The Last of the Greats

There used to be a time, a time before Monsieur Bosman, when football players used to play for their clubs for years and years. Many played for only one club for the entirety of their careers. There was a sense of belonging, a sense of loyalty and a willingness to stick with their team come good or bad. And even when players did move between clubs, you could sense that there would be sincere regret and sadness in both the player who was moving and the club that was being left behind. No one really wanted to leave, and often it was the economics of the game that forced "poorer" clubs to sell their best players to "richer" clubs.

But all of that has changed. Some may argue that the Bosman ruling is the cause. Whatever the reason, football players began to move between clubs more often. They would ask to be transfered, usually in search of greener pastures. "Star" players would ask the premier clubs to make a bid for them, football prima donnas became as common as swallows on a bright spring day.

But you can't blame them really. A professional football player's career is usually very short; most players retire when they are in their 30s. So it makes sense for them to maximise their playing and earning potential.

Even as this is true, its refreshing to see a player who genuinely bucks current trends. Not a prima donna, not a money-chaser. A genuine nice bloke who captains and plays for his home-town club that he has supported all his life. With his talents, he could easily be playing for the glamour teams such as Manchester and Arsenal, Real Madrid or AC Milan. Any team in the world would be lucky to have his supreme leadership, charisma and goal-scoring touch. He plays for Newcastle United, a big team in its own right in the North-East of England. His name is Alan Shearer. And he is most definitely, the Last of the Greats.

Alan Shearer in a Newcastle shirt