When asked about his daughters’ partners, Alan Shearer delivered a witty seven-word reply, expressing his relief that Hollie and Chloe’s boyfriends do not follow in his footsteps as footballers. The former Newcastle United striker, renowned for his record-setting 260 Premier League goals and his role as a pundit on Match of the Day, is also deeply committed to his family life.
Shearer first met his wife, Lainya, during the early days of his career at Southampton in 1988, and they married three years later. Now, in 2024, they celebrate 33 years of marriage and have raised three grown children: Hollie, Chloe, and Will.
Alan Shearer and his wife Lainya
Fathers often experience anxiety when their daughters bring home boyfriends for the first time, and Shearer likely felt the same. Fortunately for him, both of his daughters have chosen to date rugby union players rather than footballers.
Hollie, a talented singer-songwriter, has been in a relationship with Joe Marchant, a rugby star from Stade Français and England, since 2022. The couple resides in Paris to support Marchant’s career. After Hollie publicly revealed their relationship, Shearer quickly shared his humorous take, stating, “I’m just glad it’s not a footballer.”
This remark reflects his understanding of the notorious lifestyle often associated with professional football, something he has observed throughout his career. The affection between Hollie and Marchant is evident, as she recently posted a touching birthday tribute for him on social media, showcasing their love through a series of beautiful photographs.
Their Instagram accounts also feature numerous snapshots of their sun-soaked vacations together. Marchant began his professional career with Worthing in 2014 and joined Harlequins the following year.
His dedication to the London club is shown through an impressive tally of 317 points in 152 matches from 2015 to 2023, before he transferred to Stade Français last year. Currently playing in Paris, he has also earned 27 caps for the England national team.
Rugby players seem to be a recurring theme in the family, as Shearer’s other daughter, Chloe, is linked to Micky Young, a former England scrum-half and Newcastle Falcons player. Unlike Hollie, Chloe has chosen to keep her personal life more private, with no recent posts featuring Young on her Instagram since June.
Hailing from Hartlepool, Young kicked off his professional career with Newcastle Falcons in 2008, amassing 50 points in 79 matches before moving to Leicester Tigers in 2011. He had a two-year spell at Bath between 2013 and 2015 before returning to the Falcons, where he remained for eight years. Young departed the northeast at the end of the 2022/23 Premiership season to join Toulon as a World Cup Joker, later moving to Gloucester as injury cover.
