Alan Smith

He scored his first league goal against Norwich City, scoring the winning goal with a "stunning volley" in the 49th minute, having earlier setting up a goal for David Bellion.

Alan Smith (born 28 October 1980) is an English football coach and former professional footballer.

Smith first came to prominence as both a striker and a right winger, however later became a holding midfielder.

Smith began his career with hometown club Leeds United and became a mainstay in their Premier League teams between 1998 and 2004.

Initially playing as a striker during his Elland Road days he scored 38 goals in 172 games.

That goal helped propel him into the 1998–99 English football season, as he was one-half of manager David O'Leary's first-choice striker pairing, along with Jimmy Floyd Hasselbaink.

Smith continued his run in the Leeds side, as the club began to grow in stature.

He went on to become an undisputed first-choice, as the side consolidated on domestic and European fronts, reaching the semi-finals of the 2000–01 Champions League.

Smith was part of an offensive line that included Michael Bridges and Australian Mark Viduka.

His senior FA Premier League debut was as a substitute for Leeds United against Liverpool at Anfield, where he displayed his natural scoring ability by scoring with his first shot of the game, three minutes after coming off the bench.

He showed his class in 2001 while helping to lead the Leeds side through the Champions League, though his experience ended on a sour note as he was sent off in the semi-final.

The following season saw Smith switched to the right of midfield, his versatility being utilised by O'Leary, as the Leeds United manager tried to accommodate new signings.

2001 also saw Smith's break into the England national football team squad.

An England youth international at multiple levels, Smith made his senior England debut in May 2001.

He did not make the final cut for the 2002 FIFA World Cup, and accepted a position with the England Under-21 side.

He scored four goals in a UEFA Cup tie at Hapoel Tel Aviv in November 2002.

He signed a new three-and-a-half year contract with Leeds in February 2003.

A hometown hero for supporters of Leeds United, Smith won the "Supporter's Player of the Year" award two years running between 2003 and 2004—a first in the club's history.

Though his goal tally was not excellent by any means, his willingness to play any role on the pitch and his tireless efforts to save The Whites from relegation was greatly appreciated by the Leeds fans.

As Leeds were relegated at the end of the 2003–04 season, Smith joined Manchester United for £7 million.

In 2004 following the clubs relegation he joined rivals Manchester United however, after moving to the club he broke his leg and dislocated his ankle in a match against Liverpool, whereupon manager Sir Alex Ferguson converted him to a holding midfielder, a role in which he continued after his transfer to Newcastle United.

He later moved to Milton Keynes Dons for several seasons before signing for Notts County.

Leeds' relegation in May 2004 saw Smith kissing the badge on his shirt and crying at what would be his last match for the club.

His transfer to bitter rivals Manchester United, however, led to controversy.

His exit was marred by accusations of treachery, and in the space of a day he went from hero to villain in the eyes of some Leeds fans; this was despite the fact that club had publicly stated that they could not afford to pay his wages, that they were open to offers for him, and that no other club had registered an interest.

Due to the financial difficulties at Leeds, Smith chose to waive the personal transfer fee owed to him by the club.

This did not stop some Leeds fans from feeling betrayed, and they held up banners in subsequent games that compared Smith to Judas.

It has since been revealed by Peter Lorimer that the only club Leeds would allow Smith to join was Manchester United, and that Leeds had in fact engineered the move.

With Manchester United being the only club offering the requested money up-front, instead of on an instalment basis (as offered by Everton and Newcastle United), and with Leeds facing administration, Smith faced allowing Leeds to go into administration or joining Leeds' bitter rivals.

However, Smith had earlier gone on record saying he would never play for Manchester United.

The second chapter of his career began on 8 August 2004, in the Community Shield clash against Arsenal, scoring for the club with a swerving volley in the 55th minute, as United lost 3–1.

An injury hampered his first season, causing him to miss out on important matches such as the League Cup semi-final against Chelsea and the 2005 FA Cup final against Arsenal at the Millennium Stadium, which Manchester United lost on penalties.

The forward scored 10 goals overall in his first season, but, with Wayne Rooney in good form and Ruud van Nistelrooy back in the team after injury, was relegated to the bench.

In the summer of 2005, it emerged that Manchester United manager Sir Alex Ferguson was grooming Smith as a successor to Roy Keane in the Manchester United midfield.

Ferguson stated: "Roy sees characteristics in Alan that he saw in himself as a young player, which could help Alan develop into a very good player in that position."

He had a short spell as caretaker manager of County in 2017, but later reverted to the role of player-coach after the appointment of Kevin Nolan as manager.

He has also represented the England national team, winning 19 caps.

Smith was known for his aggressive mentality on the pitch and his high-pressing style of football and earned a reputation as a hard-tackling player and is noted for his high work rate.

Smith was born and brought up in Rothwell, West Yorkshire, where he attended Rodillian School.

Smith started his career with Leeds and scored in his first-team debut against Liverpool, aged 18.