Alan Shearer will forever be remembered as the man who lived every Geordie’s dream wearing the famous number nine shirt and scoring goals for Newcastle United in front of the roaring Gallowgate End.
From the moment he arrived at St James’ Park in 1996, Shearer became the heartbeat of the club, the player every fan adored and the man every defender feared.
Yet, despite achieving legendary status at his boyhood club, the Premier League’s all-time top scorer has admitted there was one other team he would have loved to play for during his career — Liverpool.
Born and raised in Newcastle, Shearer’s journey to football stardom didn’t begin at his hometown club. Instead, he came through the youth system at Southampton after starting out at the renowned Wallsend Boys Club, the same local side that produced countless footballing talents.
While it seemed unthinkable that Newcastle hadn’t snapped him up earlier, fate eventually brought him home in 1996 when he signed from Blackburn Rovers for a then world-record transfer fee of £15 million. It was a move that not only fulfilled his childhood dream but also changed Newcastle United’s history forever.
Over the course of his career at St James’ Park, Shearer made 405 appearances and scored a remarkable 206 goals, becoming the club’s all-time leading scorer. His power, precision, and passion made him the ultimate icon of Newcastle United, embodying everything the club and its fans stand for.
To this day, his statue outside the stadium serves as a permanent reminder of his incredible contribution to the club he loved.
Yet, in a recent conversation with BBC Sport, Shearer opened up about another club that held a special place in his heart Liverpool. While his career was deeply intertwined with Newcastle and Blackburn, he admitted that if he had ever chosen a different path, Anfield would have been his preferred destination.
“Well, other than this great club, probably Liverpool,” Shearer said with a smile. “I went to the Kop when I was a young boy and watched an FA Cup game, but I was more than happy with my choice being here at Newcastle and Blackburn.”
That small confession revealed a softer side of Shearer’s football journey the admiration he held for Liverpool’s atmosphere and tradition. Like many young football fans growing up in the North East, he was captivated by the energy of the Kop, the passion of the supporters, and the rich history of the club. But as fate would have it, his story was destined to be written in black and white, not red.
In the 1990s, Shearer’s name was frequently linked with Manchester United, who tried several times to lure him to Old Trafford. However, he turned down Sir Alex Ferguson’s advances twice, first while at Blackburn and again before joining Newcastle.
For Shearer, playing for his hometown club was far more than a career move it was a matter of pride, loyalty, and identity.
Interestingly, there was a time when a move to Liverpool nearly became a reality. Back in 2004, during Sir Bobby Robson’s time in charge, Shearer was reportedly close to joining the Reds. Robson was open to selling him as he looked to reshape the squad following the arrival of Dutch striker Patrick Kluivert from Barcelona.
Former Liverpool assistant manager Phil Thompson later revealed that Gerard Houllier, Liverpool’s manager at the time, was convinced a deal had been agreed. “Shearer wanted to join the Reds,” Thompson was quoted as saying, suggesting the move was on the verge of happening before it fell through.
Michael Owen, who later joined Newcastle himself, even claimed on social media that Shearer was “inches away” from signing for Liverpool under Robson.
However, true to his character, Shearer stayed loyal to Newcastle until the very end. He never forced a transfer, never turned his back on the fans, and remained committed to finishing his career where he belonged in front of the Gallowgate End.
That decision only strengthened his legendary status. While some players might have chased trophies elsewhere, Shearer chose loyalty over silverware, passion over prestige, and Newcastle over everything else.
His name is still sung proudly on matchdays, and his story continues to inspire new generations of players and fans alike.
Alan Shearer may have had a soft spot for Liverpool, and in another lifetime, he might have walked out at Anfield to the sound of “You’ll Never Walk Alone.” But for football fans and especially for the people of Newcastle he will always be the man who lived and breathed the black and white dream.
His legacy isn’t defined by what could have been; it’s defined by the unwavering loyalty and love he showed for his city, his club, and his people.
