Football icon and BBC pundit Alan Shearer is preparing for another stint on the broadcaster's FA Cup coverage this weekend, but away from the pitch, his family is celebrating a different sporting union. The Newcastle United legend's two daughters are both engaged to professional rugby players, creating a unique sporting dynasty.
From Football Legend to Broadcasting Staple
Alan Shearer will provide expert analysis for the BBC this Saturday as Crystal Palace travel to face non-league Macclesfield Town. Since retiring from professional football in 2006, the Premier League's all-time top scorer has cemented his status as one of the nation's leading pundits. His estimated net worth of £40 million continues to be bolstered by his annual BBC salary, reported to be between £440,000 and £444,999.
The former England captain, who was once the world's most expensive player following his £15 million move to Newcastle in 1996, also works with Amazon Prime and co-hosts 'The Rest is Football' podcast with Gary Lineker and Micah Richards. He has been married to his wife, Lainya, for 35 years, after meeting during his playing days at Southampton.
A Family Forged in Sport and Spotlight
Shearer and Lainya share three children: son Will, 25, and daughters Chloe, 32, and Hollie, 30. All three have cultivated significant social media followings, with Hollie leading the way on Instagram with nearly 82,000 followers. Hollie, a pop musician with a track boasting over 1.5 million streams on Spotify, also shares fashion and lifestyle content with close to 335,000 followers on TikTok. Her sister Chloe has built a career in talent management.
Despite their different professional paths, the sisters share a remarkable parallel in their personal lives. Both are engaged to professional rugby union players, meaning their famous father will soon have two rugby stars in the immediate family.
Double Engagement for the Shearer Sisters
Hollie Shearer got engaged to England international Joe Marchant in November 2024. The 29-year-old centre, who plays for French Top 14 side Stade Francais, proposed in Paris with the Eiffel Tower as a backdrop. The couple, who went public with their relationship in April 2022, moved to the French capital together in 2024.
Meanwhile, her older sister Chloe is engaged to former scrum-half Micky Young. The 37-year-old, who had an illustrious 11-year career across two spells with Newcastle Falcons, proposed in November 2024. In recognition of his service at Newcastle, Young was honoured with a testimonial year in August 2024, which featured a football dinner attended by his soon-to-be father-in-law, Alan Shearer.
As Shearer returns to our screens for the FA Cup, his family life reflects a deep connection to the world of professional sport, now spanning both football and rugby. The engagements mark a new chapter for the Shearer family, blending footballing royalty with rugby talent.
