Alan Shearer appears thrilled about his daughter Hollie’s engagement to England rugby star Joe Marchant, if the Premier League legend’s previous remarks anything to go by.
The iconic former Newcastle United and Blackburn Rovers forward is set to officially have Marchant join the family following the couple’s engagement news, which came in late 2024.
Hollie, 30, began her relationship with the former Harlequins player back in 2022 and subsequently joined him in Paris after he switched to French Top 14 side Stade Francais in 2023.
Their partnership has only blossomed from there, and based on comments made by the ex-England striker, Shearer and Marchant seem to share a jovial and affectionate rapport.
Despite having 27 international caps, Marchant isn’t eligible to play for England at present owing to his status as a non-Premiership player – a league he triumphed in back in 2021. Nonetheless, this hasn’t dampened the spirits of the engaged pair enjoying their French escapade.
In a joyful Instagram post in November last year, singer Hollie shared their engagement, writing: “BEST DAY EVER!! (ring emoji) Got to say yes to my favourite person (heart emoji).”
Amongst a flood of congratulatory messages, Shearer’s response stood out without uttering a single word. The former striker conveyed his delight purely through a series of heart-eyes and clapping hand emojis.
Premier League all-time top goalscorer Shearer couldn’t hide his humour when past asked about his daughter’s relationship with rugby player Marchant, jokingly stating: “I’m just glad it’s not a footballer!”
(Image: hollieshearer/Instagram)
This lighthearted quip was followed by another jocular remark after his daughter Hollie and Marchant vacationed on Naxos Island in Greece in 2023. The couple posted various holiday snaps, with one featuring Marchant in particularly revealing swimwear, prompting Shearer to comment: “WTF are the smugglers you have on?” He was poking fun at Marchant’s interesting choice of attire.
Although there’s been no official announcement regarding the wedding date, 54-year-old Shearer’s playful digs suggest that he’s more than ready to welcome the ex-Harlequins star into the family.
Chloe, his eldest daughter, is also following in her family’s sporting footsteps and has found love with former rugby player Micky Young. The 36-year-old had two stints with the Newcastle Falcons before finishing his career with Gloucester last year, reports the Mirror.
To honour Young’s contributions to the sport, the Newcastle Falcons announced that they would hold a testimonial year for him. This will include a special football dinner event featuring Shearer himself.
