The former England striker opted to join his boyhood club instead of Manchester United in 1996 and has no regrets about letting his heart rule his head with the move – even though he missed out on the chance to add to his medal collection.

Speaking to TNT Sports, Shearer said: "Obviously, I'd supported Newcastle. I'd stood on the Gallowgate end as a kid, my dad's hero was Jackie Milburn. I'd watched him for years, my hero was Kevin Keegan. I'd watched him in the 80s when he signed as a player.

"I just, I couldn't turn down the opportunity, you know. I wanted to have great years, my best years as a player playing for Newcastle rather than coming back when I was in my mid-30s or whatever it may be, and being on my last legs.

"I wanted to play for them while I still had something to offer, and it was just everything that I wanted and hoped for.

"To play at my club and score goals at the Gallowgate End where I stood as a kid, I mean, it was a dream come true, it's every boy's dream.

"If I had this decision to make again, I would make exactly the same decision."

Shearer didn't win a trophy in 10 years with Newcastle but never once regretted the choice to join the Magpies instead of Sir Alex Ferguson's successful Manchester United side as he became his local club's all-time top goal scorer.

He said: "I know that I've missed out on a lot of trophies with Man Utd. I'd have won so many more trophies.

"I know that. But I wouldn't have... I'm not sure I would have had that feeling that I get playing for Newcastle for 10 years.

"I was lucky enough to break my dad's hero's record, Jackie Milburn's. To have 10 years, to have a testimonial, to have a statue, to have the goal scoring record.

"And to live my dream, I lived my dream."