Goodbye, Michael Owen: a tribute to a true legend of English football

g>The beginning of the end?

Owen started all three of England’s group matches in the World Cup, although in the opening exchanges of the final game against Sweden he suffered an horrific injury to his right knee which saw him sidelined for almost a whole year.

This put him, unwittingly, at the centre of a legal row between Newcastle United and international governing body FIFA which saw the Premier League club claiming up to £20 million in compensation for, among other things, the cost of Owen’s replacement Obafemi Martins, the long-term effect on Owen’s fitness, and the cost of medical treatment for the player. The dispute was eventually settled (although not to the desire of the club), and in February 2007 Michael returned to light training and eventually played a couple of times at the end of the season for Newcastle, still looking bright and able to perform at a high standard.

In 2007/08 Owen enjoyed his most successful season with the Toon, scoring 13 times in 33 appearances in the league and cups, although he continued to suffer numerous injuries throughout the season for both club and country. In January 2008 he was awarded the captaincy by manager Kevin Keegan, and he continued to play well throughout the second half of the season to ease fans’ fears of relegation and help the team finish 12th in the league.

Owen’s final season at Newcastle culminated in the club’s relegation from the Premier League for the first time in 15 years, and in June 2009 he confirmed he would not be re-signing with Newcastle as he understandably favoured staying in the top flight, either in England or abroad.

The reinvigoration

On July 3rd, the football world was surprised at the signing of Michael Owen by Premier League champions Manchester United, a deal which Owen himself admits came from “out of the blue”. Taking on the legendary number 7 shirt left by Cristiano Ronaldo, Owen worked on a ‘pay as you play’ deal, and scored on his debut for the club in pre-season. He netted semi-regularly in the opening months of the season, although it wasn’t until September 20th that he became a true Red Devil with his first strike at Old Trafford.

United faced long-term rivals Manchester City, the clubs situated within goal difference of one another at the top of the table. After Darren Fletcher and Craig Bellamy took turns to respond for their sides, Owen came on for Dimitar Berbatov with 12 minutes remaining, the game poised at 2-2. Fletcher scored United’s third with ten minutes left, before Bellamy scored a dramatic equaliser in the final minute of normal time. Former United striker Mark Hughes had forgotten about Fergie time though, and after six minutes added on Michael Owen scored the most dramatic goal of his career when he found himself unmarked in the box after a free kick, slotting cooly past City goalie Shay Given to send the United fans up in triumph.

Owen scored his first United hat-trick in December, but by March he was back on the injury list requiring surgery for a hamstring problem suffered in a game against Aston Villa. United eventually lost out on the league title to Chelsea. The following season was hit and miss for the striker, who was often named on the bench for the Manchester side, but he made enough appearances throughout the year to warrant his receipt of the one club competition he had yet to receive — the Premier League championship.

He signed a one-year contract extension at the end of the season, although his dreams of another Premier League medal came to an end as early as November when he suffered another thigh injury which saw him out for the rest of the season. Manchester United did not renew his contract.

And in closing…

Michael Owen has spent his final year with mid-table side Stoke City, continuing to suffer frustration with injuries which have hampered his chances of a high-profile comeback to the sport. He has scored one goal for the club so far, which finally allowed him to reach the coveted 150 mark for Premier League goals.

Two months later to the day he announced his retirement from professional football, and he has his final chance to play on the last day of the current season at St Mary’s Stadium against Southampton. No matter what individuals may think of him, it would be surprising if he does not receive a standing ovation from both sets of fans should he feature in the game.

Regardless of whether you loved or hated Liverpool in the 90s, or whether you’re English or not, it is likely that you have been impressed, stunned, blown away, filled with pride by the talents of Michael Owen.

Once a lightning-fast goalscorer of the greatest calibre, now an experienced ambassador for the game whose career was cruelly cut short by injuries, one can only dream of the heights Michael might have reached had he remained fit throughout the years. Despite this though, we all know he was one of the very best strikers this country ever saw, and we can remember him fondly for all the moments of genius he shared with us. Michael Owen, we salute you.

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