In brief
In 2006, when playing Liverpool in the FA Cup at Anfield, Alan Smith had a terrible leg injury.
The former Manchester United player still has ten pins in his ankle, which makes it difficult for him to walk.
According to Sir Alex Ferguson, the injury was among the worst he had ever witnessed.
According to reports, Alan Smith, a former forward for Manchester United, is still dealing with the consequences of the terrible injury he sustained while playing against Liverpool in 2006.
In the last moments of an FA Cup fifth-round match at Anfield, the retired striker, who rose through the ranks at Leeds United and played with pride before the team was demoted in 2004, suffered a terrible fractured leg and dislocated ankle while defending a free-kick from John Arne Riise.
Riise thought he had a chance from 40 yards out, but Smith’s United teammates recognised something was really amiss and valiantly charged down his strong left-footed strike. While Ruud van Nistelrooy left the scene with his hands covering his face, Edwin van der Sar and Gary Neville promptly called for United’s medical team to come over and assist.
Manchester United Players’ Reaction
Teammates were visibly shocked
He’s been to the hospital. It appears to be one of the worst things I have ever seen in a long time.
Everyone quickly realised that Smith was in a very severe predicament, especially given how long Ferguson had been involved in the game. Among the earliest players on the scene was Wes Brown. “He yelled at me right away,” the defender added. I approached him and took hold of his hand when I noticed his ankle. Just in case something happened, I didn’t want him to move.”
Ferguson went on to say: “Neville and Van der Sar were the ones who were taken aback. We realised it was a horrible one at that point. Alan Smith’s philosophical approach to it is what makes him so remarkable. He wasn’t very surprised. We were amazed at how composedly he handled it. I believe that he was able to receive a proper rehabilitation because of his composure and approach towards it.
In the meanwhile, Ryan Giggs stated: “Seeing the courage of Smudger, I think there’s no doubt that he’ll be back soon – and be the Smudger that everyone loves and has come to love at the club.”
A few weeks later, United defeated Wigan Athletic in the League Cup final, winning 4-0 at Cardiff’s Millennium Stadium behind goals from Wayne Rooney (2), Louis Saha, and Cristiano Ronaldo. In honour of their injured teammate, United’s players wore t-shirts bearing the words “For you Smudge” during the victory celebrations.
Smith missed eight months of play before returning, however at the end of the 2006–07 season, he left Old Trafford for Newcastle United. After the team was demoted to the Championship a year earlier, he spent four years at St. James’ Park and helped the northeastern team return to the Premier League in 2010.
Smith struggled for minutes at Newcastle before joining League One’s MK Dons halfway through the 2011–12 campaign. After playing for Notts County for four years, he finally transferred permanently to MK Dons before retiring in 2018.
Smith Still ‘Struggles to Walk’
Almost 20 years later
The former England player said that he was still dealing with the fallout from stopping Riise’s free kick. The Sun claims that Smith hobbles every day when he gets out of bed because he has “about 10 pins” in his ankle.
“I knew with the injury it would be touch and go whether I could carry on playing – the surgeon said that,” he told The Mirror about his difficulties over twenty years after the tragedy.
“People would have remembered you as a top Premier League player, and it would have been simpler to leave. But since I like playing football, I didn’t want that. You overcome the pain barrier because you love it. The majority of my teammates and coaches have appreciated me for continuing to play football when it would have been simple to quit.
However, I fell to League One, then to League Two, and finally to the Championship. Many individuals would ask me, “Why am I bothering you?” I wanted to continue playing if people thought I could still make a difference, whether I was making £500 a week or nothing.
After performing so well at such a young age, the injuries improved me as a person. I discovered that football can end at any time. I am fortunate that I continued playing because of my unwavering perseverance and dedication.
“The nice people I met lower down the leagues probably encouraged me to stay in football for a longer period of time,” he continued. However, the daily exercise was ultimately having more negative effects than positive ones. I was unable to compete as readily as I thought I could in the past.
“I get out of bed and can’t walk properly, my ankle is stiff all the time.”
In the summer, I went for a run and completed a few kilometres before stopping to walk since my ankle was hurting. When I returned last month, the surgeon told me that I shouldn’t run in a straight line since it would harm my joint.
Walking away is never easy, but you know it’s the right thing to do when you see someone and they don’t want you to run. I consider early retirement as the convenient choice, and I have no regrets.
The Career Statistics of Alan Smith
Club
Looks
Objectives
Helps
Leeds United
224
54
Twelve
The County of Notts
107
One
4.
Newcastle
94
0
4.
United Manchester
93
Twelve
11.
M.K. Dons
83
3.
3.
Where Alan Smith is Now
Former striker still involved in football
As the Academy Director of XL Soccer Academy in Orlando, the 44-year-old applied for a US visa in order to relocate to Florida and coach young people. He told reporters, “The goal of the XL Academy is to produce National Team players while giving every student the opportunity to perform to their greatest potential on the pitch and in the classroom.” The Yorkshireman also took up surfing, spending six hours in the water on his first attempt until he could stand on the board.
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