Alan Shearer Football Legend

Always remembered by many with that famous right boot wearing the black and white of Newcastle or white of England he was a true great english player one im sure that will turn to a manager in the future. Shearer was rejected by Newcastle as a schoolboy at the famous Wallsend Boys Club and instead signed as an apprentice with Southampton at the age of 16. He made his debut as a substitute against Chelsea in 1988, before prompting national headlines with his full debut a month later when he scored a hat-trick against Arsenal. At the age of 17 years and eight months, he broke the record for the youngest hat-trick scorer in top-flight football which had been held for more than 30 years by Jimmy Greaves.He never became truly prolific for Southampton until 1992, when he slammed home 13 goals from 41 appearances. Having become a regular for the England team at under-21 level the previous year, scoring 13 goals in just 11 matches, this potent spell by Shearer was noticed by Graham Taylor, coach of the senior team, and Shearer made his debut against France in February 1992.Like his full debut at club level, his full debut in international football was memorable. Shearer scored a poacher’s goal in the first half as England won 2-0, with the other goal coming from Gary Lineker, who was retiring in the summer after Euro 92

Blackburn Rovers manager Kenny Dalglish who, armed with unlimited funds from club benefactor Jack Walker, offered Southampton an irresistible 3.6 million pounds for their prized asset, and Shearer made his move,man utd where also in the picture to buy him.Shearer settled down and became the most feared goal scorer in the Premiership. He rattled in a huge 31 goals from 40 games in the 1994 season as Blackburn finished a close second in the table behind Manchester United he also won footballer of the year that season.in 1995/96 42 games, he scored a phenomenal 34 goals as Blackburn took the Premiership title on the last day of the season at anfield even thou they lost the game.

After the success of Euro 96, Shearer rejected lucrative offers from other top clubs to fulfil his childhood dream of playing in the black-and-white jersey. “All I ever wanted to do was play for Newcastle. I’d stand on the terraces dreaming of the day I would walk out on that hallowed turf.” That day arrived on August 6 1996, when Shearer’s return home shattered records worldwide, making him the world’s most expensive player at £15m. But it was a move made for sentiment and not money as Shearer not only returned to his roots but got to play under idol Kevin Keegan. The move was a crowning glory for Geordies and a remarkable part of English football history as 15,000 people stood in a rainstorm just to watch him wave.

Sadly, Shearer’s Newcastle seasons have been plagued by injury woes and by the sudden departure of Keegan. His rather quick recovery from a career-threatening injury suffered in 1997 helped his team avoid relegation. But as always he did score some great strikes for Newcastle and the famous one hand celebration we will never forget!

Off the pitch, Shearer has been deemed bland and boring. His deadbat television technique and taciturn PR skills are largely responsible for this tag. One magazine described him as having “all the personality of a suet pudding” while 2 infamous Newcastle directors, labelled him ‘Mary Poppins’. Former Blackburn team-mate Tim Flowers too has dubbed him ‘Mr Mogadon’ while another has commented that he kept Shearer’s season diary next to his bedside as it put him to sleep. Shearer was once challenged by team-mates to incorporate the title of an Abba song into an interview. So he answered a question with: “Yes, but the winner takes it all.” In a now famous comment

Mark Lawrenson who worked with Shearer at Newcastle says, “That’s Shearer. Put a microphone under his chin and a camera in front of him and he switches off. But I can tell you now that he has got one of the most outstanding personalities in football.”

A true great and yes he is good for match of the day beu would make a great Newcastle manager. Here is a video showing some great footage it kicks in after 30 seconds enjoy!