Alan Shearer has revealed he came close to becoming Cardiff City manager before changes during the interview process convinced him to turn the job down.
The former Newcastle United and England striker said he was interviewed three times by the Bluebirds in 2011 as they looked for a successor to Dave Jones.
Three Interviews and an Offer
Shearer, sacked by Newcastle in April 2009 after eight games in charge, was keen to return to management and said he was eventually offered the Cardiff job. However, despite getting the opportunity, the 55-year-old grew concerned by what he said was happening behind the scenes.
Speaking to the BBC, Shearer explained how the recruitment process changed his mind.
"I always felt that I was going to go into it [management] again, and I wanted to," he said. "But then I had a couple of interviews… went for one interview, went for another interview with the same club, went for a third interview, got offered the job.
"It was Cardiff. And then things changed in a different interview. And then the last one, it went sort of…again.
"And then I thought, 'What am I doing here?' If things are changing throughout the interview process, then what's it going to be like when I'm in?"
A Turning Point in His Career
Cardiff eventually appointed Malky Mackay as their new manager in June 2011, with Shearer missing out on what would have been his first managerial position since leaving St James' Park.
The experience proved a significant turning point for the former England captain, who admitted it ultimately persuaded him to abandon his ambitions of becoming a manager. He instead went on to establish himself as one of the most recognisable football pundits on television.
"That sort of changed it," he said. "And then I didn't get any more after that. And then I just thought, you know what, I'm just going to get my head down and stick to the punditry."
