Alan Shearer

Newcastle legend Alan Shearer has said that his beloved club do not want him to be their new manager. In the past, Shearer has said that he did not want to take the role on, but on this occasion he does seem to have ‘thrown his hat in the ring’.

Shearer claims that he received a phone call from the club telling him that they were looking for an experienced manager, therefore effectively ruling him out of the running.

Some of the devoted Toon army will be devastated by this news. They long for the passion and excitement created by Kevin Keegan a few years ago, and they firmly believe that their favourite son was the man to do it.
Shearer himself believes that he could turn the fortunes of the club around, and will be disappointed that he is not being considered.

So is it wise for a player who was a hero with a club to take over that club as manager? A look at the history suggests that it is a risky business. There Are a long line of men who were heroes as players but then became less liked as they failed to achieve success as the manager. Glen Roeder at Newcastle, Brian Little at Aston Villa, Colin Todd at Derby, Alan Ball at Southampton, Ossie Ardilles at Tottenham. All heroes as players and failures as managers, leaving the clubs under a cloud.

I think it would be a great shame if this happened to Shearer who was one of the true greats. Of course, he could take over the club and be an instant success. I consider that to be unlikely as some great and experienced managers have tried and failed. Dalglish, Gullit, Robson, Souness and Allardyce were hardly novices with no track record when they took the St James’ Park hot seat.

If Shearer wants to become a manager then he should learn his trade at smaller clubs, much as Paul Ince is doing at Milton Keynes Dons, and then when he has served his apprentiship he could stride into Newcastle and maybe, just maybe, be a hero as a manager as well. One day, someone will win something for the Geordies, and they will be guaranteed hero status for life. Don’t bet against it being Alan Shearer in a few years time.