Career
As a player he was a striker from 1981 until retiring from injury in 1995. He played for Leicester City before joining Arsenal where he played in the Premier League. Leicester City A striker, Smith started his career at non-league Alvechurch in north Worcestershire.
He then signed professional forms with Leicester City in June 1982.
He spent five seasons at Leicester, scoring 84 goals in 217 appearances. He was transferred to Arsenal in 1987.
Arsenal He scored the first goal in Arsenal"s League Championship winning victory at Anfield in May 1989, and the only goal of the 1994 European Cup Winners" Cup Final victory against Parma. Smith was Arsenal"s top scorer for four consecutive seasons, and the top scorer in the First Division in the 1988-1989 season with 23 goals.
He received just one yellow card throughout his entire career.
He retired from professional football in July 1995. Several clubs, including Watford, had expressed an interest in signing Smith just before he announced his retirement from playing. In eight seasons at Highbury, he scored a total of 115 league goals, His first league goals for the club came on 29 August 1987, when he netted a hat-trick in a 6–0 game versus Portsmouth at Highbury.
As well as his goals in the 1989 title clinching game and the European triumph of 1994, he scored a hat-trick against Manchester United in the First Division on 6 May 1991.
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.
This partnership continued in the subsequent Fédération internationale de football association 13, Fédération internationale de football association 14, Fédération internationale de football association 15, and the most recent installment Fédération internationale de football association 16. Alan Smith was well known for his headers and his headed passes.
Club Leicester City Second Division Promotion (1): 1982-1983 Arsenal First Division (2): 1988-1989, 1990-1991 FA Cup (1): 1993 Football League Cup (1): 1992-1993 Union of European Football Associations Cup Winners" Cup (1): 1993-1994 FA Charity Shield (1): 1991 International Challenge Cup (1): 1991 Individual.