“I didn’t know I could run up the pitch so quickly,” said Alan Shearer commenting on the second quickest goal in the history of the Premier League. He scored after only 10.4 seconds.

Alan Shearer is always good for a great quote or two. And Alan Shearer is always good for a goal or two. A small selection of his comments shows that he does not only have penchant for spectacular goals but also for British humour.

Shearer for starters: Football’s not just about scoring goals – it’s about winning.” Shearer for seconds: “I never wanted to leave, I’m here for the rest of my life and hopefully after that as well.” Shearer for thirds: “If you want to have a great party at Wembley, don’t invite the Germans.”

But the blond haired Shearer who measures 1.80 m and 79 kg is not really known as being big-mouthed. The footballing merits speak for themselves. Shearer, the man with a mischievous grin, has gone down in football history as a goal-machine. He is a member of a rare species. 

Alan is one of the four most successful strikers still playing the game. Only the Brazilian Romario, the Paraguayan Cardozo and the Pole Warzycha are better marksmen.

Cardozo and Warzycha score their goals in weaker leagues. Romario retired at the start of 2005. Conclusion: Shearer is worldwide the most successful forward currently in the game. He appeared in over 500 league matches and tops the Premier League’s all-time goal scoring list with over 200 goals. He has scored more than 30 goals in a single season on three occasions. In 1995/96, he even scored five hat-tricks.

His fans describe his strengths as follows: “Oldie, but goldie. If things aren’t going well, there’s always Alan Shearer. Whether it’s with his head or feet, he’s always in the right place when the ball’s crossed into the box. His has a very marked goal instinct but he’s not really the ideal person to set up goals. However, he can also score important goals from outside the area.” Shearer can turn into a goal scoring egoist for the team’s benefit.

UEFA’s speech in his honour on the occasion of the EURO 1996 was a kind of “golden garland” for the striker. They said: “Alan Shearer personified the English mentality like no other during the EURO 96. His fighting spirit and his will to win made him the star of a strong English team.

All through the tournament, the whole nation pinned its hopes on his shoulders. It was time for Europe’s most prestigious trophy to come home. His biggest strengths were his inimitable heading and his marvellous right foot. In scoring 5 goals – two of which came in the 4-1 win against the Netherlands – and one in the semifinal against Germany – he won the tournament’s Golden Boot.”

Shearer duly landed up in third place behind Ronaldo from Brazil and George Weah from Liberia in that year’s FIFA World Cup™ Player of the Year. In 1995 and 1997, the English also voted him Player of the Year. Then in 2001, the Queen awarded him the Order of the British Empire. The Brazilian football legend Pele listed Alan “Smoky” Shearer as one of the his best 125 living footballers.

He began his professional career at Southampton in 1987/88. Five years later he moved to Blackburn Rovers for £3.3 million, where he spent four successful years. The highlight was the championship winning season in 1995. It was only in 1996 that the goalgetter was transferred for the then British record transfer sum of £15 million to Newcastle, his home town.

After making his debut in the national team in 1992, Shearer scored 30 goals in his 63 appearances for England. He took part in one FIFA World Cup™ (1998) and three European Championships (1992, 1996, 2000) before retiring after his last tournament. David Beckham called for the Newcastle striker’s inclusion in England’s EURO 2004 squad. “Alan is playing his best football for years,” said the England captain when speaking up for his former team-mate. England’s Team Manager Sven-Göran Eriksson ignored the calls.

Shearer’s popularity did not suffer. Newcastle United, the “Magpies”, are happy that their cult figure is still playing. The fans are hoping Alan Shearer will not go through with his plans to retire at the end of the 2004/2005 season.