Newcastle United’s all-time leading goalscorer has revealed he would join Sunderland if given the chance
If Alan Shearer could go back and relive his playing career, he would sign with Sunderland, but only if he could get the Black Cats demoted. In 11 games versus Sunderland, the legendary striker for Newcastle United scored six goals in black and white stripes.
His last football kick came in April 2006 at the Stadium of Light, against a Mackem team that had already been demoted. He scored the third goal in a 4-1 thumping. Shearer had one of his best Tyne-Wear derby moments that day, but he also had some of his lowest points as a player when Newcastle played Sunderland.
In August 1999, Ruud Gullit’s managerial stint at St. James’ Park came to a crashing end after Shearer was left on the bench for a 2-1 home defeat. His bad luck continued a year later, when, despite winning 1-0 at halftime, the Magpies crumbled to defeat for the second year in a row.
Shearer saw a penalty saved by Thomas Sorensen late on, a blow the striker previously admitted still “haunts” him to this day. Battles between Tyneside and Wearside were arguably the fiercest in the country but have not been contested for almost eight years.
Sunderland’s fall from grace into the lower leagues has paused the hostilities, but, as far as Shearer is concerned, the rivalry is still alive. The Toon legend was asked which English club, aside from Newcastle, he would play for if given the chance again.
“Sunderland for me, because I would have gotten them ******* relegated again!” Shearer told The Rest Is Football podcast, which was met with laughter from co-hosts Gary Lineker and Micah Richards.
Lineker then revealed he rejected the chance to join Manchester United, promoting a sarcastic response from Shearer. He replied: “You turned Sir Alex down? You ******* idiot. What idiot does that?”
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