Ever since his retirement, Newcastle United have been looking for the next Alan Shearer.
The local hero hung up his boots in 2006, scoring his 206th and final Newcastle United goal in a 4-1 win over bitter rivals Sunderland. It was a fitting way for a Newcastle United legend to go out, and Alan Shearer remains Newcastle’s record goalscorer.
Since his playing career came to an end, there have been multiple strikers that have tried to fill his shoes. Michael Owen failed, while Andy Carroll was sold to Liverpool. Demba Ba was also not at the club long enough, while injuries mean Callum Wilson’s impressive scoring record is not even better.
Right now, Alexander Isak looks like the Magpies’ best striker since Shearer. Newcastle’s most expensive signing ever is a world class talent, and someone who will hopefully have a very long career at St James’ Park.
How former Newcastle United striker Aleksandar Mitrovic is doing in Saudi Arabia
Aleksandar Mitrovic and Sergej of Al-Hilal applaud the fans at full-time following the team's draw in the AFC Champions League Elite match between ...
Photo by Yasser Bakhsh/Getty Images
While Isak is cementing his legacy in black and white, a former Toon striker is scoring goals for fun in Saudi Arabia.
Over the past couple of years, major names have flocked to the Middle East, including Aleksandar Mitrovic.
The former Newcastle United striker joined Al-Hilal last summer, arriving from Fulham for £50million. Interestingly, Al-Hilal are majority owned by PIF.
But while goals did not always flow in a Newcastle shirt, Mitrovic is having no such problems in Saudi Arabia.
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During his first season, he scored 28 goals in 28 Saudi Pro League games, as Al-Hilal ended the year as champions. He also provided six assists, as Mitrovic averaged more than one goal contribution per game. In all competitions, Mitrovic scored 40 goals and provided eight assists in 44 appearances in the 2023/24 season.
His numbers were incredible, and the 30-year-old has continued that trend in the 2024/25 season.
Mitrovic boasts 20 goals and three assists in 22 games in all competitions, with 12 of his goals coming in 12 Saudi Pro League appearances. Thanks to the Serbia international, Al-Hilal are once again in a title race, as they aim to win their fifth league title in six years.
So far this season, no player has scored more Saudi Pro League goals than Mitrovic. Not Cristiano Ronaldo. Not Karim Benzema. Not Sadio Mane.
Player Saudi Pro League goals in 24/25
Aleksandar Mitrovic 12
Karim Benzema 9
Cristiano Ronaldo 9
Georges-Kevin N’Koudou 8
Houssem Aouar 7
Abdullah Al-Salem 7
What Mitrovic said about Alan Shearer when he joined Newcastle United
There were high expectations when Steve McClaren’s Newcastle signed Mitrovic from Anderlecht in 2015.
He arrived as a 20-year-old with a big reputation, and he quickly made it clear that he had lofty ambitions.
Upon joining Newcastle United, Mitrovic said: “This is a club with a very big history and the fans are a big part of that. There will be pressure here, for sure, but I like pressure. I also know about the famous players who have played for Newcastle United, like Alan Shearer, who is a hero of mine. I hope I can play like him for this club. It will be an honour.”
While Mitrovic idolised Shearer and wanted to emulate him in a black and white shirt, he did not come close. The forward spent two-and-a-half seasons on Tyneside, scoring 17 goals in 72 games.
While fans loved him for his passion and enthusiasm, it often boiled over. During his Newcastle career, Mitrovic was sent off twice.
He left to join Fulham on loan in January 2018, before making the move permanent the following summer. It proved to be an outstanding move for the striker, and he became a modern day hero at Craven Cottage.
Now Mitrovic has taken his talents to Saudi Arabia, and is scoring the volume of goals that Shearer would be proud of. Sadly, it is in the Saudi Pro League, rather than the Premier League for Newcastle United.
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