Played for Newcastle: 1996-2006 Position: Striker League Appearances: 303 League goals: 148 You don't score 148 league goals without putting the effort in and despite playing up front for his entire career, Alan Shearer was the ultimate grafter. Shearer would challenge for every single header, drift out wide, burst down the flanks and do his fair share of defensive work. After signing for the club from Blackburn in 1996 for a world record fee of £15 million, Shearer was an instant hit with the Geordie public. Born and bred in Newcastle, Shearer gave 100% every single game and lived to play in the black and white shirt. He was given the club captaincy by Ruud Gullit despite falling out with the Dutch manager who benched the striker for Newcastle's much-anticipated local derby against Sunderland. When Bobby Robson took over as manager of the club, Shearer began to flourish once more. Shearer bagged 23 goals in 37 league games in 2001-02 as Newcastle finished fourththeir highest standing since 1997meaning they would qualify for the following season's Champions League competition. The striker retired at the end of the 2005-06 season after ten years at the club. Shearer scored 206 goals in 405 games and will be forever remembered as the best striker ever to play at St James' Park. Daryl Janmaat Rob Lee Alan Shearer
NCTJ-accredited football writer with an MA in Sports Journalism. What Culture football editor. Write for the official Newcastle United programme. Former video reporter at North News. Featured and published in the Sunderland Echo, Shields Gazette, Mail Online, The Mirror, The Sun and others.
