davieG Posted 19 March 2013 Posted 19 March 2013 19 March 2013 Michael Owen retires: Striker leaves memories to savour The secret was out in a suburb of Liverpool many years before Michael Owen became a global star with his iconic England goal against Argentina in St Etienne during World Cup 98 in France. Behind the walls of the club's Melwood training headquarters in West Derby - then a far cry from the magnificent modern complex it represents today - Liverpool's staff and players could barely contain their excitement at the emergence of one teenager. Owen, then 16, was regarded as a commodity so precious he was almost kept from view when he returned to play for Liverpool's youth team from the FA's base at Lilleshall in 1996. The striker was deliberately kept away from the spotlight but the buzz of excitement was palpable and there was no hiding place as he cut down opponents such as Manchester United and then West Ham United - their side including Rio Ferdinand and Frank Lampard - in the final as Liverpool won the FA Youth Cup. Small, blessed with lightning pace, natural goalscoring ability and an electrifying presence that pushed defences back those crucial paces, it was the opening phase of a career that will come to a close with Stoke City at the end of this season, the news confirmed in an emotional announcement from the 33-year-old on Tuesday. Those concluding, injury-plagued years of Owen's career at Newcastle United, Manchester United and Stoke mean he leaves football with understatement rather than the blaze of glory his many memorable feats deserve. When England's greatest moments in recent memory are recalled, Owen plays a central role. From the slaloming run and rising finish against Argentina in 1998 to September 2001 and his hat-trick against Germany in the famous 5-1 win in the World Cup qualifier in Munich, Owen was not just a scorer of goals, but a scorer of important goals. Liverpool (1996-2004): 297 games, 158 goals Real Madrid (2004-05): 40 games, 14 goals Newcastle (2005-09): 79 games, 30 goals Man Utd (2009-12): 52 games, 17 goals Stoke (2012-13) 7 games, one goal England (1998-2008): 89 caps, 40 goals More - http://www.bbc.co.uk...otball/21843597
Guest Sharpe's Fox Posted 19 March 2013 Posted 19 March 2013 Good on him swallowing his pride, but thought he could maybe drop down a division.
Super_horns Posted 19 March 2013 Posted 19 March 2013 Didn't want to if I remember rightly. Great goalscorer in his prime but injuries really affected his career ferom quite a young age.
Simmo86 Posted 19 March 2013 Posted 19 March 2013 Class in his day. Unbelieveable goalscoring record before doing his knee in Germany. Surprised he gets so much stick to be honest!
Fox92 Posted 19 March 2013 Posted 19 March 2013 Always liked Owen. On his day, he was one of the best forwards in the World. Great finisher and if it wasn't for injuries, he would have scored more goals for England.
ScouseFox Posted 19 March 2013 Posted 19 March 2013 Never understood all the stick he's got for literally anything. Fair play from Liverpool fans to have a bit of a go, you just don't go Liverpool to United. From everyone else he's just got loads of stick for what, getting injured? Gave his all for his country, always turned up at big games (v Argentina, hat trick in Germany, v Brazil '02 when we looked like we could win the World Cup for about 20 minutes, v Portugal in the Euros etc etc). Also never understood the "he should drop down a division, not retire/sit on a Prem bench". Why? He's gone to World Cups, won Leagues, played in the Champions League, for England's two biggest clubs and arguably the biggest club in the world, why should he be rocking up to fúcking London Road on a Tuesday night playing for Blackpool or whatever?
cc_star Posted 19 March 2013 Posted 19 March 2013 Good on him swallowing his pride, but thought he could maybe drop down a division. Shame he didn't, he might have got more time on the pitch. Never understood all the stick he's got for literally anything. Fair play from Liverpool fans to have a bit of a go, you just don't go Liverpool to United. From everyone else he's just got loads of stick for what, getting injured? Gave his all for his country, always turned up at big games (v Argentina, hat trick in Germany, v Brazil '02 when we looked like we could win the World Cup for about 20 minutes, v Portugal in the Euros etc etc). Also never understood the "he should drop down a division, not retire/sit on a Prem bench". Why? He's gone to World Cups, won Leagues, played in the Champions League, for England's two biggest clubs and arguably the biggest club in the world, why should he be rocking up to fúcking London Road on a Tuesday night playing for Blackpool or whatever? To actually play football, rather than hardly get a game in the top flight. Surely a footballer wants to use the gift he has? People want to see quality - Kevin Philips a similar-ish player has had a great impact for clubs before this season & Owen would have been a hero somewhere rather than just taking a wage in return for shirt sales in the Far East. --------------------- Heard Real, Man Utd & Stoke are retiring their benches out of respect.
ADK Posted 19 March 2013 Posted 19 March 2013 I don't think Owen is/was suited to playing full seasons due to his injuries. Therefore it made more sense to be an occasional impact sub for a prem club. Always liked Owen, professional and intelligent player. Without the injuries he might have ended up Englands highest goal scorer.
Vacamion Posted 19 March 2013 Posted 19 March 2013 Anyone who saw THAT goal aginst the Argies will wish him well. Unless they are an Argie.
ScouseFox Posted 19 March 2013 Posted 19 March 2013 Shame he didn't, he might have got more time on the pitch. To actually play football, rather than hardly get a game in the top flight. Surely a footballer wants to use the gift he has? People want to see quality - Kevin Philips a similar-ish player has had a great impact for clubs before this season & Owen would have been a hero somewhere rather than just taking a wage in return for shirt sales in the Far East. But that's the point, he's hardly ever gonna play anywhere because in recent years he's always been injured. He'd be on a bench/treatment table anywhere. Would you choose the Champions League and Premier League winning Manchester United's bench, or the bench of a shite, shite football league club? For instance, when fit he scored a champions league hat trick at united, scored and won in the League Cup final, scored THAT goal against City. Or he could've been injured and occasionally fit and maybe scored a goal or two for Barnsley. I know what I'd choose, and can't work out why anyone would have a go at him for choosing what he did. It's not his fault he got injured. Too many games too young, his body couldn't cope and has never fully recovered. When he was fully fit he was one of the best in the World, and one of the best England have ever had. I'll be focussing on that whenever he's mentioned post retirement, not his injuries and the fact he didn't really want to play for a shite club.
Corky Posted 19 March 2013 Posted 19 March 2013 He was brilliant in his prime, pace to burn and a natural finisher. All seemed to go stale when he left Liverpool.
ousefox Posted 19 March 2013 Posted 19 March 2013 He's basically been retired for a couple of years now anyway. What a player he was, just wish he could have lasted longer.
FoxesAreBlue Posted 19 March 2013 Posted 19 March 2013 He's basically been retired for a couple of years now anyway. What a player he was, just wish he could have lasted longer. This.
Freeman's Wharfer Posted 19 March 2013 Posted 19 March 2013 A lot to be said for the way he conducted himself off the pitch too. The darling of English football but never seemed to be exposed doing something stupid/unprofessional like so many these days. Actually had the ability and intelligence to be able to cope at one of the biggest foreign clubs in the world as well. Class act.
Soar Fox Posted 19 March 2013 Posted 19 March 2013 A lot to be said for the way he conducted himself off the pitch too. The darling of English football but never seemed to be exposed doing something stupid/unprofessional like so many these days. Only because he didn't get caught.
Freeman's Wharfer Posted 20 March 2013 Posted 20 March 2013 Only because he didn't get caught. He must have done bloody well to not get caught given how high profile he was if he was up to anything. He was there to be shot at as the golden boy of English football for a time, the press must have gone digging at some point.
Soar Fox Posted 20 March 2013 Posted 20 March 2013 He must have done bloody well to not get caught given how high profile he was if he was up to anything. He was there to be shot at as the golden boy of English football for a time, the press must have gone digging at some point. I only know of one incident in a hotel room, where he met a girl at the races.
OzFox Posted 20 March 2013 Posted 20 March 2013 I was lucky enough to be at the Argentina game, and probably haven't gone that potty over any goal since. Even the Argies next to me were on their feet applauding. A fantastic footy moment.
Ric Flair Posted 20 March 2013 Posted 20 March 2013 How has this not even made 2 pages in more than 12 hours? Owen was a footballing role model and him retiring has made me feel a lot older! I remember him arriving on the scene as a 17 year old and I must have been 13/14 and i'd never seen finishing like it. Injuries may have blighted his career in the last 6 or 7 years but for the first half of his tenure he was mustard. He was so dependable for club and country and he did fulfill his potential in my opinion. Everyone had hoped Rooney and Owen could lead England to glory but in truth Owen was always more reliable and it faded away. I hope our nation produces another finisher like Owen in the near future as we've badly missed his ilk. I'll never forget that goal vs Argentina, his brace vs Arsenal in the FA Cup and that hat-trick against the salmons. Unbelievable stuff. Dofts cap. I look forward to being on a few of his winners over the coming years too. What a man.
Ric Flair Posted 20 March 2013 Posted 20 March 2013 I was lucky enough to be at the Argentina game, and probably haven't gone that potty over any goal since. Even the Argies next to me were on their feet applauding. A fantastic footy moment. Amazing mate, you'll never forget that i'm sure. Superb.
Jon the Hat Posted 20 March 2013 Posted 20 March 2013 What a player he was, will never forget the goals he scored for England. Shame the injuries have made things peter out. I have no clue why people whinge about him not dropping down a division. When he was fit he played and he scored in the Prem. How does dropping down make any difference? Good luck to him for the future. Dont become a pundit please.
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