Alan Shearer: The Story So Far
Alan Shearer: The Story So Far
Author: Alan Shearer (Limited availability)
I will never be satisfied with past achievements. After all, as many Manchester Utd and some Blackburn fans will confirm, I’m a greedy so-and-so and my appetite for success is nowhere near satisfied.It’s a precarious life, harvesting the enormous rewards of having a talent for scoring goals, especially when that talent can desert you without warning. England’s most prolific goal scorer and the man shepherding the dreams of the Toon Army, Alan Shearer is a man with a lot of expectation riding on his every kick of the ball.
The reality of this responsibility has often made Shearer seem taciturn to the point of surliness in interview, but his own version of events reveals a quietly serious man who regards the game as his workplace, not a lifestyle accessory.
A sheet-metalworker’s son, Shearer began his career at Southampton before moving to Blackburn and scoring the goals that won Jack Walker’s club the Premiership title in 1995.
His move to success-hungry Newcastle after Euro ‘96 made him the most expensive footballer in history and while he kept on scoring, a succession of serious injuries prompted debate as to whether his powers would ever fully recover.
His performance at France ‘98 went some way towards answering his critics and while he has his say here on Dalglish, Gullitt, Hoddle, Taylor and all the controversies that follow in the wake of a career in the public gaze, he knows that it’s his football that will have the final word.
Shearer recognises what his great hero and now international manager, Kevin Keegan, realised during his career: To be a “manufactured” player at the highest level–to overcome your apparent lack of natural ability through effort–is simply success by another route.
The game is littered with players who are more gifted than Alan Shearer, but few can match his achievements. This is an inspirational account of a career that is far from over. –Alex Hankin
Shear boredomAs an avid Newcastle fan and England patriot, I was expecting a fantastic insight to the world of modern football. Well, I was bitterly disappointed with the result and at the end of the day you have to say it was a book of two halves! Shearer set out his stall to give an honest account of the life of a footballer… To be fair, Shearer has given 110% to his effort and deserves full credit for as Kevin Keegan says, football comes first, second and third for him. No disrespect but you have to be philosophical in autobiographies, and Shearer needs to dig deeper, although you can say it’s a no win situation! This book is definitely nothing to write home about, Shearer should really have pulled out all the stops to grind out a better result.
I know it’s a cliche, but it’s definitely one for the boys!!
A brilliant book that is a must for all football fans.
I`m a huge Alan Shearer fan, I have got five books which are all about him, and this one is by far the best. It was impossible to put the book down and I have read it three times so far. Shearer is a fantastic person, who I greatly admire, and to read a book written by my hero is brill! Its my favourite book of all times.
A wonderful insight to England’s best footballer!
I am a huge Alan Shearer fan and I think that this book is the best book I’ve read about him. Not only does it discuss his footballing life but also some things about his family too. I found that this showed an indepth view of his career and would definitely recommend this book to anyone but especially football fans as it is about England’s best striker and footballer.