Alan Shearer reveals toughest opponent wasn’t Roy Keane but star who left him with ‘seven stitches and broken nose’
PREM legend Alan Shearer has revealed his toughest-ever opponent – and it’s not Roy Keane.
The former Newcastle and England striker tormented defences for almost two decades before hanging up his boots in 2006.
Shearer enjoyed an ongoing battle with Man Utd legend Keane during his playing days.
The pair’s on-field rivalry reached a crescendo in 2001 when Keane infamously saw red after a dust-up with the Toon striker.
Shearer joined fellow Match of the Day colleagues Gary Lineker and Micah Richards on The Rest Is Football podcast to discuss his “toughest physical battle.”
But the 54-year-old overlooked Keane in favour of Arsenal enforcer Tony Adams.
Shearer recalled a brutal clash against the Gunners in the late 1990s where Adams busted his nose.
He explained: “I remember walking off Highbury once and had seven stitches in my lip, right up the middle and a broken nose.
“That was a decent battle, yeah.”
He added to laughs from Lineker and Richards: “My nose is pretty straight now. Three times I had it broken.”
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Adams was known for his no-nonsense style and was a defensive colossus for both Arsenal and England.
He played alongside Shearer 36 times for the Three Lions – but had the measure of the Toon goal machine at club level.
Shearer never netted at Highbury in 12 visits to Arsenal’s famous old ground.
And in 21 meetings with Adams marking him, Shearer scored on just four occasions.
Despite his struggles against Adams, Shearer remains the Premier League‘s most prolific ever striker.
He retired 18 years ago but still holds the league record for most goals with 260.