Men in Blazers LIVE! from Tampa Bay presented by Verizon, featuring Alan Shearer, Theo Walcott, Martin Gramatica, Alex Anzalone

30:40And Arsene Wenger at the time was like, the team are meant to be at half ten and we're still in the dressing room because Mikel's talking to us as a player. But even when he, and that's when he first come to the club, he's only up there for a few months. And Arsene Wenger was just like, you know, where is everyone? Why are they not training? You know, that's my French accent, by the way, which is awful. But we just knew after that moment he was going to be a manager. and he's got a presence, he's got this aura about him, he's learnt by the best and he just gets you thinking differently and as well sometimes he takes away from the performance with certain things that he says to get you thinking, like kind of forgotten about that performance because of what Mikel said.

31:21So look, I think he's exceptional. I feel like it's been hard now. It's been really tricky, you can see that now. But I believe and I think that's what we need to do. We can't control, but what we can do is help and guide them and obviously to get that trophy, which is we're dying for, all of us right now. This weekend, I don't know if you know, Sunday, I don't like to be hyperbolic, but there's an epic clash of civilisations. Manchester City, host your first place Arsenal Football Club. I tell you, even bigger than the Lex feud. There's never been a game played in a greater shadow cast by a large Manchester City fan drinking from a bottle of Arsenal fans' tears.

32:05I mean, by the way, that looms large, doesn't it? Like, that kind of defines where we are right now. It does. I mean, we're all about winding up the opposition, aren't we? And if you want to be wound up and to perform, that would do it for Arsenal, I'm telling you. He's done it for me anyway. Goodness me. Look at him. This is goodness me. This is just incredible performance art. It really is. It's almost like if Rembrandt was alive today, he'd paint this. and also at the same time I'm like that's a growing man yeah that's what football does to you it's really incredible um but we all know the stakes Arsenal six points ahead of City they have a game in hand each team holds their destiny in their own hands Theo I have not met a single Arsenal fan I said to you backstage who believe Arsenal are going to win this game.

32:58It feels borderline, and this is why I want you here, it feels borderline, I mean, apocalyptic. So tell us here, what will happen Sunday? What will happen Sunday? Look, I want to sit here right now and say it's going to be an absolutely electric game. It's going to be 4-3 Arsenal, but to be honest, it will probably be a really cagey game, particularly the first half. And I always feel like Man City have to win. They have to win. So, which actually kind of plays into Arsenal's hands. And it'll be nice and refreshing Arsenal to go into a game not being a favourite for a change. I think that's a nice place to be.

33:38Kind of takes that pressure away from them. I think that's going to help because Man City need to score which then is going to open up and that's where those players that can now access that freedom. Lea Max Dalmans. They're the guys that will be able to play with that freedom, that energy which we slightly missed. because Man City are going to have to go for it. They have to, like, simple as that. So, but you have to be patient as well. But I just feel Arsenal need to play differently, though. They can't play like they play like all season, and they've been great. It's been a bit of a stumble and block at this moment in time, but they need to be different, even different to the start of the season when they were blitzing teams.

34:12So I just need to surprise them. So it's going to be great, though. I think it's going to be great. And actually, as well, what will be great is knowing that Tottenham will lose the day before. so it's just another nice thing right but you know i mean for those of you watching at home there's one tottenham fan who's dying here i i have i have never rooted for anyone to get a world cup ticket from verizon more than this poor bastard just saying um i want to be optimistic but when you said we need somebody to step up and you said max down when there was a whisper coming from the audience just saying Eberichieze and godspeed to that incredible human being and I do want to end on a high note with you I hate for Arsenal I mean the tenacity the almost Sisyphusian quality of trying to get up the hill trying to drive yourself there constantly have that rock roll down have the whole of England laugh at you you know almost becoming an object of scorn and mockery in an obsessive quest to win the first Premier League trophy since 2004 maybe a Champions league and maybe they treble if Tottenham also get relegated but what does this team need leave us on this note to get over the hump win the premier league what makes you feel most optimistic put it out there well for me the player Declan Rice kind of he typifies the way you should play football the passion the hunger the desire and the levels because he's played when he's not fit he's played when he's unwell and the commitment level is just exceptional and how he is off the field as well i've been in this space on numerous occasions and he's a great man i have a lot of time for him but now i want to see the nasty side of you a little bit i want to see that in all the all the players i think that's what they're going to need i think that's the different side of the arsenal and they've got it in them and that's the thing i think michael just needs to unlock that this weekend particularly and just to surprise them it's just to be a little bit more nasty because look I wasn't nasty I was kind of nice and polite and yeah kind of most of the time got past the defenders don't play this man at Monopoly by the way yeah I've got a good yeah I'm not bad about that yeah but no I just feel that's the difference they're going to have to do for me and the belief but it sets it's all about good habits going into the game and I'm pretty sure they've been on it all week so it's going to be a great day I said that was the last question but I do need to know because I see you as an Everton legend Theo Wolcott look at that oh wow that game i remember that game well i remember that game yeah i could do i could do an hour and a half with you on everton and i want to rein it in merseyside derby this weekend first ever one our new crib the hill dickinson can i get a score prediction oh do you know what i feel new stadium hill dickinson you want to start and be the that team those players that beat liverpool and it's been hard it's been really hard it's going to be a different environment to play because Goodison was great.

37:16It's never going to be the same, but let's create something new. And I feel like they can. And not just that, they could finish above Liverpool. And I believe that. I generally feel like the team did. Ooh, yeah, all right. No, but you have to believe that as an Everton, as a fan as well. But look, it's one of those. Liverpool in a tricky moment. However, a lot's happened, you know, in recent, you know, sad times and everything that's happened for Liverpool Football Club. but these games you kind of you get a different side, it doesn't matter about form going into this, it's all about our desire and that work rate and it'll be tough but why not, I fancy Everton It is there and Theo Walcott, I've got to say I'm not quite comfortable with all this Everton optimism, I've got to be candid, I do want to thank you, you were a joy to watch on the field really a player that played with heart and joy and wonder and an effervescence that connection with the fans always seem to propel you in the most wonderful way.

38:15It's been utterly evident to watch that tonight here in Tampa Bay. Let's hear it. Rock all human beings. It's a great Theo. Walk up.

38:30Let's move on to this city, your city, a city that's known as one of franchise win after franchise win. And it thrills me to no end to bring up two guests who represent the past and the future of your Tampa Bay Buccaneers football team. The former, a man who many of you will remember as the emotional sport club of an iconic Buccaneers team, player of a heart of gold, nerves of steel and a right leg of titanium alloy. The latter, newly arrived defensive heartbeat, has come to play bass player in the metal band that is the Buccaneers D-line. Man serves up tackles like a Cubano from La Segunda all while looking like an extra in point break Tampa Bay, please rise for the one and only Martín Automatico Gramatica and Alex Anzalone

39:39Alex, you smell so good, I've got to tell you. I once interviewed Virgil van Dijk. I said this on the show. I smelled so good for about four days, which was genuinely amazing. You signed for the Bucks in March. But you've got strong ties to this state. You attended the University of Florida. Your wife, Lindsay. Pineas County. You met at UF where she won two SEC titles. Am I right? two SEC titles. Yep. Tampa Bay's been your true home since your rookie season. You had better offers, but you decided to sign here. I loved what you said. You said, Tampa means something. It means something to play in this city.

40:24My kids, teachers, my good friends, my family will watch me play. Can you talk about that? How playing in front of your community hits differently? No doubt. Yeah, you did your research. You definitely did. No, yeah, this is home for us. It's been home. My wife was born and raised here. It's been home for me since 20, after my rookie year, honestly, so 2017. And yeah, it just means more playing here. And it's not just, you know, you go through free agency, you go through, you know, I could sign here, I could sign there. But then you kind of, it's like going to a random team almost. You're going to a random city, you don't know anyone.

41:03but here it's like my best friends are season ticket holders the my kids teachers are season ticket holders it just it just means more to you know be a part of it and um playing a city that you know you're doing what you love to do amen and it is incredible to have you back here i've got to tell you looking at you it's like this man is like the embodiment of what i thought america look like when I was about 12. In England, I was like, what is your neck size? Oh, man. I don't even think it's my leg. Do you know what your shirt size is? I mean, yeah, it's probably like a 17. It's honestly not too big.

41:46Is it really not? Yeah, they're bigger. That's a tight, bloody shirt on that man. He likes it tight. I love America. But Martin, your journey to Tampa Bay was really, really beautiful. I mean, it's full of wonder. Your story begins in that far-off land of Mate and París, Buenos Aires, Argentina. A young Martin, head over heels, football mad. It was our football, though. What kind of football player was a young Martin Gramatica? Well, we were just talking about it earlier. I was just like, almost like Messi, but not that good. so all my shots on goal were going over so they're like let's just shift over to american football so that's kind of the footballer i was now i i played midfield forward i like to shoot i always had a strong leg but then when they saw the ball going over the upright they're like let's go get kick some footballs yeah they always used to say in england about messi could he do it on a on a rainy night in stoke could messi kick a 43 yard field goal when there are three seconds left on the clock against you know i would i would put all my money on miss he doesn't do anything wrong does he do anything wrong i've never seen him make a mistake by the way messi would be the single greatest field goal kicker there ever was and he'd do it all while wearing a pair of jorts and it would be magnificent um by the way harry kane harry kane's dream this guy man who scored 50 goals this season.

43:20His dream is to be a kicker in the NFL. He better do it before he turns 40, though. He better hurry. He wants to be the Martin Gramatica of England. But at age nine, your parents pulled up roots. You swapped Argentina for La Belle, Florida. Iconic swamp cabbage festival home. You spoke little to no English, a bit like me now. and gridiron football arrived in your life i think senior year of high school you were my senior high school yes it is crazy you discovered you true i mean it's amazing it's like manu bowl like discovered he had incredible skills this man also you got a scholarship to kansas state um you had the physical skills to be a kicker but mentally how did you come to understand the position like this because I think in sport there's goalkeeper and field goal kicker like it's one and the same no one understands either of them you get very little coaching all you can do is get it wrong every single time you take the field how did you master the mental well obviously I didn't have the physical size to be a linebacker so I had to kick it's just me and right you guys i had to be a kicker uh but yeah no you explained it perfect i for any soccer fan the kicker is like the goalkeeper you know because you can make five kicks and then you miss the last one they're like oh you cost us the game keeper can make you know 10 great saves he lets an easy one in they're gonna blame him but i do feel like the kicker has just a little bit more pressure because most people don't know there's only one kicker per team so you're either employed or unemployed.

44:59So they don't put you on the bench to get confidence. They're not going to stay. No doubt. You had a bad game, sit on the bench, get some confidence, and then we'll put you back in. No, they'll fire you and bring somebody else in, and then you got to look for a job. So there's a lot of pressure when it comes to that. And in your day, you know, Theo Walcott just sat here and talked about how we didn't understand the mental side of the game in his day. Was there the mental side of the game in your day? Back in the day, if you asked for help or you went to a four psychologists, it was a sign of weakness.

45:27So you kind of had to teach it to yourself. You know, you had to be mentally strong on your own. And I think we were raised different back then where we had to, you know, just deal with it ourselves, figure it out. And I had great coaching though. I had a coach that made my life miserable from Monday to Saturday. So then Sundays were easy and he was my biggest fan. And Joe Marciano, crazy Italian guy that would just, special teams go you know how special teams go just all right and and but it made sundays easy and then he was there to help me on sunday but yeah you you do uh had to do it on your own back then i was just at the masters and we did a live show on thursday night with a golfer who won in in the 90s won the one twice once in the 80s once in the 90s um and i said to him do you have a you know a psychologist he goes the guys now they have swing coaches hitting coaches masseuses the I said, did you?

46:22He goes, yeah, I had a therapist. I was like, okay. He goes, do you want to know the therapist's name? I was like, sure. He goes, it was Mr. Jim Beam. That sounds about right. God bless America.

46:38Alex, in contrast, I mean, you were in football pads pretty much as you could hold your head up. I mean, you were very early to the game. I think your first words as a baby were weak side blitz. By the time you were recruited for college, you had D1 offers at three different positions, which is amazing. Linebacker, running back, kicker. No kicker. I do want to know, how do you think your position that you choose shapes your personality and vice versa? Yeah, it's huge. It's like completely different mentality. is playing defensive football and offensive football is like almost polar opposites in some ways because defensive football, it's a lot about mentality and, you know, doing the dirty work, doing, you know, being gritty, you know, trying to be violent and all these different things.

47:33Offensive football, it's all about precision, timing, being where you're supposed to be at the exact moment, the quarterback or whoever's expecting you to. So yeah, it's like some things overlap but at the same time it's a lot of different mentality so when you pick a different position or what path you want to go get go down um you know it could change a lot of things i once interviewed uh the first time he came on the show the the arsenal legendary coach arson wenger and he told me he said if you love to win you play striker essentially you play on offense right he said if you hate to lose you become a defender no doubt essentially is that no doubt that's that true for you that's spot on that's like probably perfect it's perfect wins are wins for you but when you lose how long does it take you to get over it uh yeah it depends on the loss i would say that bigger games hurt worse but um you know if it's a loss in season 24 hour rule you got to get over in 24 hours and move on god bless that's in i mean genuinely depends if it was the kicker's fault or not I guess yeah also yeah defense if I did my job defense balled out but the kicker missed the game when he kicked it was his fault they were hiding under the table I've got to say as a kicker your career was legendary you twice broke the Buccaneers single season scoring record for a kicker you posted 126 points in 2000 128 in 2002 but all the while and I love this your love for the game we love football soccer was undying and back when you loved it football was not the juggernaut in america that it is now but i'm you got a reputation for sneaking out of your room after curfew to catch boca juniors games and back in 2002 this is incredible did this really happen you organized a charity match with the legend carlos valderrama and a handful of Boca Juniors players some of your NFL teammates came in tell us that story well that's excellent research I don't think besides my family nobody knows that I snuck out so I don't know how you got that but I don't know who's telling you maybe it was the police officer that pulled me over on my way home so this is when Boca Junior was playing Real Madrid 2000 the game was in Japan So the game was at four in the morning or five in the morning.

49:59So I got up early. I went to the security guard because we have a security guard on the floor. And I said, I forgot my cleats. I need my shoes for the game. So he's like, what do you mean? You can't go get them later? I go, no, I can't sleep unless I have my shoes. So then I just went home. And the security guard was like, come on. I know Booker Jr. is the place. He had no clue. But you know, the shoes are our tool. And I carried my shoes with me. I never let the equipment guys take my shoes. They came with me everywhere. I took them everywhere. They were like my babies, right? before I had kids.

50:28And so I said, I don't have him. I got to go get him. So he let me go. I watched the game. Luckily, we won two to one. You know, Palermo's two goals. Raquel Met tore up Real Madrid and took a nap. And then I went to the game. And then we ended up winning the game. So it was, I mean, perfect. But I didn't know anybody knew about that. But I did run a red light trying to get home. And I got pulled over. and then 20 years later this guy's coaching soccer with me he's like do you remember 2000 a cop pulled you over i go yeah i was going to watch soccer yeah that was me that's what he said wow 20 years later we were coaching together but yeah so i hope the bugs aren't listening to this because i was i was speak out and i did it in 2003 when we beat ac milan god how do we know about it because it's one of the greatest episode of cops ever No, I kept my hands on the wheel.

51:25I didn't run. I'm not going there. I do need to know, quickly, culturally, back then, how would you describe the awareness of football in NFL locker rooms back then, early 2000s? Zero. Because nobody really watched. The Premier League, and watching it now every day, every week, has opened up our eyes to quality soccer. Yeah, it has. because before there was a Colombian offensive lineman and that's the only guy I could really talk soccer with. See, Jorge Diaz, he was the only guy we would chat. Other than that, some guys towards the end, maybe a little bit more, but early on, not much, not much.

52:03We're going to pick that narrative up in just one moment, but I do need to say the record will show that this man is the only Argentinian-born player ever to win the Super Bowl.

52:17can I just say Lionel Messi could never he probably could quick trivia do you know the first Argentina-born player to win the Premier League oh you're killing me now Carlos Tevez oh you're close it will be I'll give you a clue La Brujita La Brujita Verón I'm good friends with him there you go sorry sorry you were friends with him I hope he's not watching he told me he wanted to meet me i'm like you're crazy i want to meet you i mean like you i'm a fan of you there well this man won the united 2003 an incredible footballer you he wanted to meet you he said that but i i wanted to meet him so a good friend of mine works in the media department for estudiantes when they came here for a pre-season he's like yeah he wants to meet you i i think my friend wanted me to bring him a jersey for him not for he wanted to be harry Kane before there was Harry Kane.

53:11But Martin, I need to know, can you give us your Mount Rushmore top four Argentinian players to ever grace the Premier League? Ever grace. Okay, so I'm going to start with Carlos Tevez. Oh, no Tevez fans here? Come on now. Come on now. Very difficult. That's all he says in English. Remember that? And then I would say Sergio Aguero. Incredible. La Bruja Verón. I got to put it on in there. Are you really meaning that or are you just trying to make it up with your friend? No, no, no. I knew he played for them. We're number four. Yeah. Okay, that's unusual for the position that he was playing. And number four.

53:51Play with the number four. Yeah. I need a four. He usually wears number 11. I love you. Come on. My number four? I'm trying to dodge that because I was trying to think. I'm going to go. I have two. Can I give you two? sorry three and a half is okay Macherano yeah yeah and then Dibu Martinez Dibu Dibu we have a World Cup because of his foot his leg he saved us in this World Cup so I gotta go with Dibu Emi Martinez God love the king of shithousing you missed out Romero Funes Mori Dennis Stracolarisi and of course the legend the whole of Argentina those were River Plate guys Charlie Alcaraz

54:34I've just named every Argentinian that ever has played for Everton Football Club I want to get back to you Alex Martin was an outlier in his day today soccer and football have almost become like sporting siblings NFL locker rooms are packed with players who almost treat the two sports as cross training JJ Watt is a great friend of our show love the sport so much he brought part of premier league for the next couple of games Burnley football club you know Sean McVay comes on talks about his love of the game Jim Harbaugh live for the game you know we have so many NFL owners who are brought into the premier league as well including you know your Tampa Bay Buccaneers owners but for you you've had to learn your way around the soccer ball yeah i know you're an elite coach of your kids soccer games tell us what you've seen in locker rooms that you've been part of how has soccer permeated the nfl yeah it's it's completely different than what you were talking about um you know it's almost like a common place for you know talk about what's going on in the premier league or you know just like the world cup coming up things of that nature and um you know guys are have jerseys guys have you know constantly talking about it and um you know it's completely different and as even as i'm going into year 10 in the nfl and it's just changed even over those 10 years now this man is coach of the my son's u6 soccer team by the way by the way we know what this means right the u6 soccer scene in tampa bay the next level is to be the coach of the US Men's National Team.

56:21I want this man to be our World Cup coach in the next cycle. Two last ones for you, Martin, I'm keen for your opinion. We're talking about the US soccer team for your countryman, Mauricio Pochettino.

56:41The man is going to lead our US gents out of the world cup this summer um he once came on our show told us winning teams have to have the right amount of skill right amount of arrogance he's trying to bring a new level of grinter of fight to our u.s boys you know with it's the best of times the worst of times world cup is coming we've just lost our eighth straight game to european opponents give us your unbiased opinion on potch on this u.s team what can he do with this u.s squad well i hope they do better than we did the last eight games against European teams. That's what I'm hoping for. But no, the thing is, he's trying to have the Americans understand the passion that we live football with.

57:25Because when you have a Polish itch and you have these superstars that don't want to come play for the team, then that's what hurts the team. Because as a leader, for example, in Argentina, Messi, you have to cut his legs off for him not to play for the national team, right? And then when these guys tell you that they have to rest or they need a break or they need a mental break or they need, that's where it's hurtful. And I think until we change that mentality and then until we change the youth soccer in this country, I don't think we're going to be successful. You know, that's my opinion. And I coach youth soccer and I wish it was different.

57:59Give a shout out to your team because I love this team. You coach. I coach my daughter. She's 14. So I'm on the girl side. There you go. I'm not as intimidating as this. and she thinks you just look at her she thinks you know how much about soccer do i know my your daughter thinks how much does your daughter think you know about so my daughter knows that i know more about soccer than i do about football because she she plays flag football as well and she told people actually in an interview that my dad's a kicker so he doesn't help me with football so she even called me out so like i know my lane i coach her in soccer there you go Alex, you've lived the Premier League's growth in this nation.

58:42The Economist has just revealed that soccer is now the third most popular sport in this nation. Wow. It's incredible. It's behind the NFL and the NBA. 15-year-old Alex played D-line and running back in Reading, PA. If I went back in time to 2012, told you soccer is going to be massive within 14 years, would you believe just how big it's come? How do you even understand that? No, it's just like, it's kind of caught fire. And, you know, it's awesome. And, you know, to see, you know, even for the boy, like I have a son and he's, you know, it's going to be interesting to see what he decides what he wants to do when he gets old.

59:25Does he want to follow my footsteps or do something else? And, you know, and for the girls as well. And, yeah, it's just awesome for the youth. And I think that's what, you know, it's who's really good effect. And that's going to impact the pro sport field going forward. I've got to say there's 30 ,000 Tampa. Is it tampons? Is that the official phrase? Am I making up? I did. I did. I did Google it. Sorry. Tampa Bay area people who live here. Yeah, right. All encompassing. I like that. I like that. It's catchy, right? 30 ,000 of you people have signed up to be part of the Premier League live this weekend, which is just unbelievable to me.

1:00:06I mean, I do want, it's so personally meaningful. I mean, it really is what Peter Drury's done, what Rebecca's done, what everybody's done. It's crazy. I moved here. Americans hated football. And now you are lining up to get into this. So last question for you, Martin. Your family moved here from Argentina to Florida. 1986, same year Argentina won the second ever World Cup. You cheated. I'm American now, so I don't give a crap. I don't care. Yeah, you're still upset? No, by the way, so funny. In my office, I have a photo of Maradona punching the ball over Peter Shelton because I realize even agony gives you memories that you treasure forever in sports.

1:00:53And I'm actually grateful to that man that I got to watch that moment in every regard. But we sit here together 40 years, 55 field goals later. What does it mean to have a World Cup here in Florida, in your own backyard? And what do you imagine it's going to do for this nation and its football fandom? It's incredible, the growth of the sport, because when I moved to this country, we didn't have many places to play. It was all recreational, and you didn't have a lot of opportunities to even play college soccer. Obviously, there was no MLS. There was no professional league. So to see where it's gotten and now to have a World Cup with, you know, the best players in the world coming here, the best players in the world playing in the MLS.

1:01:34You know, when you have and you draw that type of talent, obviously Beckham opened the door to all of them. Once you have a guy like Beckham that invested his time and his efforts into the MLS, now it brought even bigger stars now. So just to see in the exposure that the kids will have to the beautiful game, it's incredible to see, especially in our state of Florida, too, to have games here. Super excited. Can't wait for the World Cup. Who's going to win? I am cheering. Who's going to win? World Cup. You want me to go first? Yeah, Italy's out of it, so I'm not even. I'm Italian. It's Italy. So, you know, there's a lot of Italians in Argentina, so you can just cheer for us.

1:02:13OK, all right. Fair enough. I mean, sorry, USA. I love USA, but when it comes to soccer, I got to go with Messi. I'm going Argentina. Repeat, repeat. It's a big tent. The Argentinian tent is a big tent. Alex is part of it. You're part of it. I think England winning the World Cup in America's 250th anniversary is going to blow the American mind. That's going to be an issue. The amount of orifices rockets are going to be fired out of if that happens. is just mind-blowing. But let's hear it. Martine and Alex, you're a pair of magical men. Turn for two of your own tamper, Martine Gramatica and Alex Anzalone.

1:03:00It's time and I am giddy about this part of the show. Are you ready to hear the 12 winners who Verizon will be giving tickets to the Viva World Cup? Are you ready? I'm going to pop up a list in one second. And if your name is up there, you're not just going to any match. You're going to match 86 in Miami, round of 32. It's a knockout stage, people. If your name is on this list, stick around to the end of the show. Come to the front of the stage. I'm going to come down and hang out with you. But it's time. Do not be afraid. Let's pop up the list, Doctor.

1:03:44Oh, my God.

1:04:07Look at that first name on the list. That is Jimmy Rodriguez.

1:04:15I don't mean to go all theological on your arses, but this man has suffered. this man has lived as a Tottenham fan the book of Jobe and this man has gotten redemption tonight is all I'm going to tell you I am so happy for all of you I want to meet all of you here after the show but if your name was not on that list do not be afraid there's still a chance you can win the grand prize of those golden tickets with pitch side access before we leave this evening four of you are going to be on the field during a world cup game by the way if it's an american game you might actually have to play

1:05:01i'll just say thank you to verizon life's about making memories um these are deeply deeply profound ones i find this incredibly moving i gotta tell you um but it's time for our final guest a legend who scored twice in his first ever Premier League weekend, the first ever Premier League ever in 1992, and then proceeded to head, thrash, blast 258 more league goals over the next 14 years, collecting so many individual awards. He can honestly open a shoe store just made of bloody golden boots. Exactly 20 years from his final game, He remains the Premier League's all-time top scorer. By the way, I hope in 20 years' time, someone's introducing Beto with this introduction.

1:05:52260 goals, 47 more than any other human being scored. Can we just have a standing ovation for Newcastle's most extraordinary export, ahead of Sting and Greg's sausage rolls. Tampa, be upstanding for Mr. Alan Shearer!

1:06:25Thank you.

1:06:28Alan, it's a joy to be with you. You're a striker who was described by the New York Times as a granite man with heart. For an American audience who didn't have the honour of watching you, and I watched and feared you. What was it that you tried to do on the field? I just tried to recreate my childhood. I did what my parents did. I just worked extremely hard. And I think if you give your all, then no one can moan and say anything about good or negative because you know what you've achieved, you know what you've done. And if you try your best, then that should be good enough. you make it all what you did sounds so bloody easy and incredibly accessible it wasn't he's a very modest man so rather than words let's see one of the 260 goals you scored in the Premier League like this beauty that you somehow netted against Aston Villa from an angle that would have confused Pythagoras

1:07:40what is that is that just is that thought or is that just muscle memory no that just just sort of happens um i don't even i mean one or two did say we think that was a cross But my answer to that was no one in the middle, so why would I cross it? And I didn't really like crossing it anyway. That's the most English thing ever. You do something utterly majestic, superlative, transcendent, and they've just got to put it down. That was a cross. Yeah, and it made it even better. That was against Peter Schmeichel, who was one of the best ever goalkeepers. So, yeah. I love what you said when I asked you, what did you do?

1:08:21And you rooted it in your own childhood. You grew up in the magical kingdom of Newcastle. And you're obsessed almost from the time that you could walk with your footballing skills. You drilled the ball on repeat against two dark brown double doors on the council estate you grew up in. And you've said that your local days at your local Walls End Boys Club, you said this is beautiful. You said my passion for scoring goals turned into an obsession. the sight of the ball flying past the goalkeeper nestling in the back of the net was the most remarkable part of my life Alan what did you feel in those moments watching the flight of the ball leave your foot and then just burst the net what that you didn't get in other parts of your life it's very it's very difficult to explain but I've never whatever I've done in my 55 years I've never found a feeling like it that when the ball hits the back of the net because I work all week all month all year year after year after year after year since since I could walk basically to uh to score goals so when uh when that happened then the feeling is magical and when you're doing it in front of thousands and thousands and thousands of people then I think it gets even better and it It became, I've never ever taken drugs, but that was my drug, was to score goals.

1:09:45And the feeling is insane, it really is. Can I just say to children watching, scoring goals in the Premier League is a gateway drug. But do it, please do it. I mean, I love what you've just said. You've talked about the moment, you've talked about the years that it took to get to that moment, and then also the ecstasy that you realise is shared by the millions of us watching at home. And the journey was hard. When you were 16, you moved 320 miles to the South Coast. It doesn't sound a lot for America. You drop your kids off at playdates that far. In England, 320 miles is about two decades. You moved to Southampton.

1:10:28You made your full debut in a match against Arsenal in the pre-Premier League era, both in the old First Division. and you were 17 years, 240 days old on the contract. Do you remember what your contract was? £27.50 a week I was on when I made my debut. It was the old YTS scheme. $47, America. You thought MLS didn't pay well. We found footage of this. This happened so long ago that the footage seems like it was shot on the dark side of the moon. But I want you to see this because this all happened this kid, this wonder kid within 49 minutes against the Arsenal did this

1:11:28you knew Arsenal couldn't defend within three feet of their own goal we found that tactical that's the epitome of a goal hanger that is yeah yeah 30 was it 38 years ago that was was it really yeah 9th of April just passed by the way England didn't have electricity back then which is rather fun but what did that feel like I often look at that when I'm feeling down and I see you at that young age you excel and I wonder was it a surprise to you that it was that effortless or were you like this is what I do this is what I've trained for and I'm ready for more. Well, I didn't know I was starting the game until about three and a half hours before kick-off because one of the guys, Danny Wallace's name was, failed a fitness test.

1:12:14So my parents didn't have any time to get down from Newcastle. So I was told at 11.30 that I was going to start. And I was thinking, wow, starting against Arsenal, 17-year-old. So there was no time to get nervous. You had a sense of that, did you? Yeah, it was just sort of... I'd been scoring goals for the youth team and in the reserves. And, yes, someone got injured and I thought, the manager must have thought, well, it's his time, put him in. So there was no fear. There was loads of excitement. And, yeah, it was just one of those days that I will never, ever forget in my life. And I think the record still stands that I'm the youngest player to still score top-flight hat-trick.

1:13:00I think I broke Jimmy Greaves' record that day. So, I mean, Jimmy Greaves was the best, bar none, I think. So for me to break his record at 17 and for it to still stand now shows how important or how special it was. So, yeah, it was a great time because I remember going out that night with my pals and having a few drinks, but the manager at the time, Chris Nicol, sadly no longer with us. I think to keep my feet on the ground, he got me in the next morning to wash all the kit, all the boots just to bring me back down to earth, yeah. To what the players did as apprentices back then, they cleaned the boots.

1:13:42Could you imagine telling Max Delman or Rio Ingram? Yeah. Just go and clean the boots, would you, lads? This is how much football has changed. But your career moved bloody fast, man. Blackburn Rovers brought you in 1992. Look at him. For a British record. Bit of hair back then, bit of hair. Didn't we all? Actually, I don't think I did. $4.9 million. I love that British record. $4.9 million. That was also the year the Premier League launched. I mean, it was remarkable. We made a show about that first season. It was still a league on the rise, but you gave it quite the baptism. Very first weekend, first game, 3-3 draw against Crystal Palace.

1:14:26just a casual double for you including this stunner

1:14:48I think Nigel Martin might want that back Gareth Southgate was sent to Harfan as well yeah so really shut you down didn't it yeah yeah he should have closed me down a lot earlier um yeah it was i was i'd made the move um and i was i was married really young myself and my wife we're still married 35 years by the way in um on the 8th of june and um she was she was 20 i was 21 and she was eight months pregnant and she'd hardly been out of Southampton let alone driving up to Blackburn and if anyone's ever been to Blackburn it's maybe not the nicest of areas inside this in the city centre so I'd sign my contract and driving through the middle of the to Blackburn into onto the way to the hotel and she's eight months pregnant got this seat belt around her and she looks at me and bursts into tears and am I allowed to swear?

1:15:49You're Alan Shearer. Anyway she looks at me and bursts into tears and says what the fuck have you done to me? I said to her don't worry everything will be fine it'll be okay and it's worked out all right.

1:16:08When you're in an argument with your eight month pregnant wife you can just be like love it's a british transfer record 4.9 million dollars i mean it's an amazing story the blackburn story is still one of the greats of the premier league sir alex ferguson's manchester united it's going to blow your minds america they were very good at football back then it's true i was explaining to alan like i was like americans like know everything about football and many of them are new to it. They've come since the Premier League was on NBC. They still think Manchester United like an aspiring mid-table outfit.

1:16:47But they won two titles back to back. In 94, 95, your Blackburn was so bloody tenacious. They were managed by a legend of my city, Kenny Dalgleish, Liverpool legend. Look at that. That's how he motivated his players with a saw, which he carried around at all times. But that is a gentleman who's the only human being in the world whose titles are sir and king, and he deserves both of them. Oversaw the SAS front line. You, Shearer, your strike partner, Chris Sutton. Lee came down to the final day of the season. Blackburn persevered and were champions. First time in 81 years. Improbable achievement.

1:17:29The BBC held as one of the most remarkable title triumphs of the Premier League era. Alan, you'd promised your wife it would be okay. A league title in that moment. What's the dominant memory, the dominant emotion of that experience? During the talks, when I first went to Blackburn in 1992, Jack Walker, who was the owner at that time, along with Kenny Daglish and the coach, was Ray Harford, who I'd worked with in the England Under-21 setup. And I remember distinctly Jack Walker said to me, we will win the Premier League within four years. that is what we're going to do. That's owner talk. And I looked at him and I thought he was hugely successful businessman.

1:18:13Kenny Daglish was a legend of a player and already won the title with Liverpool. And I knew how great a coach Ray Harford was. And I looked at Jack when he said that and I really thought it could be achieved. So that was one of the main reasons why I actually went to Blackburn because of that, what they felt and what they thought and how this club was going to be run. So for us to come into the Premier League, and bear in mind they had only got to the Premier League via the playoffs. So within three years to win the league, to come into the league and take the might of Liverpool and Man United and Arsenal and all these huge football clubs, and for little old Blackburn, a little town, to come in and take their might on and actually beat them too.

1:19:06It was an unbelievable achievement. It was so special. We did try and blow and throw it away coming towards the end of that season and going to Anfield and to Liverpool. It was a really strange feeling because, as you said, Kenny is a king on Anfield. So with him as our manager, going back to Liverpool... Last day of the season, neck and neck with Manchester United, Blackburn's result had to better Manchester United That's right and it was a really weird feeling because Liverpool didn't want Manchester United to win the title but they knew if they had beaten us they might actually hand Man United the title because they were playing at West Ham and it actually turned out to be the perfect day because I scored first to put us 1-0 up and then Liverpool came back late in the game and beat us 2-1 and for about 30 seconds we thought we'd blown the title but West Ham did us a huge favour against Man United.

1:20:02They didn't win. And that was the day that we sealed the title. So we didn't make it easy anyway, but we managed to do it. I mean, it was a remarkable moment. And you've said that Blackburn faced criticism for, quote, lacking the flair and style which champions were meant to display. That was a gritty team. By the way, still the greatest jersey of a Premier League title winner, I think. Blackburn is a British northern post-industrial town. I mean, it is proper, proper Northern England. It's proper, proper football. And we're speaking at a time, Alan, when Arsenal are leading the league for now, but they've been criticized for their style, physical, set-piece-driven football.

1:20:43Can any champion be just a champion or does every title winner have to play like prime Barcelona? Does that, you know, making highlight jump, does it matter? No, you have to be a champion. You have to be a winner. there's no asterisk that says you have to play great amazing football in a perfect world you might be able to do that but when teams are trying to suss you out and find out who you are and what you're good at and what you're not so good at particularly nowadays that they have all these coaches who come in and do different setups and you somehow have to find a way around that um Arsenal have done that for six months but they've sort of struggled over the last couple of months to find that that style but you just have to find a way to win the title no one in 40 years time will say oh you remember when Blackburn won it or if Arsenal won it this year they weren't didn't quite play some nice football their name will be on the trophy and whoever wins it will deserve to win it no matter what football they play we'll get back to Arsenal in one moment but I do believe tenacity is the greatest human quality I really do your career displayed it July 30th 1996 an incredible day you join Newcastle look at this bloody photo this is amazing I would say any politician would look at that photo and wish that was their rally it's incredible I remember watching that and just being like that is a Alan it was like watching a king return to his kingdom to be candid um I mean this is a club I thought about you a lot at the time I look at it even more that photo You dreamed of playing for this team as a kid.

1:22:19Not only that, but your hero when you were a kid, Kevin Keegan, was then the manager. Newcastle paid a world record setting, yes. £15 million,$28 million. Breaking the previous world record by the OG Ronaldo. And I love this story because this is a measure of you, man. On the day you were announced as Newcastle player, you left your press conference, you did all of this, and you drove back to the council estate where you'd grown up, those double doors that you used as a shooting target. And I've always wondered, what did that feel like? What were you thinking in that moment when you stood literally in a place where that dream began?

1:22:59Well, that was my dream. It was a dream to be a professional footballer, but it was also a dream of mine to play for my club, Newcastle, because as you all know, I was born there. My hero was, as you said, Kevin Keegan. I used to stand on the terraces, the Gallagher end as a kid. I walked from my house to the stadium. And I looked at Kevin, and Kevin was like the Pied Piper walking around Newcastle. Wherever he went, he had an entourage of people following him to have his autograph or his picture. And I thought, I want that one day. I would love that one day. And ever since that day, I thought, I'm going to do that.

1:23:38I'm going to do this. And luckily I did. and to walk out at St James' Park and the first time and score at St James' Park, it was like, oh my God, I've done it. I've done what I wanted to do as a kid. Different feeling to any other goal. Yeah, it was different because it was my club. It was the club my dad supported. My dad went every week and he chucked a ball at my feet when I was two years old and had gone kick the ball around. And from that day, I wanted to do and walk out at St James' Park. there is so much power in what this man has just said can I be candid football at its heart is a football of dads and mums and sons and daughters um I'm going to get back to Newcastle in a minute Alan but in the early days I do want to say Premier League a bit different than it was today it was extremely physical it was like a mosh pit on grass you had a lot of stitches Arsenal's Tony Adams gave you some of them I've got to ask you this in a match against the US I don't know if you remember this but you said you thought that Alexi Lalas broke your cheekbone Lalas is it true?

1:24:47Well what I remember about this game and particularly Alexi is that I remember him talking so much nonsense before the game particularly about me as an individual and how he was going to mark me out the game and how I was no good at this or good at that. And I thought, I love this. Bring it on, the more the merrier. What was he saying? And then I went up against this tall, ugly ginger kid. And then, as far as I remember, I scored two wonderful goals and just started laughing at him. Yeah, so...

1:25:29What did he say to you on the field? He didn't say anything, I just laughed at him. By the way, can I just give some respect to Alexi? Because ultimately, this man we learned from Theo said, you know what you're good at, just do it. And Alexi gave up the football and just decided to dedicate to the rest of his life to talking nonsense.

1:25:53I say that with great love. It's all nonsense.

1:26:04We're going to edit this. Just for us, right, Tampa. But slightly harder. Then there was Roy Keane. And man, I can't even look back in this moment. It's like in that scene in the Bible where if you look at it, you turn into a pillar of salt. You wound this man up so much in a game against Manchester United, September 2001, that this happened. Before we air it, I just want you to know, in that first moment when a ball was thrown at Alan Shearer's person, in modern football, the player that was on the receiving end of the football would collapse into a heap in a thousand agonies. Watch what happens.

1:27:11can I say look at that Roy Keane later said he wished he quote punched you properly so do I what goes to your mind in moments like this I don't know I think he just took the hum because I said I don't think you're very good Roy I don't think he appreciated that but no he was he was different on a football pitch he was hard he was tough which is fine you had to you had to look after yourself back in the 90s and 2000s because it was a tough game and I don't really I don't really know him I've just played against him. I've worked with him once, but two of my really good friends in football, Micah Richards and Ian Wright, both worked with him.

1:27:53And they say he's a lovely guy, so I'll take their word for it. So let me ask you this. Of all the defenders you faced, who was the toughest you played against and why? Tony Adams was the toughest because he was really hard, really tough. A great leader. He used to kick me. I used to kick him. But at the end of the game, what was always fair and good about it is we always used to shake each other's hand and there was no animosity at all from both of us well certainly not from my side but that Arsenal team that he played in it was it was very different because when you went to Highbury which was Arsenal's ground you knew back then that they had the defenders had a free hit in the first 15 or 20 minutes you could you could make one tackle without getting a yellow card so the first 15 or 20 minutes you're always sort of looking behind you waiting for that tackle coming in and then after that one it was the next tackle that used to get a yellow card um of course it's very different now but it was a tough place to go was Highbury particularly against that Arsenal back four.

1:28:59Tony Adams number one Lallis number two yeah um Alan let's talk about goal scoring because this is a man who scored every kind of goal possible he had aura drenched shots from distance, headers from impossible angles, ice cold penalties. I want to look at a couple of them. You're most spectacular. But I want to know, are you the kind of player that remembers everything? If I'm like a match against Chelsea or against Villa, can you immediately recall them in your head? Yeah, straight away. I can remember every goal, yeah. Every single memory? Every goal, yeah. God, I can't even remember my own children's names at times.

1:29:37you loved the banger from distance you honestly seemed like a hammer in human form to me when I watched you play but I love this goal it is so surreal October 2002 against West Brom the baggies put all 11 men back on the goal line that the commentator said this is amazing just before we're about to say the commentator said find a way through that Alan Shearer this man stepped up and did this

1:30:18yeah just find a gap yeah is that what it was i mean you don't really train at this art do you no not really but nobi nobi solano who's the who's got the guy who's got his foot on the ball actually a second or two before that said to me i'm just going to put my foot as if to go to to try and draw someone out. And then once they come, then I'll roll it to you. And that's what he did. And I think that's created the gap on the line, which when the ball eventually went through. So it was his idea to have the little dummy beforehand. Is that true? Not take all the credit. Can we roll this one again?

1:30:51Is that possible?

1:30:59Couldn't miss after what Solano did for him, right? it's like the guy who passed the ball to Maradona for the second England goal in 1986 was like I think it was Brown he said he couldn't miss after the great pass that I made for him but this was one of so many that you scored for Newcastle 4th February 2006 your final season at St. James's Park against Portsmouth you set an iconic record 201st goal in the black and white became Newcastle's leading scorer of all time it's a beautiful moment i watch it you're communing with the crowd but you're also a very very iconic individual what did that feel like you've beaten a legend jackie milburn that was his record forever and in that moment i watched you and i realized you were turning from a local hero who'd lived out a dream to honestly an immortal alan And that's what you've become, who would be talked about forever, for generations by those who watched your play.

1:32:01It was extra special because it was Jackie Milburn was my dad's hero. So for me to go back to Newcastle and do what I did for the 10 years, I never, ever one day thought that I would break that record. And I was going to retire the year before. but Graeme Souness said to me the manager at the time said to me please give us one more year you can sort of be my leader or be my right hand man in the dressing room and if you want to go into management then you can do so after you finish in the year's time you can stand by me for the next 12 months and I thought yeah okay I'll do that and that's the reason why I signed I didn't do that for the record but when the record came along My dad never, ever, other than that day, said to me, I'm proud of you, or well done.

1:32:57Never in my life. Up until I walked into the players' lounge after that day, and I'd just broken the record that I stood for so many years. And you guys won't have heard of Jackie Milburn, but he's a hero in Newcastle. He's from Newcastle, and the record had stood for so many years, and he was my dad's hero. my dad went to watch him all the time so for me to break his record which was iconic and then go into the players lounge and my dad actually looked at me in the eye and he went well done son I'm proud of you and it was the only time he ever said it to me Alan Shearer yeah

1:33:42English dads yeah that's right English dads Yeah. I knew he was. I knew how much he thought of me. My mum and dad gave me everything. And I knew how proud he was of me, but he never, ever said it to me other than that day. Possibly the most English dad thing of all time. Definitely. When our television show, by the way, our television show down there, what Alan did, like, transcendent, I played it for my dad the first time when he came over. He put himself to sleep within 20 seconds, so he didn't have to watch it. And I understood it in every single measure. Also, it's like genuinely the most English thing in every way.

1:34:24Americans, you want your kid to be better than you. In England, it's unfathomable. How do you do that? What do you do? How did that even happen? But God love, some things do not need to be articulated. And anybody that watched you, I was always rooting against you as an Everton fan. I've got to be candid. But what you did was so effervescent. So I need to know from you, if aliens land on this planet, if they ask you, Alan Shearer, what was your best goal? Work with me here. What are you showing them? My best goal would be my volley against Everton at St. James' Park. Sorry. Too soon. Are you serious?

1:35:12Yeah, my best goal, yeah. It would have been a volley against Everton. You're talking about 2002, when the ball dropped out of the sky. Unfortunately, and I remember watching this, I was like, that's going to be fine. I was like, holy crap, it's dropped to him. And him did this.

1:35:34The Shields!

1:35:45Not going to lie, I hated you in that moment. It was a look on your face. Yeah, honestly, I don't often try those, but I guess when you do, then nine out of ten go on the top row of the stand and one may hit the target now and again, but very rarely does one hit the back of the net like that. I don't even know why I hit it, to be honest. It just sort of fell nicely for me and I thought, why not? and luckily it went in. Does that goal feel different? Because by the way, why did you do it? You did it to piss off every Everton fan. To the extent we all took it personally, individually. Does that goal feel different or do they all feel the same?

1:36:28Nah, I think, I mean, I knew I'd caught it sweet and it did feel different, but I would be more than ecstatic to score one from a yard or half a yard, exactly the same as that, every time. It wouldn't bother me. To me, a goal was a goal. You don't get two for one outside the box, do you? So I'm more than happy taking goals from one yard as equally as 20, 25 yards. Your goal-scoring feats are remarkable. It's so remarkable. There's only one active Premier League player in the top 10 list behind you. Do you know who it is? Salah? It is Mo Salah. By the way, we had all 1 ,400 Premier League players available, depending if he knew the answer.

1:37:10But it is Mo, and he's set to the part. Last December, by the way, he's way behind you. Erling Haaland broke one of your records. Came the fastest player to score 100 Premier League goals. He's an incredible human being. He did it in just 111 games. You've said you think he could be the player who could break your overall goal-scoring record. I'm not very good at math, but if he keeps his pace going, he'll need 182 more games to reach 260 goals you're taking this in aren't you I already know it don't worry I'm counting them down myself as well I'm gonna get back to this in a minute but um he would have to stay till the year 2030 31 to be able to do that you weren't just a goal scorer you were a consistent goal scorer you said this in your opening framing to do it over and over and over season season season do you honestly think he'll do it and i think harry kane might have a better chance if he comes back than doing it than erling harland will i think because i'm not sure he'll stay the length of his contract at manchester city i think he'll uh maybe once pep decides to uh to leave man city whether that'll be this summer or next summer then I don't think he'll be far behind him so Harry Kane will have a better chance if he comes back I love wishful thinking and also I think what I say after he broke your record Harlan said that um thanks for the advice back in 2022 you are an incredibly generous human being he said it paid off what did you tell him can you tell us well I went to I went to interview and I could tell there was a frustration in him because back then, Manchester City were pass, pass, pass, pass, get to the right-hand side, come back in, pass across, go to the left-hand side and keep...

1:39:07And I said, does that not frustrate the hell out of you? And he said, well, yeah. I said, well, tell them. Tell... Go mad. I remember when I was a young straw, even when I went to... Right throughout my career, it's my job to score goals and it's your job to provide them. whoever's on either side, left side or right side, or the midfielders. Now, if you don't provide them, I'm not going to look very good because I can't do my job. So if you're going to get the ball out wide and then pass it inside and it goes across, I'm not going to score many goals. So unless you get aggressive with De Bruyne or Silva or whoever it is on the right or the left to start and put balls into the box, then they'll keep on doing it.

1:39:47He said, well, players' attitudes are different nowadays and Pep might not like that. so well do it find out whether they like it or not and i think he did and there's no doubt they're putting more balls into the box now particularly this season than they have done for a long time it's a good could have been a great coach by the way um i thought i did love it when harry kane went to buy a munich you tweeted to me like i'll drive you to the plane myself which was just like it was so overt it was so brazen you were like poised between like your agent's tweet harry kane i wish you well it'd be an honor to have my record broken by you like no i'd like i'll drive you to the plane myself um he's an incredible footballer yet somehow still underrated 50 goals for this season 12 in the champions league 15 in his last 10 starts he is by some distance English national team's greatest ever goal scorer where does he rank on your all time list of English strikers give us your top four your Mount Rushmore he has to be right up there because and the best the best thing about Harry is that he's never had it he didn't have it easy he had to do it the hard way to get to the top by that I mean he had to go out on loan he got rejected he basically got told off his club you're not good enough you have to go out on loan and you have to learn your trade and he did that and even his loan spells weren't that great and then all of a sudden you get that knack of being in the right place, you get that feeling of scoring goals and he's been the best by a mile ever since he started doing it at Tottenham, no one's been able to match him, no one's been able to catch him and I mean I know I joke but I think it was very brave of him to go over to Bayern Munich and he didn't win the title in the first year, won it in the second year now he's got a great chance of not only winning the league but also winning the Champions League and his goal scoring record was phenomenal both there at Tottenham and with England he's England's greatest goal scorer and I know it's slightly different now because of the opposition and the number of games that you play but he's still got to go out and do that And when you've been at his level, at the top level, for so long, because everyone knows what you like or what you don't like or what you're good at or what you're not good at, and everyone tries to stop you, but there's not many been able to stop him for so many years, and that tells you how great he is.

1:42:25Top four English striker. Wayne Rooney would be one for me. Number one. Who? Rooney would be number one. Rooney would be number one. Harry would be number two. Gary Lineker would have to be number three because he did it in an era and he went to a World Cup and won the Golden Boot as well.

1:42:53Trying to think of another one. You're channeling your father here, Alan. Well, I wouldn't... If I could, I'd put myself as number one, but I would never do that, would I?

1:43:06I think you just did I think you just did you're an incredible human being I've got one quick question before we wrap it up I do want to know well two, who's going to win the World Cup?

1:43:21Between Spain or France I would love to say England but I think we'll fall short again I don't think the conditions will suit us again, but I think Spain or France because of the depth in their squad. You didn't say the words the United States of America. I want to know this. It's a serious question. Our nation put a man on the moon, right? We also invented the cronut. We're very good at innovating. We've given the world both George Foreman and the George Foreman grill. All right? this always blows my mind we have won just one knockout game in the entire history of the World Cup which is honestly it's almost hard to do how do you understand this Alan?

1:44:12you spend a lot of time here you love being here America actually loves you back what is it that the US international team what is it that the US men's football lacks? I think they'll I think they'll have a good World Cup but I don't see them getting too getting to a semi-final. I think once they get a bit of momentum, I think with the players that they have and the manager that they have, and I really like the manager, but I don't see the USA getting past a quarter-final, maybe a quarter-final at best. What do we lack? We've lost to eight straight European... Apart from top players, then... I think it's very difficult, isn't it?

1:44:52Because soccer or football is never going to be the number one sport in this huge country. We aren't the number one at soccer in the world. Okay. It's the football we find hard. I was going to say, what's in that you're drinking there? No, it is. It's true. It's like soccer, we win. It's the football. It's like a different game. It's very, very difficult. Mentally, what do we not understand? Just to stop trash-talking Alan Shearer before games. When you haven't played that consistency at that level and the league has not been that great for... It's always going to be very, very difficult to compete against Spain or France or England or Brazil or Argentina.

1:45:35These countries are used to huge success, Argentina, Brazil and what have you, and Spain and France are, but that's what you're competing against. That's why it's very difficult to win a World Cup. That's why we've only ever done it once. It's true. And we will do it this year, thanks to Chris Richards and Tyler Adams and Brendan Aronson, is what I'm going to tell you. But I'm going to move on. Last question for you, Alan. You retired in football 2006. I mean, you're one of the most beloved footballers that has ever played in the pennies. 20 years yesterday was my last ever touch. How did you mark it?

1:46:14Of a football. It was a goal against Sunderland. Was it really? Yeah, it was a penalty against Sunderland, yeah. And that was it? And a minute after I scored the penalty, I went off injured, never touched the ball again, never played professional football again. My God. Wasn't a bad way to go out. This man is like English John Kruk, which will mean nothing to you, Alan. John Kruk, young children, was a baseball player, played for the Philadelphia Phillies. The second his batting average lifetime went to 300, he ran to first base, picked it out of the ground, tucked it under his arm, walked off the field and never played again.

1:46:51His story, scoring against Sunderland, is even better. You were a remarkable man. You really were. Honestly, I watched you. You were like an English hero from years past, but living in our present, living and breathing. It was remarkable to watch you. The Times journalist, Simon Barnes, described you beautifully. He said you were an ordinary man who had the ability to do extraordinary things, which is so bloody true. So, first of all, when you watch these highlights, do you watch them out of body or are you fully aware, like, yeah, that was me doing that? No, I lived my dream. Look, I tried harder, worked harder than anyone else and I sacrificed a lot.

1:47:37And I got out of the game, what I put into it. And I've been a lucky boy. But what I did do is I worked harder than anyone else and that's why I achieved what I did. And what emotion do you... what emotions you experience as we watch them i mean you remove now 20 years and one day which is amazing life waits for no man do you realize how extraordinary your career was alan that's what i want to know what you accomplished um yeah i'm very i'm very proud of what i what i achieved I'm also aware that I could have won a lot more by going to a certain Manchester United. But I wanted to go back home and I wanted to live my dream.

1:48:24And I've got the record at Newcastle. I was there for 10 years. I had a testimonial. I've now set up my own foundation in Newcastle. And no one can ever, ever take that away from me. And I did it my way. I'll never do anything different.

1:48:41This man did do it his way. and it was remarkable to witness. Alan, I want to thank you for the memories that you've given all who watched it, apart from that Everton goal and the class that you represent the Premier League now around the world with a clear glee as you talk about it. And before you leave, I want to make a memory of this night. Tampa, please be upstanding. Going to bring our photographer, Matthias, back on. Join us. Let's take a photograph we can all treasure forever, Tampa.

1:49:26Thank you very much.

1:49:43God, let's hear it again for Alan Shearer. That was honestly life-affirming.

1:49:53Genuinely, my favourite non-Everton footballer of all time. To listen to his story, to listen to his truth, is honestly why we live. And Tampa, we're nearing the end of our odyssey, but it's time for a journey for four of you to just begin. We have four grand prize winners to announce. It's what we've been waiting for, the Verizon golden tickets. Other people would now start an awful reality game in which we'd be tortured against each other. But these winners are going to be going to match 86 in Miami. You'll be witnessing the knockout drama from the actual field. By the way, legally, the only way to get closer to the action is to manage a World Cup team.

1:50:40and I do think one of you could apply for the Saudi Arabia job if you're quick on LinkedIn. If you do not get selected, don't worry, Verizon Ultimate Access for the FIFA World Cup will continue in the journey towards the tournament if you're an existing Verizon customer. And by the way, I am. Our whole network works on Verizon. This is me begging. You still have access to free World Cup ticket. So switch to Verizon today. I did. And it's been glorious. But it's time for the winners of the Verizon golden tickets. Are you ready?

1:51:18Here we go. Doctor, reveal the Fab Four.

1:51:37Oh my God, if your name is up here, you're about to be a couple of feet away from the greatest athletes on the planet. Please make memories for all of us that you treasure forever. That's what we ask. And then meet us at the front of the stage and I'm going to come out minutes after the show and celebrate with all of you. Guys, that is it. I want to thank all of you. This has been a joy in every regard. I want to thank again our partner Verizon. To them. for making tonight possible, allowing us to come together and celebrate the league we love, the Premier League. It's been profound for us to really connect with you, to form this community.

1:52:19I'm going to come out in a moment to meet everybody that's won a World Cup ticket. But I do want to say how meaningful this evening is for all of us at Men in Blazers to be welcomed into your hearts in this incredible city at a time when the whole NBC crew, Rebecca Lowe, the two Robbies and that one Tim and the entire production team who give their heart and souls to grow this game they're all here spreading love and community and the global connectivity that the Premier League gives us bonds us with really my greatest memories most of them non-family even my family wants to be candid I'm saying this as an Everton fan I've forged with this league so let's raise a glass.

1:53:04Let's spend the next two mornings at the amateur works and not take any of it for granted. I want to send you my love. This is Rog saying, Tampa, I love you. Thank you. Let's never take a minute of watching football together for granted. Big love and courage.