The man with the plainest name in football is fortunately not cursed with the same monotone Brummie drone as his ex-Arsenal namesake
You can’t accuse Alan Smith of shirking a challenge. Having charged his way into the first team at local club Leeds, for whom he scored with his first touch in the Premiership, he was displaced by new strikers – and shifted his work ethic to midfield, becoming the Supporters’ Player Of The Year in 2003 and 2004.
When the club were relegated in May 2004 Smith made the rare move from Elland Road to Old Trafford for £7m (waiving any money Leeds owed him); as bitterness raged, Smith found himself joined by another new signing called Wayne Rooney.
Niggled by injuries, he was being groomed to replace Roy Keane in defensive midfield when, in February 2006, he broke his leg and dislocated his ankle at Anfield. Expected to be out for 12 months, he returned within seven. In summer 2008, Sam Allardyce paid £6m to take him to Newcastle.