistant. Shearer also brought in Paul Ferris to look after the club's medical, physio, and diet needs. Ferris had been with Shearer for his playing days and had been with the club for 13 years before he was fired under then manager Glenn Roeder.

At St James' Park, his first match in charge resulted in a 2–0 loss. Newcastle gained their first point under Shearer after a 1-1 draw with Stoke City at the Britannia Stadium on April 11th, with Andy Carroll scoring a late equalizer. Newcastle defeated Middlesbrough 3–1 in their first victory since losing to Tottenham Hotspur and a draw with Portsmouth in a 3–1 victory, relegating Newcastle from the relegation zone.

Newcastle, Hull City, Middlesbrough, and Sunderland all played simultaneously on the eve of the season's final day on May 24th, where all fixtures will be played simultaneously, putting an end to their 16-year Premier League tenure. Newcastle were relegated with Middlesbrough, joining West Bromwich Albion, who had not been confirmed in previous weeks, after losing 1–0 at Aston Villa, with Damien Duff scoring an own goal. Shearer's eight games scored only five points out of a maximum twenty-four.

Shearer did not get the manager's position on a permanent basis. Chris Hughton stepped up from the coaching staff to take over Newcastle's return to the Premier League, which was achieved in the first attempt as Newcastle finished at the top of the Championship table in the 2009–2010 season.

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