In 1996, Alan Shearer would reject Manchester United and join boyhood club Newcastle United for a then world record fee.
The forward cost Kevin Keegan’s Newcastle £15million, a fee not too much smaller than our current transfer record. But that’s a story for another day.
Much was made of Shearer turning down Sir Alex Ferguson, whose side were the biggest club in the land, winning trophies galore.
But instead, the striker would join the club he supported as a lad, going on to make history.
While he wouldn’t win a trophy as a Newcastle player, he would go on to become the club’s all-time leading goalscorer. He ended his Magpies career with 206 goals, with the record-breaking strike coming against Portsmouth.
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But his trophy cabinet would have been a lot fuller had he chosen a move to Old Trafford. During Shearer’s Newcastle career, Manchester United would win five Premier League titles, two FA Cups, one League Cup and a Champions League.
Shearer still doesn’t regret his decision
Whenever the two sides meet, there are always chants centred around the former Newcastle number nine. The Red Devils sing ‘Shearer sent you down’, while we come back with ‘Shearer turned you down’. But does the Match of the Day pundit regret his decision?
One fan asked him just that on Twitter, and the 48-year-old replied in emphatic fashion.
Becoming a hero for his local side obviously meant more to him than a few trophies, having already won a Premier League title while at Blackburn.
His comments won’t go down well with the Manchester United faithful, who aren’t having a great time right now with Jose Mourinho’s side down in eighth.
Newcastle fans will lap it up though, safe in the knowledge that Shearer would still turn them down.
