Alan Shearer - a Legend of Football
I figured for my first article I’d write about Alan Shearer and his outstanding career in English football…
Shearer was born in the 70’s - the era famous for bad hairdos and love songs.
The Geordie played football in school as a midfielder because he wanted to be more involved in games.
Through that he became captain of his school team and helped them to win a seven-a-side tournament at St James’s Park.
He took football more seriously and signed for Wallsend Boys Club as a teen.
While playing for them, he met Jack Hixon who scouted and recommended him for Southampton.
Having been successful, he then, after a few short interludes at other clubs, eventually moved to Newcastle - but not before meeting and marrying his sweetheart at Southampton in 1991 and going on to have 3 children.
He played for England’s U21’s and still holds the record to this day for scoring 13 goals in eleven games.
His signature header still holds fame, with the old style leather balls that, when wet, were almost twice the weight of a dry one.
Shearer retired in 2006 when he and his family had the heartbreaking news of his brain disease.
A disease that just made him more driven to achieve.
In an interview with Ruth and Eamonn, he admitted that he knew the risks of playing football professionally for 15 – 20 years would have adverse consequences on his back, knees and ankles, but he’d never have thought that brain injury would be on the list too.
Even though he was facing difficulties with his invisible disease he still went on to prove it wouldn’t stop him as he continued his venture in football as a pundit on Match of the Day.
He also managed Newcastle United for a couple of games when they were left without a manager due to the previous manager having personal issues.
One of his quotes
“we go in there with confidence, but we know there is a fine line between success and failure in this game”
Shearer knew the stakes of the game.
He holds the record of the most goals of the premier league with 260. For the England national team he appeared 63 times and scored 30 goals.
He has received countless awards and acknowledgments.
He lived his life with football at his core - it’s what made him the legend that he is.
Alan Shearer knew that success wasn’t always guaranteed but this man is what footballers today should base their career on. Passionate and confident in success but never count failure as a loss but as a lesson to learn.
In another quote he said
“Football isn’t just about scoring goals - it’s about winning.”
He knew there was more to football than just scoring, it’s about winning as a team, striving to be the best.
A life lesson for us all.
Shearer put his passion and his loyalty into everything in his private life and his career.
Widely regarded as one of the best strikers of his time and one of greatest players in the history of the premier league.
In my opinion, in his prime, he could be placed into any team today and be just as good if not better.
He dedicated himself to the sport and set goalscoring records - with the most notable being the Premier League goalscoring record of 260 goals in 441 games.
Via Getty Images
