Alan Smith

About

Alan is a former professional footballer famed for his goalscoring prowess during his time at Arsenal, and also a popular sports television pundit.

Alan Smith started his career at non-league Alvechurch in north Worcestershire,  before signing professional forms with Leicester City in June 1982.

In his first season, Smith scored 13 goals in a partnership with Gary Lineker, as the Foxes won promotion to the First Division. He spent five seasons at Leicester, scoring 84 goals in 217 appearances. He was transferred to Arsenal in 1987.

Smith enjoyed a successful career with the Gunners, winning all three major domestic trophies – two League Championships, the FA Cup, the Football League Cup (in their 1993 ‘Cup Double’) and in Europe the UEFA Cup Winners’ Cup.

Smith was Arsenal’s top scorer for four consecutive seasons, and the top scorer in the First Division in the 1988-89 season with 23 goals.

He was a well disciplined player, receiving just one yellow card throughout his entire career

As well as his goals in the 1989 title clinching game and the European triumph of 1994, he scored a hat-trick against Manchester United in the First Division on 6 May 1991.

Smith is currently a regular co-commentator and sometimes studio pundit for Sky Sports. Recently Smith has appeared more regularly on Sky since the departure of Andy Gray and has taken the role as the main co-commentator for the Premier League games which Sky broadcast.

In 2011 he commentated on the Champions League final alongside Martin Tyler. On June 30, 2011, EA Sports announced that Smith would replace Andy Gray as Martin Tyler’s partner in commentating in FIFA 12.

One of the most respected figures in football, Alan Smith is in demand as an after dinner speaker for his football anecdotes and memories.