Shearer will lead England out one last time at the Match of the Century. (©PAphotos)
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As we continue the countdown to the PFA's Centenary dinner on December 2- we're taking a look back at the careers of the 34 players whose framed, signed shirts make up this unique collection. The organisation's 'One Goal, One Million' campaign is drawing to a close and money raised from the auction will go towards the £1million target we are hoping to raise to fund a treatment and rehabilitation unit at the new Children's Hospital in Manchester. Here's a tribute to the next batch of winners of the PFA Players' Player of the Year award...and Super Al's up twice...
1994 ERIC CANTONA Position: Striker; Born: Paris, France, 24 May 1966; Country: France; Teams: Leeds United, Manchester United; Football League/Premiership Record: 160 + 11 Appearances, 73 Goals; Playing career: 1991 to 1997 Eric Cantona was one of the most supremely talented individuals to have featured in English football in the post-war period. A player with tremendous skills, he also possessed great vision and the ability to unlock opposition defences with the unexpected. Born in Paris, but brought up in Marseille, Eric played his first senior football with Auxerre, making his debut against Nancy at the age of 17. However, it was only after returning from a spell on loan with Martigues during the 1985-86 season that he won a regular place in the line-up. In the summer of 1988 Eric was sold to Marseille, but after attracting controversy he was loaned out, firstly to Bordeaux and then to Montpellier, where he spent the whole of the 1989-90 campaign. Montpellier won the French cup that season and on returning to Marseille he helped the team lift the French League title in 1990-91. However, he was then transferred to Nimes where he attracted further controversy and after being given a lengthy ban announced his retirement from football in December 1991. This proved to be somewhat short lived, for the following February he crossed the Channel and signed for Leeds, making an immediate impact by assisting the club to the Football League title that season. Eric was then rather surprisingly sold to the Yorkshire club's rivals Manchester United in November 1992 and over the next four-and-a-half years he produced some exceptional form for the Old Trafford club. The Reds seemed unstoppable, and with Eric a focal point of the team they won the Premiership title four years out of the next five, and the FA Cup on two occasions into the bargain. He continued to encounter occasional bouts of controversy, the infamous incident against Crystal Palace during the 1994-95 season being the highest profile, but he always came back with dignity and style. A member of the France team that won the European Under 21 Championships in 1988, Eric made his full international debut against West Germany in August 1987 and went on to win a total of 45 caps. He retired from football in May 1997 although he has continued to play Beach Soccer since then, as well as developing a career in films.
1995 ALAN SHEARER Position: Striker; Born: Newcastle upon Tyne, 13 August 1970; Country: England; Teams: Southampton, Blackburn Rovers, Newcastle United; Football League/Premiership Record: 532 + 27 Appearances, 283 Goals; Playing career: 1987 to 2006 Alan Shearer is one of the greatest and most respected players of the modern era and one of the all-time greats for Newcastle United. A powerful centre forward adept at leading the line, his tremendous body strength combined with a ferocious shot, the ability to convert half chances into goals and an indomitable spirit made him the most difficult of opponents for any defender. Alan began his professional career as an apprentice with Southampton, creating an early impression when he netted a hat-trick on his first start against Arsenal in April 1988. Eased gradually into first team action by Saints, it was only following the appointment of Ian Branfoot as manager that he began to blossom as a goal scorer. After finishing as the clubs leading scorer in 1991-92 he was sold to Blackburn for a British record transfer fee of £3.5 million. He responded magnificently with 112 goals from 132 starts for Rovers over the next four seasons, leading them to the Premiership title in 1994-95 (when he netted 34 goals). Alan was also the Premiership's leading scorer in both 1994-95 and 1995-96, a feat he repeated for a third consecutive season in 1996-97. By this time he was now a Newcastle United player, having been sold for another record fee, this time some £15 million. Over the next decade or so Alan continued to lead the line for the Magpies, retaining his reputation as one of the countrys most effective strikers. He became one of the legendary figures in the clubs history during this time, establishing new club records for total career goals (206) and European competition goals (30) in addition to winning many personal awards. After making his England debut against France in 1992 Alan became a regular in the squad, going on to win a total of 63 caps and scoring 30 goals before retiring from international football in 2000. He captained the England squad at the 1998 World Cup finals and also won the Golden Boot at the Euro 96 finals. Alan was awarded the OBE in 2001.
1996 LES FERDINAND Position: Striker; Born: Acton, Middlesex, 18 December 1966; Country: England; Teams: Queens Park Rangers, Newcastle United, Tottenham Hotspur, West Ham United, Leicester City, Bolton Wanderers, Reading; Football League/Premiership Record: 356 + 63 Appearances, 170 Goals; Playing career: 1987 to 2005. Les Ferdinand was one of the finest strikers of his generation. Big and powerful, he was effective in the air and possessed a neat touch on the ball, with the knack of scoring goals regularly. Les did not enter the professional game until he was 19, joining Queens Park Rangers from Hayes in June 1986. He made his bow in senior football towards the end of the 1986-87 campaign, coming off the bench on two occasions, but it was only after spending the1988-89 season on loan in Turkey with Besiktas (where he scored the winning goal in the second leg of the Turkish Cup final against Fenerbahce to clinch a 3-1 win on aggregate) that he began to show his full potential. On his return to Loftus Road, Les slowly but surely established himself in the line-up and after finishing as Rangers leading scorer for four consecutive seasons he was sold to Newcastle United for a fee of £6 million, signed as a replacement for Andy Cole. Les spearheaded the Magpies challenge for Premiership honours in 1995-96, netting 25 goals as they finished in runners-up spot. The Tyneside club equalled this performance in 1996-97, with Les again to the fore as his partnership up front with Alan Shearer bore fruit. However, in the summer of 1997 Les returned to London, signing for Tottenham Hotspur. He spent six years at White Hart Lane, helping the club win the Football League Cup in 1999 and scoring the 10,000th goal in Premiership history, against Fulham in December 2001. Injuries eventually took their toll and he departed for West Ham in January 2003, later providing invaluable service for Leicester, Bolton and Reading before finally retiring from the game at the end of the 2005-06 campaign. Les won 17 caps for England between 1993 and 1998 scoring five goals. He was awarded the MBE in 2005.
1997 ALAN SHEARER Position: Striker; Born: Newcastle upon Tyne, 13 August 1970; Country: England; Teams: Southampton, Blackburn Rovers, Newcastle United; Football League/Premiership Record: 532 + 27 Appearances, 283 Goals; Playing career: 1987 to 2006.
* NOTE: bidding for the shirts that make up this unique collection is open to every member of the public. You can bid online at www.specialistauctions.com/pfa
