Shearer, Alan (1970- )

English footballer. In 1996 he was transferred to Newcastle United from Blackburn Rovers for what was then a world record fee of £15 million. A strongly built centre-forward, he made his England debut in 1992. He retired from international football after captaining England in the 2000 European Championships. At that time his final tally of 30 goals in 63 internationals had been bettered by only three other English players, Bobby Charlton, Gary Lineker, and Jimmy Greaves.

Career highlights

International appearances (1992-2000)

English League Championship

Awards

Professional Footballers' Association Player of the Year

Football Writers' Association Player of the Year

Although he scored a hat-trick on his league debut for Southampton at the age of 17 it was not until he joined Blackburn Rovers in July 1992 that he established his reputation as a prolific goal scorer. He scored over 30 league goals in three consecutive seasons, a feat not performed since before World War II. His 34 goals in the 1994-95 season helped Blackburn secure the Premiership title. He scored on his full England debut in 1992, but did not score regularly at international level until the 1996 European Championships, when he finished as the tournament's top scorer with five goals. In 1998 he was among the first players to be inducted into the FA Premiership's Hall of Fame.