Shearer says he was offered Cardiff job before settling into punditry

Alan Shearer has said he was offered the Cardiff managerial job after his brief spell in charge of Newcastle United, but did not return to management. Speaking to Kelly Somers for the BBC's The Football Interview, the former England striker described how his post-playing career ultimately developed in broadcasting instead of the dugout.

Watch the highlights: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XHnqZtKCnOo

Shearer took interim charge of Newcastle for the final eight matches of the 2009 season, an assignment that ended in relegation. He told the BBC that the club's predicament made the approach impossible for him to refuse. Despite that outcome, he initially expected to manage again and said he still wanted another opportunity after his time at Newcastle ended.

That ambition led to a couple of interviews and an offer from Cardiff, according to Shearer. He said circumstances then changed and he reconsidered the direction he was taking. The BBC report did not specify when the Cardiff offer was made or explain what changed. Shearer has not returned to a managerial role since his Newcastle spell.

Instead, his working life now includes Match of the Day, co-commentary on England matches and The Rest Is Football podcast alongside Gary Lineker and Micah Richards. He described the demands of travelling from Newcastle to Salford for Match of the Day, saying the commitment can amount to a 19- or 20-hour day, with live broadcasting coming late in the evening.

The interview also covered the scoring record that keeps Shearer closely connected to the Premier League. His total stands at 260 goals across 14 years in the competition. The BBC reported that Manchester City's Erling Haaland has reached 120, while Harry Kane's tally remained at 213 after his move from Tottenham to Bayern Munich in 2023. Shearer acknowledged that his record would probably eventually fall.

His attachment to Newcastle remains central to his life away from broadcasting. Shearer scored 206 goals in 405 appearances across all competitions during 10 years at the club. He told the BBC he now enjoys joining friends before matches and walking to St James' Park as a supporter, wearing a cap and keeping his head down to avoid being stopped repeatedly.