Smith: Alan

1998-2004 (Player Details)

Centre Forward

Born: Rothwell: 28-10-1980

Debut v Liverpool (a) (Substitute): 14-11-1998

5’10” 11st 11lb (2003)

#38 in 100 Greatest LUFC Players Ever

Alan Smith progressed through the Leeds junior ranks and signed professional on 26th March 1998. He made a dream debut soon after his nineteenth birthday scoring at Anfield with virtually his first kick, after coming on as substitute. That goal helped propel him into the young Leeds team that emerged as a major threat in the 1998-99 season, as he was one-half of the first-choice striker pairing, along with Jimmy-Floyd Hasselbaink. Smith had continued his rise as the Leeds side grew in stature in Europe and in the EPL. He showed his class in 2001, scoring several fine goals in tandem with Mark Viduka, while helping to lead the Leeds side through the much vaunted ECL. However, his experience ended on a sour note as he was sent off in the Semi-Final and his temperament was called into question. The following season saw Smith switched to the midfield, his versatility being utilised by O'Leary, as the Leeds Manager tried to accommodate new signings. Smith broke into the England squad in 2001 after previously playing for England at Youth and Under-Twenty-one levels. He made his senior England debut in May 2001, but did not make the final squad for the 2002 World Cup, and accepted a position with the England Under-Twenty-one side. He won the supporters “Player of the Year” award in 2003 and 2004 and was generally popular with the fans for his willingness to play any position and tireless effort, often in midfield rather than his preferred striker’s role and his goal tally suffered accordingly. As the Leeds financial problems deepened players left to “feather their own nests” or to ease the United financial strain. Smith pledged himself to the club. However with relegation in 2004, Smith ended his Leeds career by kissing the badge and crying at his last match. His transfer to bitter rivals Manchester United for £6 million, however, led to controversy and his exit was marred by accusations of treachery, going from hero to villain in the eyes of some Leeds fans in the space of a day. This was despite the fact that club had publicly stated that they could not afford to pay his wages, that they were open to offers for him, and that no other club had registered an interest. Smith chose to waive his personal transfer fee owed to him by the club. However, some Leeds fans held up banners in the following games, which proclaimed Alan Smith as "Judas", to reflect how they felt he had betrayed them. Smith started the second chapter of his career on 8th August 2004 in the Charity Shield clash with Arsenal, scoring with a swerving volley in the fifty-fifth minute. Manchester United went on to lose the game 3-1. Early on in his spell at Manchester United, he developed a reputation for both long-ranged strikes, such as his strikes against Arsenal, and more intelligent, "poacher"-type goals, akin to those crafted by Ruud Van Nistelrooy. An injury hampered his first season, causing him to miss out on several matches including the Carling Cup Semi-Final against Chelsea. He missed out in the FA Cup Final against Arsenal at the Millenium Stadium as Manchester United lost out to penalties in the game. At the end of the season rumours were rife about Smith's future, despite Smith saying he wanted to continue at Manchester for his entire career. He had scored ten goals in his first season at Old Trafford. However, with Wayne Rooney in sparkling form and Ruud van Nistelrooy back in the team after injury, Smith was relegated to the bench. In the summer of 2005 it emerged that Manchester United manager, Sir Alex Ferguson, was grooming Smith as a successor to Roy Keane in the Manchester United midfield. Smith got his chance to prove his credentials as a replacement for Keane when the Manchester skipper was injured early on in the 2005-06 season. Smith began a prolonged run in the midfield 'anchor' role, with little effectiveness and it was questioned whether Smith was cut out for the vital midfield role he was being asked to play. These criticisms aimed at Smith and his team-mates reached its nadir with Manchester's embarrassing 4-1 capitulation away to Middlesbrough. It seemed that Smith's performance in the crucial home match against League leaders Chelsea would be meticulously scrutinised as Keane's had questioned the endeavour of several players. Smith responded in determined fashion, giving a much better performance as his side won 1-0. Smith cemented his place in the hearts of Manchester United fans when he turned down the honourable chance of playing for his country, in order to work on his fitness in his new midfield role, in the reserve team. On 18th February 2006, during a 1-0 defeat by Liverpool at Anfield in the FA Cup, Smith broke his leg and dislocated his ankle while attempting to block a free-kick from Liverpool's John Arne Riise, an injury described by Sir Alex Ferguson as "one of the worst I've seen". Despite the rivalry between the two clubs, he was given an ovation by many of the Liverpool fans as he was stretchered off the pitch. On the next day it was confirmed that Smith would miss action for at least twelve months. Although in May, after a successful operation on his ankle, it was reported that he would likely be back in action as soon as mid-September; he had been recovering alongside Wayne Rooney for several weeks, who was also reported to be making a "miraculous" recovery on a broken foot. There was however, a small consolation for Smith and his club when Manchester beat Wigan Athletic 4-0 in the League Cup Final of the same season. After the match Manchester players paid tribute to Smith by wearing T-shirts emblazoned with "For you Smudge" (his nickname), in homage to Smith and his horrific injury. In the build up to the 2006-07 season Sir Alex Ferguson was quoted saying that he planned to replace the departing Ruud Van Nistelrooy by returning Smith to his natural position on centre-forward. On 26th September 2006 Smith made a return to action as a substitute in the eighty-fifth minute of the 1-0 Champions League victory over Benfica in Lisbon, immediately showing the passion he still had for the game by making a couple of crunching tackles in the five minute cameo appearance. On10th November 2006, Leeds United boss Dennis Wise revealed he was interested in bringing Smith back to Elland Road on loan Ferguson himself voiced his desire to have Smith back at top fitness, stating that he was undergoing special training in order to aid and speed his recovery, and Smith said he wanted to stay and fight for his place. Smith made his comeback for Manchester in an ECL First knockout Round win against Lille. He made his first start at Old Trafford since his injury on 19th March 2007 in an FA Cup Quarter-Final replay win against Middlesbrough. He also made a substitute appearance in the EPL game against Bolton Wanderers and set up the fourth goal in Manchester's 4-1 win. After that he played in Manchester's 7-1 demolition of AS Roma in which he played a vital part, scoring a goal which was his first for eighteen months. Despite falling one game short of the ten appearances needed to qualify for a Premiership winners’ medal, the EPL granted special dispensation for Smith to receive a medal on the last day of the season. This medal was followed a week later with an FA Cup runners-up medal after the 1-0 defeat to Chelsea in the first FA Cup Final at the new Wembley. After a prolonged absence from the international scene Smith was called up for an England "B" match on 26 May against Albania. He scored the first goal of the game which ended in a 3-1 win for England B. The next day he was named in the senior England team to face Brazil on 1st June 2007. On 2nd August 2007, Newcastle United confirmed they had agreed a fee with Manchester United of around £6m for Smith. The deal was confirmed the following day, with Smith moving on a five-year contract. While with Manchester United Smith had scored seven goals in forty-three starts and eighteen games from the bench in the League and twelve goals in ninety for games, of which thity-two were fronm the bench in all competitions. He scored the winning goal on his debut appearance for the Magpies, in a 1-0 victory in a friendly against Sampdoria. He played mainly as a striker-cum-midfielder for Newcastle as Obafemi Martins, Michael Owen and Smith's old strike partner at Leeds, Mark Viduka, made it difficult for Smith to get regular playing time in his favoured position. On 27th December 2007, Smith was named as Newcastle's temporary captain but the captain’s role was soon handed to Owen. However, the striker struggled to establish himself at Newcastle in his first season, failing to score a league goal.He also had the most fouls in the Premier League season, which revived thoughts of Smith’s indiscipline. Smith had disciplinary problems throughout his career, and committed numerous fouls. In total he was sent off seven times in the EPL. Newcastle sought to offload him at the end of the 2007-08 season but there were no takers due to his high wage. A foot injury side-lined him for much of the season but he was a long way down the pecking order, as illustrated in the game which doomed Newcastle to relegation against Aston Villa when Smith was an unused substitute in the match, with Manager Alan Shearer preferring the options of Mark Viduka and Obafemi Martins to start the game, and introducing Michael Owen and Shola Ameobi in the second half. He suffered relegation from the EPL for the second time in his career and only made four League starts and two more as a substitute. He was appointed the captain of Newcastle United for the 2009–10 season in the CCCL. During a pre season friendly against his former club Leeds United Smith was heavily booed by the Leeds supporters who once idolized him, this was the first time he had played against his former club since moving from Elland Road. He was vice-captain to Nicky Butt in the 2009-10 season, but was usually played in preference to Butt and therefore was Captain in most games. He picked up a CCCL Championship medal as Newcastle returned to the EPL at the first attempt. His record at Newcastle to the end of the 2009-10 season was seventy-one appearances in the League of which ten were as a substitute, four starts in the F.A. Cup, two starts and one game from the bench in the League Cup. He has yet to score a goal. He represented England ten times at Under-Twenty-one level and scored three goals, scored once in his only England ‘B’ game and score once in nineteen appearances for the full international team.