9 Reasons Why Alan Shearer Chose Newcastle Over Manchester United

In July 1996, Newcastle United broke the then-world record transfer fee and parted with £15 million in order to bring Blackburn Rovers centre-forward Alan Shearer back to his boyhood club. Shearer had just netted 37 goals for the second consecutive season and had helped Rovers to the Premier League title in 1994-95, he had scored 130 times in 171 Blackburn appearances in all, and he had been the best striker in England for almost half a decade. Yet, despite then three-time Premier League champions Manchester United also attempting to sign Shearer, the England forward let his heart rule his head and moved back to the North East. Freddy Shepherd, Magpies owner John Hall and manager Kevin Keegan were able to convince Shearer to turn his back on countless trophies with the Red Devils and instead move to the club he had stood on the terraces and watched from the Gallowgate End as a child. Shearer would go on to net 206 times for the Magpies and become Newcastle United's all-time leading goalscorer in the process - but what actually motivated him to choose a return to the North East over medal upon medal with Man United? Well, here are the nine reasons why Alan Shearer opted to join Newcastle United in 1996 - and not Manchester United.