Editing Alan Shearer (section)

===1996–2006: Newcastle United===
After Euro 96, Manchester United and [[Real Madrid]] again sought to sign Shearer, and attempted to enter the battle for his signature.<ref>{{cite web|title=Shearer Shearer |url=http://harveylisberg.com/videos/ |publisher=ffwd |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20141104173330/https://harveylisberg.com/videos/ |archive-date=4 November 2014 }}</ref> Manchester United chairman Martin Edwards and [[Real Madrid]] president [[Lorenzo Sanz]] stated that Blackburn Rovers refused to let Shearer go to Old Trafford or Estadio Santiago Bernabéu. Ultimately Shearer joined his boyhood club: Newcastle United, Manchester United's title rivals.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.themoscowtimes.com/sitemap/free/1996/7/article/320745.html |title=Record Transfer Sees Shearer to Newcastle |publisher=themoscowtimes.com |date=30 July 1996 |access-date=22 January 2016 |archive-date=27 January 2016 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160127231107/http://www.themoscowtimes.com/sitemap/free/1996/7/article/320745.html |url-status=live }}</ref>

On 30 July 1996, for a [[World football transfer record|world transfer record]]-breaking £15 million (equivalent to £{{Inflation|UK|15|1996|r=0|fmt=c}} million today),{{refn|group=notes|name="worldRecordTransfer1996"| The football industry has exploded beyond the inflation rate of the Bank of England.<ref name=biggestTransferEver_2022>{{cite web
| url = https://theathletic.com/3192784/2022/03/28/222m-shearer-94m-keane-89m-henry-how-much-the-premier-leagues-biggest-transfers-would-cost-today/
| title = £222m Shearer, £94m Keane, £89m Henry – how much the Premier League's biggest transfers would cost today
| last = UK Staff
| date = 28 May 2022
| website = theathletic.com
| quote = Using their calculator, Roy Keane's £3.75 million move from Nottingham Forest to Manchester United in 1993 would now cost £94.2 million, the £11 million deal that took Thierry Henry from Juventus to Arsenal in 1999 would now cost £89.9 million and Fernando Torres' £50 million switch from Liverpool to Chelsea 11 years ago would cost £112.3 million. And Shearer's from Blackburn in '96? That would set Newcastle back £222 million
| access-date = 5 August 2023
| archive-date = 5 August 2023
| archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20230805190501/https://theathletic.com/3192784/2022/03/28/222m-shearer-94m-keane-89m-henry-how-much-the-premier-leagues-biggest-transfers-would-cost-today/
| url-status = live
}}</ref> Financial experts argue, the Bank of England's inflation calculator is an unreliable method to judge transfers.<ref name=biggestTransferEver_2022/> Using another method that factors in income; experts validate that in 2019, Shearer's equivalent value was £222 million, in comparison to his Bank of England value of £29.96 million.<ref name=biggestTransferEver_2022/>}} Shearer joined his hometown club and league runners-up [[Newcastle United F.C.|Newcastle United]], managed by his hero Keegan.<ref name=MIC/><ref name=IHT>{{cite web|url=http://www.iht.com/articles/1996/07/30/soccer.t_3.php |title=Newcastle United Pays Record $23 Million for Shearer |first=Rob|last=Hughes |access-date=21 July 2008 |work=International Herald Tribune |date=30 July 1996 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110927115014/http://www.iht.com/articles/1996/07/30/soccer.t_3.php |archive-date=27 September 2011 }}</ref><ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.telegraph.co.uk/htmlContent.jhtml?html=/archive/1996/07/30/nshear30.html |title=Shearer is going home for £15m |first=Colin |last=Randall |access-date=21 July 2008 |work=The Daily Telegraph |date=30 July 1996 |location=London |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20050312181351/http://www.telegraph.co.uk/htmlContent.jhtml?html=%2Farchive%2F1996%2F07%2F30%2Fnshear30.html |archive-date=12 March 2005 }}</ref>

{| class="wikitable" 
|+{{Nowrap|Shearer's 2019 validated equivalent (£222m)<ref name=biggestTransferEver_2022/> in comparison to top transfer records in 2023}}
|-
|-
! Rank !! Player !! From !! To !! Fee !! Year !! {{abbr|Ref.|Reference}}
|-
| 1 || Alan Shearer || {{fbaicon|ENG}} [[Blackburn Rovers|Blackburn]] || {{fbaicon|ENG}} [[Newcastle United|Newcastle]] || £222m || 1996 || <ref name=biggestTransferEver_2022/>
|-
| 2 || [[Neymar]] || {{fbaicon|ESP}} [[FC Barcelona|Barcelona]] || {{fbaicon|FRA}} [[Paris Saint-Germain F.C.|Paris Saint-Germain]] ||£198m || 2017 || <ref name="Neymar BBC">{{cite news |title=Neymar: Paris St-Germain sign Barcelona forward for world record 222m euros |url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/football/40762417 |publisher=BBC Sport |access-date=4 August 2017 |archive-date=5 May 2019 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190505165148/https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/football/40762417 |url-status=live }}</ref><ref name=GuardianNeymar>{{cite web |last1=Lowe |first1=Sid |last2=Laurens |first2=Julien |last3=Hunter |first3=Andy |title=Neymar set to seal world-record move to PSG worth £450m in fees and wages |url=https://www.theguardian.com/football/2017/aug/02/neymar-psg-barcelona-tells-team-mates-leave |work=The Guardian |date=2 August 2017 |access-date=4 August 2017 |archive-date=3 August 2017 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170803141552/https://www.theguardian.com/football/2017/aug/02/neymar-psg-barcelona-tells-team-mates-leave |url-status=live}}</ref>
|-
| 3 || [[Kylian Mbappé]] || {{fbaicon|FRA}} [[AS Monaco FC|Monaco]] || {{fbaicon|FRA}} [[Paris Saint-Germain F.C.|Paris Saint-Germain]] || £163m || 2018 || <ref name=":8">{{cite news |date=19 February 2018 |title=PSG trigger Mbappe's permanent transfer |url=https://www.espn.com/soccer/soccer-transfers/story/3388743/psg-trigger-kylian-mbappes-permanent-transfer-from-monaco |access-date=22 June 2021 |website=ESPN |archive-date=1 April 2019 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190401165055/http://www.espn.com/soccer/soccer-transfers/story/3388743/psg-trigger-kylian-mbappes-permanent-transfer-from-monaco |url-status=live }}</ref>
|-
| 4 || [[João Félix]] || {{fbaicon|POR}} [[S.L. Benfica|Benfica]] || {{fbaicon|ESP}} [[Atlético Madrid]] ||£112.9 || 2019||<ref>{{cite news |url=https://www.theguardian.com/football/2019/jul/03/atletico-madrid-sign-benfica-teenager-joao-felix-for-fee-of-126m |title=Atlético Madrid sign Benfica teenager João Felix for fee of €126m |date=3 July 2019 |access-date=4 July 2019 |work=[[The Guardian]] |archive-date=11 September 2019 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190911122217/https://www.theguardian.com/football/2019/jul/03/atletico-madrid-sign-benfica-teenager-joao-felix-for-fee-of-126m}}</ref>
|}

Shearer made his league debut away at [[Everton F.C.|Everton]], on 17 August 1996,<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.newcastle-online.com/nufcplayers/alanshearer.shtml |title=Alan Shearer Profile (NUFC Player Profiles) |access-date=13 August 2008 |publisher=Newcastle Online |url-status=usurped |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080725074149/https://www.newcastle-online.com/nufcplayers/alanshearer.shtml |archive-date=25 July 2008 }}</ref> and maintained his form during the rest of the season, finishing as [[1996–97 FA Premier League|Premier League]] top-scorer for the third consecutive season with 25&nbsp;goals in 31 [[Premier League]] games,<ref name=PL96/><ref name=PL97>{{cite web|url=http://www.premierleague.com/page/1996/97Season/0,,12306~1077104,00.html |title=Season 1996/97 |access-date=21 July 2008 |publisher=Premier League |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080625020841/http://www.premierleague.com/page/1996/97Season/0%2C%2C12306~1077104%2C00.html |archive-date=25 June 2008 }}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.premierleague.com/page/1994/95Season |title=Season 1994/95 |access-date=22 July 2008 |publisher=Premier League |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080916120414/http://www.premierleague.com/page/1994/95Season |archive-date=16 September 2008 }}</ref> as well as winning another [[PFA Player of the Year]] accolade,<ref name=PFA/> despite a groin injury forcing him to miss seven matches. Among his best performances of the season came on 2 February 1997,<ref>[http://www.lcfc.com/page/LatestNews/0,,10274~483922,00.html] {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120913045702/http://www.lcfc.com/page/LatestNews/0%2C%2C10274~483922%2C00.html|date=13 September 2012}}</ref> when Newcastle went into the final 15 minutes of the game 3–1 down at home to [[Leicester City F.C.|Leicester City]] in the league, only for Shearer to win them the game 4–3 by scoring a late hat-trick.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.footballfancast.com/2011/06/premiership/newcastle-united/the-top-ten-premier-league-games-of-all-time |title=The Top TEN Premier League Games Of All Time? |publisher=FootballFanCast.com |date=11 June 2011 |access-date=27 June 2014 |archive-date=28 September 2012 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120928153057/http://www.footballfancast.com/2011/06/premiership/newcastle-united/the-top-ten-premier-league-games-of-all-time |url-status=dead }}</ref> The league title still eluded the club, who finished second in the league for a second consecutive year, with Keegan resigning midway through the season.<ref name=PL97/>

Another injury problem, this time an ankle ligament injury sustained in a pre-season match at [[Goodison Park]], restricted Shearer to just two&nbsp;goals in 17&nbsp;games in the [[1997–98 Newcastle United F.C. season|1997–98]] season. His injury was reflected in the club's form, and Newcastle finished just 13th in the [[1997–98 FA Premier League|Premier League]]. To help Shearer get over the injury, club physiotherapist [[Paul Ferris (footballer)|Paul Ferris]] devised unorthodox methods. At the club's training ground at [[Durham University]], Ferris stacked six school benches and placed Shearer on top with high-jump mats either side – the striker trying to improve his balance by standing on one leg and bending over to pick up coins while having objects thrown at him, while a crowd of student onlookers watched on.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Waugh |first=Chris |date=25 September 2019 |title='I did Shearer's medical then drove his Jaguar to Newcastle. |url=https://theathletic.co.uk/1214812/2019/09/26/waugh-shearerferris-260919/ |url-access=subscription |access-date=2 March 2020 |website=[[The Athletic]] |archive-date=2 March 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200302201622/https://theathletic.co.uk/1214812/2019/09/26/waugh-shearerferris-260919/ |url-status=live }}</ref> United (now managed by Shearer's former Blackburn manager, [[Kenny Dalglish]]) had a good run in the [[1997–98 FA Cup|FA Cup]]; Shearer scored the winning goal in a semi-final victory over [[Sheffield United F.C.|Sheffield United]] as the team reached the [[1998 FA Cup Final|final]]. The team were unable to get on the scoresheet at [[Wembley Stadium (1923)|Wembley]], and lost the game 2–0 to Arsenal.<ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.telegraph.co.uk/htmlContent.jhtml?html=/archive/1998/05/17/sfgars17.html |title=Double time for Arsenal earns Wenger rich reward |access-date=21 July 2008 |work=The Daily Telegraph |date=17 May 1998 |location=London |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080527220016/http://www.telegraph.co.uk/htmlContent.jhtml?html=%2Farchive%2F1998%2F05%2F17%2Fsfgars17.html |archive-date=27 May 2008 }}</ref>

[[File:Alan Shearer 1998 (2).jpg|Shearer after the FA Cup final defeat in 1998|upright|thumb]]
An incident during a game against [[Leicester City F.C.|Leicester City]] in the league saw Shearer charged with misconduct by the [[The Football Association|FA]],<ref>{{cite news|url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/sport/football/88739.stm|title=Shearer charged with misconduct|access-date=5 August 2008|work=BBC Sport|date=7 May 1998|archive-date=30 October 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201030154513/http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/sport/football/88739.stm|url-status=live}}</ref> with media sources claiming that video footage showed him intentionally kicking [[Neil Lennon]] in the head following a challenge.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://soccernet.espn.go.com/columns/story?id=337283&root=extratime&cc=5739|title=10 of the worst...Fouls|access-date=5 August 2008|publisher=ESPN Soccernet|date=27 July 2005|archive-date=6 December 2008|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20081206164358/http://soccernet.espn.go.com/columns/story?id=337283&root=extratime&cc=5739}}</ref> The referee of the game took no action against Shearer, and he was then cleared of all charges by the FA, with Lennon giving evidence in the player's defence.<ref>{{cite news|url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/sport/football/91721.stm|title=Shearer cleared in boot row|access-date=5 August 2008|work=BBC Sport|date=12 May 1998|archive-date=17 May 2008|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080517174437/http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/sport/football/91721.stm|url-status=live}}</ref> Former Football Association chief [[Graham Kelly (football administrator)|Graham Kelly]], who brought the charges against the player, later wrote in his autobiography that Shearer had threatened to withdraw himself from the [[1998 FIFA World Cup|1998 World Cup]] squad if the charges were upheld, which was strenuously denied by Shearer.<ref>{{cite news|url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/sport/football/441003.stm|title=Shearer hits out at Kelly|access-date=5 August 2008|work=BBC Sport|date=7 September 1999|archive-date=30 October 2023|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20231030222320/http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/sport/football/441003.stm|url-status=live}}</ref>

An almost injury-free season helped Shearer improve on his previous year's tally in the [[1998–99 Newcastle United F.C. season|1998–99 season]], the striker converting 14&nbsp;goals in 30 league games and replacing [[Rob Lee]] as Newcastle [[Captain (association football)|captain]],<ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.theguardian.com/football/1999/aug/16/newsstory.sport7|title=Shearer factor is Ruud of all evil|date=17 August 1999|access-date=14 March 2014|work=The Guardian|archive-date=28 April 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210428190449/https://www.theguardian.com/football/1999/aug/16/newsstory.sport7|url-status=live}}</ref> but Newcastle finished 13th again, with [[Ruud Gullit]] having replaced Kenny Dalglish just after the season got underway.<ref>{{cite news|url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/sport/football/fa_carling_premiership/159285.stm|title=Gullit named Newcastle boss|access-date=21 July 2008|work=BBC Sport|date=27 August 1998|archive-date=30 October 2023|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20231030222320/http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/sport/football/fa_carling_premiership/159285.stm|url-status=live}}</ref> He also helped Newcastle to a second consecutive [[1999 FA Cup Final|FA Cup final]] and qualification for the following season's [[1999–2000 UEFA Cup|UEFA Cup]], scoring twice in the semi-final against [[Tottenham Hotspur F.C.|Tottenham Hotspur]], but they once again lost 2–0, this time to [[The Treble|treble]]-chasing Manchester United.

On the opening day of the [[1999–2000 FA Premier League|1999–2000]] season, Shearer received the first [[Red card (sports)|red card]] of his career in his 100th appearance for Newcastle.<ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.theguardian.com/football/1999/aug/07/match.sport8|title=Shearer sent off in 100th match|date=8 August 1999|access-date=14 March 2014|work=The Guardian|archive-date=21 April 2022|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220421063521/https://www.theguardian.com/football/1999/aug/07/match.sport8|url-status=live}}</ref> After dropping Shearer to the bench in a [[Tyne-Wear derby]] loss against [[Sunderland A.F.C.|Sunderland]],<ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.telegraph.co.uk/sport/football/teams/newcastle-united/10405971/Newcastle-Uniteds-Ruud-Gullit-axed-Alan-Shearer-before-Sunderland-defeat-and-paid-with-his-job.html |archive-url=https://ghostarchive.org/archive/20220111/https://www.telegraph.co.uk/sport/football/teams/newcastle-united/10405971/Newcastle-Uniteds-Ruud-Gullit-axed-Alan-Shearer-before-Sunderland-defeat-and-paid-with-his-job.html |archive-date=11 January 2022 |url-access=subscription |url-status=live|title=Newcastle United's Ruud Gullit axed Alan Shearer before Sunderland defeat and paid with his job|date=25 October 2013|access-date=14 March 2014|work=The Telegraph}}{{cbignore}}</ref> the unpopular Gullit resigned to be replaced by the 66-year-old [[Bobby Robson]].<ref>{{cite news|url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/sport/football/436390.stm|title=Robson takes Newcastle hotseat|access-date=21 July 2008|work=BBC Sport|date=3 August 1999|archive-date=12 January 2016|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160112223549/http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/sport/football/436390.stm|url-status=live}}</ref> Despite Gullit giving Shearer the captain's armband, reports of a rift between club captain and manager were rife, Gullit's decision to drop Shearer proved deeply unpopular with fans and his departure capped a dismal start to the season.<ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.independent.co.uk/sport/football-shearers-doom-army-at-the-gates-of-gullit-1116092.html |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170207114229/http://www.independent.co.uk/sport/football-shearers-doom-army-at-the-gates-of-gullit-1116092.html |archive-date=2017-02-07 |url-access=limited |url-status=live|title=Shearer's Doom Army at the gates of Gullit|access-date=21 July 2008|first=Guy|last=Hodgson|work=The Independent|date=27 August 1999}}</ref> The animosity between Shearer and Gullit was later confirmed by the latter, who reportedly told the striker that he was "...the most overrated player I have ever seen."<ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.independent.co.uk/sport/football/premier-league/how-a-toon-totem-lived-the-dream-475291.html|title=How a Toon totem lived the dream|date=23 April 2006|work=The Independent|access-date=27 December 2008|location=London|first=Simon|last=Turnbull|archive-date=6 July 2009|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090706191938/http://www.independent.co.uk/sport/football/premier-league/how-a-toon-totem-lived-the-dream-475291.html}}</ref> Robson had tried to sign Shearer for [[FC Barcelona|Barcelona]] in 1997, making a bid of £20 million which would have seen Shearer break the world's transfer fee record for the second time in 12 months. Newcastle's manager at the time, Kenny Dalglish, rejected the offer.<ref>{{Cite book|url = https://books.google.com/books?id=whytCwAAQBAJ&q=robson+shearer+barcelona+%C2%A320million&pg=PT14|title = Alan Shearer Fifty Defining Fixtures|isbn = 9781445651330|last1 = Matthews|first1 = Tony|date = 15 March 2016| publisher=Amberley Publishing Limited |access-date = 15 October 2020|archive-date = 30 October 2023|archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20231030222320/https://books.google.com/books?id=whytCwAAQBAJ&q=robson+shearer+barcelona+%C2%A320million&pg=PT14#v=snippet&q=robson%20shearer%20barcelona%20%C2%A320million&f=false|url-status = live}}</ref>

In Robson's first match in charge, Shearer scored five goals in an 8–0 defeat of [[Sheffield Wednesday F.C.|Sheffield Wednesday]].<ref>{{cite news|url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/sport/football/fa_carling_premiership/451554.stm|title=Shearer's five star day|date=19 September 1999|access-date=14 March 2014|publisher=BBC|archive-date=28 April 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210428190454/http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/sport/football/fa_carling_premiership/451554.stm|url-status=live}}</ref> With Robson in charge, the team moved away from the relegation zone, finishing in mid-table and reached the [[1999–2000 FA Cup|FA Cup]] semi-finals, but a third consecutive final was beyond them as they were beaten by Chelsea. Shearer missed only one league game and notched up 23&nbsp;goals.<ref name=NUFC/>

Shearer suffered an injury-hit and frustrating season in the [[2000–01 Newcastle United F.C. season|2000–01 season]], having retired from international football after the [[UEFA Euro 2000]] tournament to focus on club football.<ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.telegraph.co.uk/htmlContent.jhtml?html=/archive/2000/02/27/sfnshe27.html |title=Shearer decides to quit England |access-date=21 July 2008 |first=Colin |last=Malam |work=The Daily Telegraph |date=27 February 2000 |location=London |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20050911065621/http://www.telegraph.co.uk/htmlContent.jhtml?html=%2Farchive%2F2000%2F02%2F27%2Fsfnshe27.html |archive-date=11 September 2005 }}</ref> He managed only five&nbsp;goals in 19&nbsp;games in the league. The [[2001–02 FA Premier League|2001–02 season]] was much better though: Shearer bagged 23&nbsp;goals in 37 league games as Newcastle finished fourth – their highest standing since 1997 – meaning they would qualify for the following season's [[2002–03 UEFA Champions League|Champions League]] competition. One of the most memorable incidents of the season saw [[Roy Keane]] sent off after a confrontation with Shearer during Newcastle's 4–3 win over the ''Red Devils'' in September 2001.<ref>{{cite news|url=http://www.timesonline.co.uk/tol/sport/article511049.ece |title=The top 10 Roy Keane battles |access-date=21 July 2008 |first=John|last=Aizlewood |work=The Sunday Times |date=6 February 2005 |location=London |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070309065831/http://www.timesonline.co.uk/tol/sport/article511049.ece |archive-date=9 March 2007 }}</ref><ref>{{cite news |url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/football/teams/m/man_utd/2471991.stm |title=Keane: I should have punched Shearer |access-date=21 July 2008 |work=BBC Sport |date=14 November 2002 |archive-date=19 November 2003 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20031119083227/http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/football/teams/m/man_utd/2471991.stm |url-status=live }}</ref> Shearer also saw [[Red card (sports)|red]] for the second time in his career this season, after allegedly elbowing an opposition player in a match against [[Charlton Athletic F.C.|Charlton Athletic]], but this decision was later rescinded.<ref>{{cite news |url=https://www.independent.co.uk/sport/football/premier-league/referee-rescinds-shearer-red-card-9134897.html |title=Referee rescinds Shearer red card |author=Damian Spellman |work=The Independent |date=4 December 2001 |access-date=2 November 2022 |archive-date=2 November 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20221102130345/https://www.independent.co.uk/sport/football/premier-league/referee-rescinds-shearer-red-card-9134897.html |url-status=live }}</ref>

The [[2002–03 Newcastle United F.C. season|2002–03 season]] saw Shearer and Newcastle make their return to the [[UEFA Champions League]]. Newcastle lost their first three matches in the opening group stage, but Shearer's goal against [[FC Dynamo Kyiv|Dynamo Kyiv]],<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.uefa.com/competitions/ucl/history/season=2002/round=1636/match=1036504/index.html |title=Newcastle 2–1 Dynamo Kiev |access-date=21 July 2008 |publisher=UEFA |archive-date=6 December 2008 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20081206045304/http://www.uefa.com/competitions/ucl/history/season=2002/round=1636/match=1036504/index.html |url-status=dead }}</ref> coupled with further wins against [[Juventus FC|Juventus]] and [[Feyenoord]] saw the club progress to the second group stage.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.uefa.com/competitions/ucl/history/season=2002/round=1636/group=1492.html |title=2002 UEFA Champions League Group E |access-date=21 July 2008 |publisher=UEFA |archive-date=21 October 2005 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20051021034328/http://www.uefa.com/competitions/ucl/history/season=2002/round=1636/group=1492.html |url-status=dead }}</ref>

{{blockquote|"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...how many? Three? And for the man to still be producing at the highest level is really an amazing feat. After a match against Juventus I met Alex Del Piero who like myself could only speak in the most glowing of terms about Shearer. He'd terrorised the Juve defenders when the clubs met in Newcastle. They found him one of the most difficult opponents they had ever faced. The coach Marcello Lippi had been purring about Shearer's performance. So much so that his strikers Alex, David (Trezeguet) and Marcelo (Salas) were ordered to take home videos and study Shearer's display."|source=[[Gabriel Batistuta]] on his admiration of Shearer, February 2003.<ref>{{cite news |title=Batigol: Shearer is the greatest |url=http://www.skysports.com/football/news/11678/2259754/batigol-shearer-is-the-greatest |access-date=16 August 2018 |agency=Sky Sports |archive-date=16 August 2018 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180816194447/http://www.skysports.com/football/news/11678/2259754/batigol-shearer-is-the-greatest |url-status=live }}</ref>}}

Shearer's [[List of UEFA Champions League hat-tricks|Champions League hat-trick]] against [[Bayer 04 Leverkusen|Bayer Leverkusen]] and a brace against [[Inter Milan]] in the second group stage helped him reach a total of seven Champions League goals, along with his 17 in 35 games in the league, and a total of 25 for the season as the team again improved to finish in third place in the [[2002–03 FA Premier League|Premier League]].<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.nufc.premiumtv.co.uk/page/ClubHistory/0,,10278~1330153,00.html |title=Modern Magpies 2002/03: Champions League – We Had A Laugh! |access-date=21 July 2008 |publisher=Newcastle United F.C |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090112213810/http://www.nufc.premiumtv.co.uk/page/ClubHistory/0%2C%2C10278~1330153%2C00.html |archive-date=12 January 2009 }}</ref>

[[File:Alanshearerwiki.jpg|thumb|Shearer training in 2005]]
After this, Newcastle would have one more chance to progress in the Champions League in early [[2003–04 Newcastle United F.C. season|2003]], but Shearer was one of those who failed to score as the team were eliminated in a [[Penalty shootout (association football)|penalty shootout]] by [[FK Partizan|Partizan Belgrade]] in the third qualifying round. United progressed well in [[2003–04 UEFA Cup|that season's UEFA Cup]] and Shearer's six goals helped the club reach the semi-finals, where they were beaten by eventual runners up [[Olympique de Marseille]]. Domestically he also had a good season, with 22&nbsp;goals in 37&nbsp;appearances,<ref name=NUFC/> but this did not prevent the club dropping out of the Champions League places to finish in fifth,<ref>{{Cite web |title=2003-2004 Newcastle United Scores and Fixtures, UEFA Cup |url=https://fbref.com/en/squads/b2b47a98/2003-2004/matchlogs/s775/schedule/Newcastle-United-Scores-and-Fixtures-UEFA-Cup |access-date=2022-06-05 |website=FBref.com |language=en |archive-date=5 June 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220605171904/https://fbref.com/en/squads/b2b47a98/2003-2004/matchlogs/s775/schedule/Newcastle-United-Scores-and-Fixtures-UEFA-Cup |url-status=dead }}</ref> qualifying once again for the UEFA Cup.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Qualification for European Cup Football 2003/2004 |url=https://kassiesa.net/uefa/history/qual2003.html |access-date=2022-06-05 |website=kassiesa.net |archive-date=5 June 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220605171905/https://kassiesa.net/uefa/history/qual2003.html |url-status=live }}</ref>

Announcing that this would be his final season before retirement, Shearer's form in the [[2004–05 Newcastle United F.C. season|2004–05 season]] was patchy; alongside new signing [[Patrick Kluivert]], he scored only seven&nbsp;goals in his 28&nbsp;games as the club finished the season in 14th place.<ref name=NUFC/> The club fared better in the cup competitions, eventually losing out to [[Sporting Clube de Portugal|Sporting CP]] in the [[2004–05 UEFA Cup|UEFA Cup]] quarter-finals and Manchester United in the FA Cup semi-finals. Shearer scored a hat-trick in the first round win against [[Hapoel Bnei Sakhnin F.C.|Hapoel Bnei Sakhnin]], and ended the season with a haul of 11 European goals, in addition to his one goal in domestic cups.<ref name=NUFC/>

The middle of 2005 saw Shearer reverse his decision to retire, after persuasion from manager [[Graeme Souness]].<ref>{{cite news |url=http://www.telegraph.co.uk/sport/2353784/Souness-tries-to-talk-Shearer-round.html |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160706200711/http://www.telegraph.co.uk/sport/2353784/Souness-tries-to-talk-Shearer-round.html |archive-date=6 July 2016 |title=Souness tries to talk Shearer round |access-date=21 July 2008 |work=The Daily Telegraph |date=14 January 2005 |location=London |first=Rob |last=Stewart}}</ref> He decided to continue playing in a player-coach capacity until the end of [[2005–06 in English football|the following season]].<ref>{{cite news |url=https://www.telegraph.co.uk/sport/main.jhtml?xml=/sport/2005/04/02/sfnnew02.xml |title= Newcastle say Shearer is manager in waiting |access-date=21 July 2008 |first=Rob|last=Stewart |work=The Daily Telegraph |date=2 April 2005 |location=London}}{{dead link|date=July 2021|bot=medic}}{{cbignore|bot=medic}}</ref><ref>{{cite news |url=https://www.theguardian.com/football/2005/apr/01/newsstory.sport13 |title= Shearer to play on for another year |access-date=21 January 2025 |work=The Guardian |date=1 April 2005}}</ref> and he returned for one more season in the [[2005–06 Newcastle United F.C. season|2005–06 season]]. This last season saw him break [[Jackie Milburn]]'s 49-year-old record of 200&nbsp;goals for Newcastle United (not including his 38 World War II [[Wartime League]] goals)<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.nufc.premiumtv.co.uk/page/Legends/0,,10278~1241692,00.html |title=Legends Jackie Milburn |access-date=14 October 2008 |publisher=Newcastle United F.C. |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20081007193900/http://www.nufc.premiumtv.co.uk/page/Legends/0%2C%2C10278~1241692%2C00.html |archive-date=7 October 2008 }}</ref> when he netted his 201st strike in a home [[2005–06 FA Premier League|Premier League]] fixture against [[Portsmouth F.C.|Portsmouth]] on 4 February 2006, becoming the club's highest-ever league and cup competition goalscorer with 201 goals altogether.<ref>{{cite news |url=https://www.telegraph.co.uk/sport/football/2331700/St-James-joy-at-Shearer-record.html |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160707061845/http://www.telegraph.co.uk/sport/football/2331700/St-James-joy-at-Shearer-record.html |archive-date=7 July 2016 |title= St James' joy at Shearer record |access-date=21 July 2008 |first=Louise|last=Taylor |work=The Daily Telegraph |date=4 February 2006 |location=London}}</ref> On 17 April 2006, with three games remaining in his final season as a player, Shearer suffered a tear to the [[medial collateral ligament]] in his left knee after a collision during a 4–1 win at Sunderland in which he scored his 206th and final goal in what was his 395th appearance for the club. The injury caused him to miss those final three games, effectively bringing forward his retirement.<ref>{{cite news |url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport2/hi/football/teams/n/newcastle_united/4929358.stm |title=Injury forces Shearer retirement |access-date=14 August 2008 |work=BBC Sport |date=22 April 2006 |archive-date=24 February 2010 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100224162153/http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport2/hi/football/teams/n/newcastle_united/4929358.stm |url-status=live }}</ref> Shearer finished his final season with 10&nbsp;goals in 32 league games.<ref name=NUFC/>