Newcastle United's world-record signing of Alan Shearer in 1996 will be celebrated next month at a special event hosted by Gary Lineker, marking 30 years since the club startled the football world with the greatest transfer in their history.
On July 30, 1996, the Magpies paid £15m to bring the Geordie striker home, a figure that was then a world record and a height never before reached. The milestone will be honoured with a show centred around Shearer and hosted by Lineker, his former Match Of The Day colleague who now works with him on their The Rest Is Football podcast.
A record-breaking career at St James' Park
Shearer went on to become Newcastle's highest goalscorer of all time, netting 206 goals to beat Wor Jackie's record, winning 63 England caps - many as skipper - notching 30 times, and becoming the Premier League's all-time goal king with a haul of 260.
It was the culmination of a golden career which earned him just one major trophy, the Premier League title with Blackburn Rovers. But Shearer has always maintained that breaking United's goalscoring record and making 405 appearances for his boyhood club was the real thing to treasure.
Close calls and glowing tributes
There were close calls along the way, including Premier League runners-up finishes, two FA Cup finals, a Wembley FA Cup semi-final, and a UEFA Cup semi-final. But the Magpies always fell when within sight of the winning post.
To emphasise the striker's greatness, former Argentina international Gabriel Batistuta, who scored 299 goals in 551 career appearances mostly in Serie A, said of Shearer: "I know at first hand how fierce the gladiatorial battles are between a striker and defenders. So to maintain your performance as a top class goalscorer over a long period of time takes phenomenal dedication, self belief and enormous willpower. If you then throw in a number of serious injuries to still produce at the highest level is an amazing feat. Alan Shearer did that."
Batistuta also recalled meeting Alessandro Del Piero after a match against Juventus, who spoke glowingly of Shearer after he had terrorised the Juve defenders when the clubs met in Newcastle. Juventus coach Marcello Lippi had been so impressed that his strikers Del Piero, David Trezeguet and Marcelo Salas were ordered to take home videos and study Shearer's display.
A royal arrival and a lasting legacy
Shearer snubbed Alex Ferguson to join Newcastle, just as Gazza had done earlier in signing for Spurs. Real Madrid as well as Manchester United wanted Shearer, but Blackburn owner Jack Walker wasn't having it. Instead, the Geordie came home to glory.
On the day he signed, 20,000 fans were delirious outside, Sky screened the whole thing live, and Sir John Hall and Kevin Keegan sat alongside, beaming at their latest and biggest transfer scoop.
The Shearer event, organised by For One Night Only, will take place at the Lightroom in King's Cross, London on October 15.
