Factbox - Alan Shearer

Factbox on Newcastle United striker and former England [Images] captain Alan Shearer who announced his retirement on Saturday:

1988 - Joined Southampton in April. Became youngest player to score a top flight hat-trick in a 4-2 win over Arsenal [Images].

1990 - Scored three goals in 26 league matches for Southampton in 1989-90 season.

1991 - Called up for England under-21s, ultimately scoring 13 goals in 11 appearances.

1992 - Made his senior England debut on February 19, scoring in a 2-0 victory over France [Images] at Wembley. Joined Blackburn Rovers on July 24 for a then-British transfer record of 3.6 million pounds ($6.41 million). He scored twice on his debut in a 3-3 draw with Crystal Palace. Hit 22 goals that season.

1994 - Voted English Footballer of the Year after notching 34 goals in 1993-94 season.

1995 - Steered Blackburn to their first championship in 81 years with 34 Premier League goals. Voted Professional Footballers' Association Player of the Year.

1996 - Top scorer in Euro 96 with five goals. Moved to Newcastle United for a then-world record fee of 15 million pounds. He scored 112 league goals in 132 games at Blackburn.

1997 - Suffered a serious knee injury in pre-season tournament and was out for five months.

1998 - Returned to league action in January. Took Newcastle to FA Cup final where they lost 2-0 to Arsenal. Undercover newspaper reporters record Newcastle directors Freddy Shepherd and Douglas Hall describing Shearer as a "Mary Poppins" figure for his cleaner than clean image.

1999 - Newcastle lose FA Cup final 2-0 to Manchester United [Images]. Dropped by manager Ruud Gullit who left him on bench for game against local rivals Sunderland. Returned to form after Bobby Robson took over, equalling Premier League record with five goals in 8-0 thrashing of Sheffield Wednesday in September.

2000 - Announced international retirement after Euro 2000, finishing England career with 63 caps and 30 goals.

2001 - May: Underwent second operation on persistent knee injury which disrupted his season, playing only 23 times.

2002 - April: Became first player to score 200 Premier League goals in win over Charlton Athletic. Scored twice against Blackburn to seal a Champions League qualification place.

2003 - February: Scored Champions League hat-trick against Bayer Leverkusen.

2006 - February: Stepped in to assist caretaker manager Glenn Roeder after Graeme Souness was sacked.

Eclipsed 1950s striker Jackie Milburn's mark of 200 goals in win over Portsmouth, setting Newcastle scoring record.

April: Scored his 206th Newcastle goal in a 4-1 win over Sunderland before injuring knee in same match.

April 21: Announces retirement after scan reveals a tear in the medial ligament in his left knee that rules him out for the rest of the season.

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