Gary Lineker makes brutal dig at Alan Shearer over failed stint as Newcastle manager

The Match of the Day host made a lighthearted jab at his longtime partner Alan Shearer regarding the latter’s brief and less than ideal time as Newcastle’s manager in the 2008–09 campaign.

Alan Shearer’s only managerial stint did not go to plan (Image: PA)

Alan Shearer’s disastrous tenure as Newcastle United’s manager has been ridiculed by Gary Lineker.

Shearer’s sole stint in the dugout came at the end of the 2008–09 season, during eight games. It was up to the legendary number nine, who played his best years at St. James’ Park, to keep Newcastle from suffering their first Premier League relegation.

On April 4, 2009, the Magpies lost 2-0 to Chelsea in his managerial debut, and things didn’t get much better after that. After a 1-0 loss to Aston Villa on the final day of the season, Shearer’s team was demoted with just one victory and two draws under his belt. They were one point behind Hull City in 18th place and would have to wait to be promoted.”

Lineker has now made matters worse by teasing Shearer’s managerial problems in a sly way. The lighthearted banter started on The Rest Is Football podcast when former defender Micah Richards was lamenting his bad luck in Fantasy Football to the seasoned pair.

Richards felt irritated with himself for not including Josko Gvardiol in his fantasy team after debating whether to play him. Then, on Saturday, he witnessed the Croatian defender score two goals against Fulham.

According to the Mirror, the former Manchester City player stated: “It’s the fact I put him in, took him out, put him in, took him out at least 15 times and then I decided not to go with him.”

Gary Lineker poked fun at Shearer’s time in charge of Newcastle (Image: The Rest Is Football/Youtube)

“May I suggest that’s probably a good reason for you never going into management?” joked Lineker. Choosing your team and saying, “I’ll put him in, no, I’ll take him out,” is unimaginable. You know, I wonder if managers actually do that. Have you ever given that any thought?

“I mean, Alan, the way your team went, it looked like you were doing something like that,” he jokingly continued, sending Shearer and Richards into a fit of laughter.

Under Pep Guardiola, Gvardiol has emerged as a standout left-back, scoring four goals in his previous five Premier League contests. It has happened at a crucial moment where City needs to win the rest of their games to win the title for the fourth year in a row, but Arsenal is putting them through a tough time.