Rio Ferdinand offers controversial view on Newcastle United legend Alan Shearer's induction into Premier League Hall of Fame

The Newcastle United legend, alongside Thierry Henry, were named as the first inductees on Monday, which is described as the “highest individual honour awarded to players by the league.”

Shearer remains the Premier League’s all-time record goalscorer, 15 years after retiring - firing 260 goals during spells with Southampton, Blackburn Rovers and the Magpies.

The 50-year-old lifted the top-flight title with Rovers before becoming his boyhood club’s leading scorer with 206 – surpassing Jackie Milburn’s remarkable feat.

Shearer, who joined Newcastle for a then world-record fee, also remains the only player to score more than 100 top-flight goals for two different teams.

But according to Ferdinand, that isn’t enough to earn him a place in his Hall of Fame top 10 list.

Speaking on his Youtube channel, the former Manchester United said: "It's hard not to put Steve Gerrard in (the list) because my criteria I'm going on is winning the Premier League and consistency.

"That's why Gareth Bale or Barry doesn't get in, and Alan Shearer wouldn't get in my first 10 - they were great but as great as they were they didn't win enough for me."

On his induction into the Premier League Hall of Fame, Shearer said: "All I ever wanted to be was a professional footballer.

"It was my dream to do that, my dream to win trophies and my dream to score at St James' Park, to wear the number nine black-and-white shirt and it was fantastic. I enjoyed every minute of it."

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