15
million pounds. It was a world record fee Newcastle paid Blackburn
to secure the services of the top scorer of Euro 96. The transfer
sent shock waves around the football world.
Shearer's first season at Newcastle was quite remarkable. Though
the club did not win any honours, Shearer scored 25 league goals
in 31 games, was made captain of his country, and was voted
into third place in both the European Footballer of the Year
and World Footballer of the Year. He was also voted PFA Player
of the Year.
Previously, a wonderful 1994/5 season had cemented his position
as England's premier striker. He equalled a Premiership record
that most observers thought would stand for years.
Both on and off the pitch, he is a picture of calm self-control.
His first touch is superb, his pace still good despite the knocks
of a career in the top flight, and his goal-scoring instincts
deadly - quite simply he has everything a striker needs.
Shearer's attitude on the pitch makes him a frustrating proposition
for any defence. He is above any intimidation and seldom gets
distracted by any effort to distract him. Quite simply, Shearer
is a goal machine and he lives to hit the back of the net. He
grabbed two hat-tricks in a month during the Championship-winning
season at Blackburn.
His subsequent stature in the game and at Newcastle was most
evident during the final turbulent months of Ruud Gullit's reign
in August 1999. After having the bare faced cheek to leave Shearer
on the bench against arch-rivals Sunderland where Newcastle
ended up being defeated by 2-1, It was the Dutch superstar rather
than Shearer who left the club, much to everyones relief. The
striker's scoring touch immediately returned with a vengeance
following the appointment of Bobby Robson. The Newcastle and
England captain hit a personal record of five goals in the 8-0
thrashing of Sheffield Wednesday.
He retired from international football after Euro 2000, and
has confounded his critics by continuing to smash in the goals
for Newcastle.
Now, after being presented with the Premiership Player of the
Decade there is nothing to argue against that Alan Shearer is
one of Englands, if not the best, ever players.
