33 Facts About Alan Hansen

Alan David Hansen was born on 13 June 1955 and is a Scottish former footballer and BBC television football pundit.

Alan Hansen played as a central defender for Partick Thistle, for the successful Liverpool team of the late 1970s and 1980s, and for the Scotland national team.

Alan Hansen co-hosted Match of the Day from 1992 to 2014.

Alan Hansen was born in Sauchie, Clackmannanshire, Scotland, and attended Lornshill Academy and supported Rangers growing up.

Alan Hansen played his early football at Scottish Junior league club, Sauchie Juniors near Alloa.

At the age of 15, Alan Hansen ran into a plate-glass panel after playing volleyball and was left with a large scar on his forehead.

Alan Hansen sued the education authority and won the case.

Alan Hansen stopped playing football between the ages of 15 and 17 and concentrated on playing golf, with aspirations of becoming a professional.

Alan Hansen turned down the opportunity to study at the University of Aberdeen, in order to join his older brother John at Partick Thistle.

Alan Hansen made his debut on 24 September 1977 in a league match at Anfield.

Alan Hansen was put into the first team sporadically throughout the season.

Alan Hansen managed 18 appearances in the First Division that season, where Liverpool finished runners-up to Nottingham Forest.

Alan Hansen was involved in a controversial incident in the League Cup final at Wembley when he appeared to handle a shot on the goal line.

Alan Hansen gave Hansen the captaincy and the season ended in triumph, as in 1986 Liverpool became only the third side in the 20th century to complete a League and FA Cup "double", following Tottenham in 1961 and Arsenal in 1971.

Alan Hansen lifted both trophies as captain and earned his first FA Cup winners' medal, thereby completing the domestic set.

Alan Hansen did not have any objections to Whelan keeping the captaincy that season.

Alan Hansen made more appearances the following season but his persistent knee problems continued to affect his fitness although he still captained Liverpool to another League title, which made it eight individually for Alan Hansen, which was a record at the time.

Alan Hansen was selected for the FA Cup semi-final match against Nottingham Forest at Hillsborough, playing the opening six minutes of the match before it was abandoned.

Alan Hansen attended 12 funerals and visited the injured in hospital.

Alan Hansen played for Scotland in the 1982 World Cup in Spain.

Alan Hansen had played infrequently for Scotland before the tournament, and had often withdrawn from squads.

Alan Hansen won the last of his 26 Scotland caps in 1987.

Alan Hansen was offered the Huddersfield Town job in 1992, following the sacking of Eoin Hand, but he turned it down.

Alan Hansen ruled himself out by stating that, despite his great affection for the club, he simply was not interested in coaching or management; a position he has maintained ever since Roy Evans got the job.

Alan Hansen turned down an offer in 1995 to manage Manchester City, following the sacking of Brian Horton.

Alan Hansen began working for BBC Radio 5 Live, before moving on to Match of the Day.

Alan Hansen became a columnist for The Daily Telegraph, Telegraph.

Alan Hansen still continues to this day to repeat this phrase for humorous effect.

Alan Hansen later said that the phrase "made him" as a pundit, as people would shout it at him in public places.

On 5 September 2013, Alan Hansen announced he would retire as a Match of the Day pundit following the 2014 World Cup.

Away from football analysis, Alan Hansen is a keen golfer, and he is a member of Hillside Golf Club playing off a handicap of three and regularly returns to the town of his birth near Alloa in Clackmannanshire, Scotland to participate in celebrity golf tournaments in aid of various charities.

Alan Hansen has hosted documentaries on the sport and worked at the Masters Tournament for the BBC.

Alan Hansen has presented programmes on the rise in status and wealth of the modern footballer and has appeared in television adverts, such as for Carlsberg and Morrisons supermarkets.