The legendary striker played in a number of high-profile matches for both his club and country over the years, but he was always excited rather than hesitant to get out on the pitch.

Asked if he ever got nervous, he told FourFourTwo magazine: “No, not really. Excited, not nervous.

“I’d have the knot in the stomach, but I think that’s a good thing. I don’t think that’s nerves.

“That was excitement rather than anything.

“I never really got nervous – I just wanted to get out there and get started.”

Alan’s opening goal of Euro 96 against Switzerland came after a lengthy dry spell for England, and he ranks the strike as one of the “most important” of his career.

He said: “I think in terms of importance, it was one of the most important goals I ever scored.

“It wasn’t one of the better goals.

“It was a good pass from Paul Ince, a good run and a decent finish.

“But in terms of importance, it’s right, right up there.”

Alan loved working under England’s Euro 96 manager Terry Venables because he was a “genius” who worked players hard but made sure they still enjoyed themselves.

He said: “Terry was a genius. Everyone loved him and everyone respected him.

“He made training really difficult but really enjoyable, so much so that you didn’t want to leave the training ground.

“He was ahead of his time.

“What Pep and Jurgen have been doing, he was doing in 1996 and before.”