Alan Shearer Despite Branfoot's claim to be "in the driving seat", "Saints" failed to include a "sell-on clause" in the contract. Shearer, less than a month off his 22nd birthday, was the most expensive player in British football. In his four years in the Southampton first team, Shearer made a total of 158 appearances in all competitions, scoring 43 goals. Despite making just one goalless appearance as England failed to progress past the Euro 1992 group stages, Shearer was soon subject to an English transfer record-breaking £3.6million bid from Blackburn Rovers. Although there was also interest from Manchester United manager Alex Ferguson,
2002–03 Blackburn Rovers F.C. season hope for the following season. The star man for Blackburn this season was American goalkeeper Brad Friedel, who was named as the goalkeeper in the PFA Team of the Year. ! colspan=14 style=background:#dcdcdc; text-align:center| Goalkeepers ! colspan=14 style=background:#dcdcdc; text-align:center| Defenders ! colspan=14 style=background:#dcdcdc; text-align:center| Midfielders ! colspan=14 style=background:#dcdcdc; text-align:center| Forwards ! colspan=14 style=background:#dcdcdc; text-align:center| Players transferred out during the season 2002–03 Blackburn Rovers F.C. season During the 2002–03 English football season, Blackburn Rovers competed in the FA Premier League. After a season of consolidation in the Premiership the previous season (capped with victory in the League Cup), Blackburn Rovers enjoyed