Alan Shearer vs Clint Dempsey: Stats Compared
Striker, England (born 1970, retired 2006) · Forward, United States (born 1983, retired 2018)
Alan Shearer versus Clint Dempsey is a clash of two unmistakable footballing identities. Trophies, more than goals, are how most supporters ultimately remember a career. On production alone, Alan Shearer posted 409 goals across 733 appearances while Clint Dempsey managed 180 across 550. Assists were not reliably tracked for much of their careers, which makes the playmaking comparison an imperfect one; where records exist, Alan Shearer is credited with 0 and Clint Dempsey with 90. The honours ledger favours Alan Shearer with 9 major trophies (1× Premier League (1995)) against Clint Dempsey's 2 (1× MLS Supporters' Shield (2014)). One lifted trophies through mercurial reliability, the other through mercurial moments that decided finals. Their routes to the top were distinct: Alan Shearer built his reputation across Southampton, Blackburn Rovers, Newcastle United, peaking around 1995, while Clint Dempsey reached his defining level around 2012 after spells with New England Revolution, Fulham, Tottenham Hotspur, Seattle Sounders. Picking between them says as much about the picker as the players.
165 words · comparison angle: trophies
Player profiles
Alan Shearer (born 13 August 1970) is an English football pundit and former professional player who played as a striker. Widely regarded as one of the greatest strikers of all time and one of the greatest players in Premier League history, he is the league's record goalscorer with 260 goals. He was named Football Writers' Association Player of the Year in 1994 and won the PFA Player of the Year award in 1995.
“A record-breaking number nine who combined brutal finishing with clever hold-up play.”
The first American to score in three separate World Cups, Dempsey became the first US-born player to captain a Premier League team and remains one of the country's most decorated forwards.
“A tenacious, technically gifted forward whose late runs into the box and clever improvisation produced some of American soccer's most memorable goals.”
Head-to-head stats
Career goals by season
Representative career seasons — goals per season for each player across their documented clubs.
Attribute radar
Attribute ratings are peak-era, 0–100. Different positions naturally skew the profile.
Attribute comparison
Trophy breakdown
- 1× Premier League (1995)
- 1× MLS Supporters' Shield (2014)
- 1× MLS Cup (2016)
Trophy distribution
Career milestones
- 1987 Established himself at Southampton
- 1991 Reached his defining peak
- 1995 Delivered a landmark season
- 2006 Retired from professional football
- 2004 Professional debut for New England Revolution
- 2014 Won MLS Supporters' Shield with Seattle Sounders
- 2016 Won MLS Cup with Seattle Sounders
- 2012 Reached the peak of his powers at Fulham
- 2018 Retired after a final spell at Seattle Sounders
- Finished his career with 180 goals in 550 appearances and 2 major honours. Finished his career with 180 goals in 550 appearances and 2 major honours.
The verdict
If forced to pick, Alan Shearer is the choice: a decisive margin, with a sharper goalscoring record the deciding factor.
Alan Shearer edges it (a decisive margin)
