Alan Hansen

Known for his honest appraisals, Alan Hansen can inspire others as well as he can critique playing style. As a football player Hansen played for longer than most, then retired to commentating and hosting Match of the Day. His sometimes blunt manner has earned him many fans but has also caused a lot of controversy.

When speaking for motivational purposes, his honesty is appreciated along with his inspirational experiences and his obvious desire to help others achieve their best. One of the most famous players in football history and a respected pundit since his retirement from play, Alan Hansen has had an inspirational career.

Alan Hansen’s Early Interests

Alan was born in Sauchie, Scotland on 13 June 1955. He attended Lornshill comprehensive school and showed a keen interest in sport from an early age. He joined the Sauchie Juniors in the Scottish Junior League with his brother John and opted not to attend the University of Aberdeen in order to play alongside John for Partick Thistle FC, which is now a first division team in the Scottish Football league. He grew as a player in his time at the club, both in skill and confidence.

Aiming to be the best In 1971 Alan attended trials for Liverpool, but was rejected. Undeterred, he continued to excel at playing for Partick Thistle, gradually catching the eye of some big names in football. He impressed so much that in 1977, Liverpool purchased him from Partick Thistle for 110,000. From this moment on, Alan could not avoid the interest of press and fans alike, as his playing went from strength to strength. He appeared for Liverpool 621 times, scoring fourteen goals.

At the top of his game

With Alan on board, the team played some amazing games. His playing success spanned three decades, something which was (and is) highly unusual in the competitive world of football. In 1989 he became Liverpool’s captain, under manager Kenny Dalglish. Still in love with the beautiful game Alan retired from playing in 1991 following a knee injury but still retained his love of the game.

He opted not to go into club management and decided to pursue alternative careers involving the game. As a respected player, he was welcomed as a pundit and within a few months of retiring from play was working for Sky. His knowledge and experience saw him excel in this role and he was approached by the BBC to work on Radio Five Live.

Due to his success in this role, he soon moved to Match of the Day. He has appeared in several television adverts and writes a column for The Daily Telegraph. Personal and Charitable Interests Alan Hansen not only loves football, but also golf, and is a regular player. He competes in golf tournaments in order to raise money for charity.

He lives in Southport with his wife Janet and their children, Adam and Lucy.