One of the deadliest centre forwards England has produced was born on this day, 46 years ago.

Shearer fired Blackburn Rovers to a first – and only – Premier Leagu crown, broke the world transfer fee record, struck fear into defenders across the world while wearing the Three Lions and became the Premier League’s all-time leading scorer with 260 goals.

His career exploded when he moved to Blackburn from Southampton in 1992, scoring 34 times in 42 games as his new club lifted the title in 1994/95.

He would go on to win the Golden Boot on home soil with England at Euro 1996, before making a historic £15 million (Dh71.4m) switch to boyhood club Newcastle United.

A further 206 goals in 405 games would follow before retirement in 2006. Not even relegating the team as boss in 2009 could sour the memories.

Other sports stars born on this day

1975: Shoaib Akhtar, controversial ex-Pakistan pace bowler nicknamed the ‘Rawalpindi Express’ (41).

1976: Nicolas Lapentti, retired tennis player from Ecuador who made the Australian Open semi-finals in 1999 (40).

1992: Lucas Moura, Paris Saint-Germain and Brazil winger renowned for his pace (24).

1993: Johnny Gaudreau, American ice hockey winger who was a 2015 NHL All-Star in his first full season (23).