Turning 35 today, Alan Smith enjoyed a stellar career at the top of English football.

As an 18-year-old, Smith burst on the scene at Leeds United, scoring against Liverpool on his debut and capturing the imagination of fans at Elland Road and of the national team.

He went on to be a key player in the Leeds side that tasted Champions League football before being relegated from the Premier League in 2004, when Smith moved to rivals Manchester United.

There he won a Premier League title and League Cup trophy under Sir Alex Ferguson before moving to Newcastle United.

Smith played 19 times for England and now plays for Notts County.

1950: John Bevan – played union for Cardiff, Wales and the British and Irish Lions and then league for Wales and Great Britain.

1953: Mark James – five-time Ryder Cup European team member and former captain.

1962: Erik Thorstvedt – former Tottenham and Norway goalkeeper.

1963: Rob Bailey – former Northamptonshire and England batsman, now a first-class umpire.

1968: Marc Lievremont – former France coach and flanker.

1974: Dejan Stefanovic – former Portsmouth and Norwich defender.

1976: Keiron Cunningham – former St Helens, Wales and Great Britain hooker and current Saints coach.

1981: Milan Baros – former Liverpool and Czech Republic striker, now playing for Slovan Liberec.

1984: Obafemi Martins – former Newcastle and Birmingham striker now playing for Chinese Super League Shanghai Greenland Shenhua.