Alan Shearer calls daughter's ex-rugby star boyfriend an 'idiot' after mistake as feelings on engagement emerge

Yahoo

17-05-2025

Crystal Palace take on Manchester City in the final of the FA Cup this afternoon. The game will be shown on the BBC and ITV, with a star-studded lineup of pundits and co-commentators to take viewers through the action throughout the day. Among them will be former Newcastle and England captain Alan Shearer.
The legendary former striker - who is the Premier League's all-time record goalscorer - has become one of the most respected pundits in the country since retiring from playing in 2006, and has also transitioned into the commentary box.
The ex-Blackburn Rovers and Southampton star has been married to his long-term partner Lainya for nearly 34 years, having met while he was playing for the Saints. The pair share two daughters, Hollie and Chloe, and a son, Will, together.
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Shearer's daughters have both steered away from following in their mother's footsteps, opting not to seek footballer boyfriends. In fact, the pair both go out with rugby players.
The 54-year-old - who has a reported net worth of around £40 million thanks to his huge £380,000 BBC salary and roles with Amazon and Al-Jazeera - appears to fully support his daughter Hollie's engagement to England rugby star Joe Marchant, based on his past playful remarks.
Hollie, 30, and Marchant, 28, began dating in 2022 and relocated to Paris in 2023 when the former Harlequins player joined Top 14 side Stade Français. Despite Marchant being ineligible for England selection due to playing abroad, the couple embraced life in France.
Their engagement was announced in late 2024, with Hollie sharing the news on Instagram, writing: 'BEST DAY EVER!! Got to say yes to my favourite person.' Shearer's emoji-only response—heart-eyes and clapping hands—said it all.
When previously asked about Marchant, Shearer joked, 'I'm just glad it's not a footballer!'
Shearer clearly enjoys a healthy relationship with Marchant. During a holiday to Naxos Island in Greece in 2023, the couple shared a series of photos from the trip; one in particular depicted Marchant in rather revealing swimming trunks. He showed his sense of humour on one photo of Marchant in tight swimwear, commenting: 'WTF are the smugglers you have on?'
Clearly, the Premier League legend approves of his future son-in-law and appears to enjoy a similar rapport with the boyfriend of his other daughter, Chloe.
Shearer playfully called his daughter Chloe's boyfriend, former rugby player Micky Young, an "idiot" after a travel mishap following Newcastle United's 3-0 win over Ipswich Town last month.
While Shearer was in London on Sunday to support his son Will in the marathon, Young had spent Saturday night celebrating the Magpies' victory and planned to join the family the next day. Things didn't go as planned, as Shearer recounted on The Rest is Football podcast.
Discussing 24-year-old Will's marathon run, Shearer told co-host Gary Lineker: "He's well, he's told us that he's got about four or five toenails that have gone and his feet – his feet look horrendous – but he did it. I mean, oh my, it's the first time I've been and watched the London Marathon.
"And I have to say, it's just, it's unbelievable, the atmosphere and the coming together of everyone creating this amazing [atmosphere]. Yeah, it's just like, honestly, everyone's just like so happy."
He then shifted focus to Young's misadventure: "I've got to tell you a quick story about my eldest daughter Chloe and her boyfriend, rugby guy, ex-rugby guy used to play for Newcastle Falcons. He's been going out with her for a few years now.
"He went to the Newcastle game yesterday, and he was meant to get on the 5:59pm train from Newcastle to London to come and watch and support Will, as we all were down here.
"So he got to the train station and he got there five minutes early and then he got on the train and then 15 minutes on the train he heard the announcement, 'Welcome to everyone who's got on this train to Edinburgh.' And it was non-stop all the way to Edinburgh."
Young had missed the correct train and, with no other options, took an overnight Megabus. Shearer said: "He had to go all the way to Edinburgh... He got on the f***ing Megabus, the 10:00pm Megabus, which cost him £30 from Edinburgh to London and he got in at 6:45am this morning into London. So I said to him, 'You are meant to be looking after my f***ing daughter in the future!'"
Lineker laughed, calling it "a good effort," while Shearer wrapped it up, saying: "Honestly, I said, 'Really?' and he said he stopped at Dunbar, Newcastle, Leeds, Sheffield and I said, 'Oh you idiot!'"