A striker, Smith started his career at non-league Alvechurch in north Worcestershire. He then signed professional forms with Leicester City in June 1982. In his first season, he scored 13 goals in partnership with Gary Lineker, as the Foxes won promotion to the First Division. He spent five seasons at Leicester, scoring 84 goals in 217 appearances. He was transferred to Arsenal in March 1987, but then loaned back to Leicester for the rest of the season.
Arsenal
His first league goal for the club came on 29 August 1987, when he netted a hat-trick in a 6–0 game versus Portsmouth at Highbury. Smith then scored the first goal in Arsenal's 2-0 victory at Anfield in May 1989 which saw them lift that season's league championship. With Arsenal he then won another league title in 1991 as well as a League and FA Cup Double two years later. He also struck the sole goal in Arsenal's 1994 European Cup Winners' Cup Final victory against Parma. Smith was Arsenal's top scorer for four consecutive seasons, and the First Division top scorer of the 1988–89 season with 23 goals. He also went on to win another Golden Boot in 1991. Several clubs, including Watford, had expressed an interest in signing Smith just before he announced an end to his playing days in July 1995. He received just one yellow card throughout his entire career. Smith scored 115 goals for Arsenal. All in all Smith has been ranked at 27th within the club's listing of the 50 greatest Gunners of all time.
Media career
Smith is currently a regular co-commentator and sometimes studio pundit for Sky Sports. In 2011, he commentated on the Champions League final alongside Martin Tyler. On 30 June 2011, EA Sports announced that Smith would replace Andy Gray as Martin Tyler's partner in commentating in FIFA 12. This has been in effect since then, with the pair reappearing in the series' most recent edition, FIFA 20.
Playing style
Tall and slim, Alan Smith was well known for his headers, but during his career he demonstrated all round skills, including a deft first touch and the ability to chest the ball down or head it on for teammates to run onto. Though primarily left-footed, he scored a number of goals with his right foot. He scored in a number of important games for Arsenal, including the 1993–94 European Cup Winners' Cup final and scored one goal in Arsenal's decisive victory at Anfield in 1989. As a striker Smith has been compared with former Arsenal marksman Olivier Giroud.
