The 17 best quotes on Alan Shearer: ‘The best No.9 Newcastle’s ever had’

Alan Shearer only ever won one major honour in his career with Southampton, Blackburn and Newcastle, but he won something that was just as important to him: the hearts of every single Geordie who watched him play.

Shearer was as pure a centre-forward English football has seen, scoring over 400 goals for club and country over the course of his career.

We’ve compiled 16 of the best quotes on the former England captain from those who played with and against him, as well as some of his former managers.

“He leads the attack with courage and quality. He’s a superb team player and an inspirational captain. As a player he is up there with the very best, with the Lofthouses, Lawtons, Linekers and any other great striker you care to mention.”

“I would compare him to Careca, who is the only striker who would keep me awake the night before a game.”

“A jack-of-all-trades who, in defiance of the proverb, has mastered them all.”

“Alan is a player in a class of his own. He lifts the whole team and turns draws into victories. In a word: priceless.”

“While lining up alongside him, I felt we could win every game, because I knew he was going to score.”

“He wasn’t a dirty player per se, but he was rough and he invariably delivered some form of punishment on the pitch.”

READ: Lee Dixon on Alan Shearer’s dark arts: ‘I thought, I’m not going near him’

“I like him because you get a lot of flair players, but nobody was as mentally tough as Alan, who got the most out of his body for such a long time. Probably the greatest Premiership player ever.”

“In my opinion, Alan Shearer is the greatest English centre-forward there has ever been without a shadow of a doubt; he’s a very, very special player. He makes average balls into great balls.”

“He was a