Alan Shearer's career in pictures

Shearer signed with Southampton in 1988 and scored a hat-trick on his league debut Photograph: Getty Images/Getty Images

A move to Blackburn followed in 1992, with Rovers paying a then British transfer record fee of £3.3m to acquire Shearer Photograph: Action Images

Shearer celebrates after Blackburn clinch the league title in 1995 Photograph: Getty Images

In the same year as his team won the league, Shearer collected the PFA player of the year award Photograph: Tony Marshall/EMPICS Sport/PA Photos

Shearer salutes the fans of Newcastle United in 1996 after moving to St James' Park for £15m, a world record at the time Photograph: Paul Barker/PA Archive/PA Photos

Shearer's trademark arm-aloft celebration as the England striker notched up another goal on the way to becoming top scorer at Euro 96 Photograph: Shaun Botterill/Getty Images

Ignominy as Shearer is sent off in the opening match of the 1999 season, his 100th for Newcastle Photograph: Stu Forster/Allsport

Shearer is jubilant after scoring the winner as England beat Germany 1-0 at Euro 2000 Photograph: Mike Egerton/EMPICS Sports Photo Agency

But the tournament, and Shearer's international career, ends in disappointment when England are eliminated at the group stage after a 3-2 defeat to Romania Photograph: Ross Kinnaird/Getty Images

Shearer received an OBE in the Queen's Birthday Honours for services to football in 2001 Photograph: MICHAEL STEPHENS/EPA

Shearer celebrates scoring his second of the game against Blackburn in October 2002, the occasion of his 200th league goal Photograph: Adam Davy/EMPICS Sports Photo Agency

Now Newcastle's top scorer of all-time, Shearer nets his 206th goal for the club from the penalty spot as Newcastle beat Sunderland 4-1 in April 2006 … Photograph: SCOTT HEPPELL/AP

…but Shearer's joy is shortlived after suffering a knee injury in the same match that would end his career Photograph: SCOTT HEPPELL/AP