Alan Smith

Alan Smith is a former Arsenal, Leicester City and England striker who scored over 200 career goals. He won every domestic honour with Arsenal and scored the winner in their UEFA Cup Winners’ Cup victory and was the club’s top scorer on four occasions. After retiring Alan has carved out a career in the media as a co-commentator and pundit for Sky Sports and was used as a commentator for eight editions of EA Sports’ FIFA. Available as a speaker brings an insight into what it takes to be both a player and commentator at the highest level and has stories from his playing days that will leave any audience captivated.

He started his career in non-league with Alvechurch before his impressive performances earned him a move to Leicester City. He scored 13 times in his debut season at the club as they gained promotion to the First Division. In total, he played 217 games and scored 84 goals in five years with the Foxes before a move to Arsenal, although he did spend the final part of the 1986/87 season on loan at Leicester.

He opened his Arsenal account with a hat-trick against Portsmouth and finished the 1987-88 season with 16 goals in all competitions. His goalscoring exploits continued the following season as he helped Arsenal win the First Division, including scoring the opener in a famous 2-0 at Anfield. He won the Golden Boot that season with 23 league goals and was named in the PFA Team of the Year. He won the First Division and Golden Boot again in the 1990-91 season as he scored a career-high 27 goals in all competitions. Six of his 13 England caps also came in 1991. He helped Arsenal to a FA Cup and League Cup double in the 1992-93 season before he scored the winner in the UEFA Cup Winners’ Cup final against Parma the following year. Smith ended his football career at Arsenal in 1995 with 115 goals in 347 games for the Gunners and was the club’s top scorer for four consecutive years at his peak. After calling time on playing, he moved into the media and has been a co-commentator and pundit for Sky Sports. He has been involved in some of the biggest games in recent history including co-commentating on the 2011 Champions League Final. He has also been the voice of the FIFA franchise with Martin Tyler, commentating on eight editions of the best-selling video game.

As a speaker, he thrives in a Q&A environment but also delivers fascinating after-dinner speeches. Providing a unique insight into the world of football as both a commentator and player, his passion and anecdotes will keep any audience captivated throughout the event.