Alan Shearer
Newcastle United's all-time top scorer and Premier League record goalscorer.
Alan Shearer (born 13 August 1970) is an English football pundit and former professional player who played as a striker. Widely regarded as one of the greatest strikers of all time and one of the greatest players in Premier League history, he is the league's record goalscorer with 260 goals. 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 came third in both Ballon d'Or and FIFA World Player of the Year awards. In 2004, he was named by Pelé in the FIFA 100 list of the world's greatest living players. Shearer was one of the first two players inducted into the Premier League Hall of Fame in 2021.
Quick Facts
- Born
- 13 August 1970
- Birthplace
- Newcastle upon Tyne, England
- Height
- 1.83 m / 6 ft
- Occupation
- Football pundit, footballer
- Spouse
- Lainya Shearer (1991)
- Children
- 3
Lore & Background
Shearer played his entire career in the top level of English football. He started his career at Southampton in 1988 before moving in 1992 to Blackburn Rovers, where he established himself as among the most prolific goalscorers in Europe and won the 1994–95 Premier League. In the summer of 1996, he joined his hometown club Newcastle United for a then world record £15 million, and in his first season won his third consecutive Premier League Golden Boot. He played in the 1998 FA Cup and 1999 FA Cup finals, captaining the team in the latter, and eventually became the club's all-time top scorer. He retired at the end of the 2005–06 season. For the England national team, Shearer appeared 63 times and scored 30 goals. UEFA Euro 1996 was his biggest success at international football; England reached the semi-finals and Shearer was awarded the UEFA Euro Golden Boot and was named in the UEFA Euro Team of the Tournament. He went on to captain England at 1998 FIFA World Cup and UEFA Euro 2000, then retired from international football. Since retiring as a player in 2006, Shearer has worked as a television pundit for the BBC. He is one of the hosts of the podcast The Rest Is Football. 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.
Reader's Guide
Alan Shearer was born on 13 August 1970 in Gosforth, Newcastle upon Tyne (then a part of Northumberland), the son of working class parents Anne and sheet-metal worker Alan Shearer. He was educated at Gosforth Central Middle School and Gosforth High School. He played for Wallsend Boys Club and was spotted by Southampton's scout Jack Hixon. He made his professional debut for Southampton on 26 March 1988, coming on as a substitute in a First Division fixture at Chelsea. In his full debut at The Dell two weeks later, he scored a hat-trick, helping the team to a 4–2 victory against Arsenal, thus becoming the youngest player – at 17 years, 240 days – to score a hat-trick in the top division. He ended the 1987–88 season with three goals in five games. In July 1992, Shearer was sold to Blackburn Rovers for a fee of £3.6 million. On 15 August 1992, the opening weekend of the first Premier League season, Shearer scored twice against Crystal Palace. He missed half of his first season with Blackburn through injury after snapping his right anterior cruciate ligament in a match against Leeds United in December 1992, but scored 16 goals in the 21 games in which he did feature. Returning to fitness for the 1993–94 season, he scored 31 goals from 40 games as Blackburn finished runners-up in the Premier League. The arrival of Chris Sutton for the 1994–95 season established a strong attacking partnership at Blackburn. Shearer's 34 goals, coupled with Sutton's 15, helped the Lancashire club take the Premier League title from archrivals Manchester United on the final day of the season. Shearer finished the Premier League season with 47 goal-involvements (34 goals, 13 assists); a joint record Shearer shared with Andy Cole of Newcastle United. Shearer also had his first taste of European football in the UEFA Cup that season, and scored in the second leg as Blackburn went out in the first round, losing to Trelleborgs FF of Sweden.
Frequently Asked Questions
Who is Alan Shearer in relation to Newcastle?
He stands as the undisputed greatest player in the club's history and remains their all-time leading goalscorer. His legacy defines a transformative decade at St James' Park where he became the focal point of the attack.
How much did it cost to sign Alan Shearer?
Newcastle paid a then world-record transfer fee of £15 million to bring him from Blackburn Rovers in 1996. This massive investment highlighted the club's ambition to compete for major trophies during that period.
When did Alan Shearer leave Newcastle United?
He finished his career at the club in 2006 after spending ten years as a player there. His departure ended an era where he served as the talisman for the team's ambitions and identity.
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