Biography

Alan Shearer (a retired English Footballer) was born on August 13th 1970, in Gosforth, a local council of Newcastle. He played as a striker in the top level of English league football for 20 years.

During his career, Alan Shearer played for three different English Club (Southampton, Blackburn and Newcastle) and for the England National Team.

He is widely considered as one of the greatest English strikers of all time (409 goals during his professional career), being both Newcastle's and the Premier League's record goalscorer (283 goals in Premier League of which 34 goals with Blackburn during the 1994-1995 season).

Southampton (1986-1992)

After two seasons with the young squad, Alan Shearer made his professional debut for Southampton on 26 March 1988 as a substitute against Chelsea. He began his full debut two weeks later against Arsenal where he scored a hat trick, helping the team to a 4–2 victory. At 17 years and 240 days, Alan Shearer became the youngest player to score a hat trick in the top division.

His great performances during the 1990-1991 season allowed him to integrate, in the summer 1991, the England national under -21 football squad in an international tournament in Toulon. Shearer was the star of the tournament where he scored seven goals in four games.

After five seasons to Southampton where he scored 43 goals in 158 appearances, Alan Shearer was sold to Blackburn Rovers for a fee of £3.3 million.

Blackburn Rovers (1992-1996)

His first season with Blackburn was mixed. He missed half of it through injury after snapping his right anterior 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. His performances for the club led to him being named the Football Writers' Association Footballer of the Year for that season.

The arrival of Chris Sutton for the 1994–95 season established a strong attacking partnership at Blackburn. Shearer's league-record 34 goals, coupled with Sutton's 15, helped the Lancashire club take the Premier League title from holders Manchester United on the final day of the season.

Although the club could not retain the title the following year, Shearer again ended the (now 38-game) season as Premier League top scorer, with 31 goals in 35 games, as Blackburn finished seventh in the league.

This period to Blackburn was exceptional for Alan Shearer. In four seasons, Shearer scored 130 goals in 171 appearances and won the Premier League in 1995.

Newcastle (1996-2006)

On 30 July 1996, a world transfer record-breaking £15 million bid from his hometown club and league runners-up Newcastle United, managed by Shearer’s hero Kevin Keegan, instead prompted Shearer’s return to Newcastle.
Shearer made his league debut away at Everton, on 17 August 1996 and maintained his form during the rest of season, finishing as Premier League top-scorer for the third consecutive season with 25 goals in 31 Premier League games, as well as winning another PFA Player of the Year accolade, despite a groin injury forcing him to miss seven matches. However, the league title still eluded the club, who finished second in the league for a consecutive year, with Keegan walking out mid-way through the season.
Another injury problem; this time an ankle ligament injury sustained in a pre-season match at Goodison Park, restricted Shearer to just two goals in 17 games in the 1997–98 season. His injury was reflected in the club's form, and Newcastle finished just 13th in the League.
Further managerial changes betrayed another lacklustre season in 1999–2000 as unpopular Ruud Gullit resigned to be replaced by the 66-year-old Bobby Robson. The former's dismissal followed his decision to leave Shearer out of the starting lineup for the club's 2–1 defeat to arch-rivals Sunderland. Despite Gullit giving Shearer the captain's armband, reports of a rift between club captain and manager were rife, Gullit's decision proved deeply unpopular with fans and his departure capped a dismal start to the season. The animosity between Shearer and Gullit was later confirmed by the latter, who reported telling the striker that he was "...the most overrated player I have ever seen." Even with Robson in charge, the club struggled to progress beyond mid-table, although Shearer missed only one league game and notched up 23 goals.
Shearer suffered an injury-hit and frustrating season in 2000–01, having retired from international football after the Euro 2000 tournament in order to focus on club football. He managed only five goals in 19 games in the league. 2001–02 was much better though; Shearer bagged 23 goals in 37 league games as Newcastle finished fourth—their highest standing since 1997—meaning they would qualify for the following season's Champions League competition.
The 2002–03 season saw Shearer and Newcastle make their return to the UEFA Champions League. Newcastle lost their first three matches in the opening group stage, but Shearer's goal against Dynamo Kiev, coupled with further wins against Juventus and Feyenoord saw the club progress to the second group stage. Shearer's hat-trick against Bayer Leverkusen and Brace against Inter in the second group stage helped him reach a total of seven Champions League goals, along with his 17 in 35 games in the league, and a total of 25 for the season as the team again improved to finish in third place in the Premier League.
Announcing that this would be his final season before retirement, Shearer's form in 2004–05 was patchy; alongside new signing Patrick Kluivert, he scored only seven goals in his 28 games as the club finished the season in 14th place. The summer of 2005 saw Shearer reverse his decision to retire after persuasion from then-manager Graeme Souness. He decided to continue playing in a player-coach capacity until the end of the following season.On 17 April 2006, with three games remaining in his final season as a player, Shearer suffered a tear to the medial collateral ligament in his left knee after a collision during the 4–1 win at Sunderland in which he scored his 206th goal in what was his 395th appearance for the club. The injury caused him to miss those final three games, effectively bringing forward his retirement. Shearer finished his final season with 10 goals in 32 league games.

International Career

Shearer's international career began in 1990 when he was handed a callup to the England under-21 squad under Dave Sexton. During his time with the squad, he scored 13 times in 11 games; a record return which is still unbeaten.
Euro 96 was a more positive experience for both Shearer and England. With England not required to qualify as hosts, Shearer had not scored in 12 games in the 21 months prior, but found the net in the 22nd minute of the first game, against Switzerland. Scoring once in the following game against Scotland and twice in a 4–1 win over the Netherlands, Shearer helped England to progress to the next stage in front of their own fans in Wembley.
In the quarter finals, England were outplayed by Spain but got through to a penalty shootout after a goalless draw. Shearer scored the first England penalty, while the Spaniards failed to score from two of theirs, sending England into the semi-final against Germany. Shearer headed England into the lead after three minutes, but the Germans quickly equalised and the match went to penalties again. This time, Germany won from the spot; although Shearer scored, his team-mate Gareth Southgate missed his kick and England were eliminated. Shearer's five goals made him the competition's top scorer, and together with team mates David Seaman and Steve McManaman, was listed in the official UEFA team of the tournament.From his 63 caps, he captained the team 34 times and scored thirty goals; joint-fifth in the England all-time goalscorers list with Nat Lofthouse and Tom Finney. Shearer remained in international retirement despite speculation of a return during the 2002 World Cup and 2004 European Championship campaigns, and further declined an offer to be assistant manager to Steve McClaren after the 2006 World Cup - a position ultimately filled by Terry Venables.

Characteristics of play

Strong Point

Shearer was often styled as a classic English centre-forward, owing to his strength, physical stature, heading ability and strong shot.

Moreover, Of his 206 Newcastle goals, 49 of them were scored with his head. A lot of people think his head’s play is his veritable strong point.

To finish, Shearer was noted as a proficient penalty taker for both club and country, and he scored 45 times from the spot for Newcastle. He also scored 5 goals from free-kicks for this club.

Weak Point

During all of his career, his playing style brought him criticism; most commonly that his play was too physical, and that he used his elbows too aggressively; it was this which contributed to both of his sendings off, although one was later rescinded on appeal.

As well as the two red cards, Shearer received 59 yellow cards during his career.

Statistics

Southampton (1987-1992) : 43 goals in 158 appearances

Blackburn Rovers (1992-1996) : 130 goals in 171 appearances

Newcastle (1996-2006) : 206 goals in 404 appearances

England (1992-2000) : 30 goals in 63 appearances

Footballing honours

Club and international

Blackburn Rovers: Premier League winner: 1994–95
England: Tournoi de France: 1997

Individual

Euro 96 Golden Boot Winner (five goals)
UEFA Cup top scorer: 2003/2004, 2004/2005
Highest-ever Premier League goalscorer: 260 goals
Record for most Premier League goals in a 42-game season (1992-1995): 34
Record for most Premier League goals in a 38-game season (1995 onwards): 31
Most overall goals scored for Newcastle United: 206
Most European goals for Newcastle United: 30
PFA Players' Player of the Year: 1995, 1997
Football Writers' Association Player of the Year: 1994
Inducted into the English Football Hall of Fame in 2004

Personal Commentary

Alan Shearer is the best English striker of the century.

He marked the history of the football over his 20 years of professional career.

Thanks to his 400 goals, its generosity and its energy, which he gave onto the ground, he will remain a legendary player: “We’ll Never Find another Shearer”

Video: Alan Shearer !

Discussion

Do you think Alan Shearer is the best English Striker of the twentieth century ?