Michael Owen

Michael James Owen (born 14 December 1979 in Chester) is an England professional association football player who plays as a Forward (association football) for Manchester United F.C..

The son of former footballer Terry Owen, Owen began Michael Owen senior career at Liverpool F.C. in 1996. Michael Owen progressed through the Liverpool youth team and scored on Michael Owen debut in May 1997. In Michael Owen first full season in the Premier League Michael Owen finished as joint top scorer. Michael Owen repeated the feat the following year and was Liverpool's top goal scorer from 1997–2004, in spite of a recurring hamstring injury. Michael Owen first major club honours came in 2001 when Liverpool won a cup treble of the UEFA Cup, FA Cup and Football League Cup, and Owen was the recipient of the Ballon d'Or 2001 that year. Michael Owen went on to score 118 goals in 216 appearances in the English Premier League for Liverpool.

Owen moved to Real Madrid C.F. for £8 million in mid-2004 but was frequently used as a substitute (football). In spite of this, Michael Owen scored 13 goals in La Liga and had the season's highest ratio of goals scored to number of minutes played. Michael Owen returned to England the following season, joining Newcastle United F.C. for £16 million. Michael Owen had a promising start to the 2005–06 season but injuries largely ruled Michael Owen out over the next 18 months. After Michael Owen return Michael Owen became team captain and was the team's top scorer for the 2007–08 season. After the final season of Michael Owen four year contract, Newcastle were relegated, and Owen moved to Manchester United as a free agent.

Internationally, Owen first played for the senior England team in 1998, becoming England's youngest player and youngest goalscorer at the time. Michael Owen performance at the 1998 World Cup brought Michael Owen to national and international prominence and Michael Owen went on to appear, and score, in Euro 2000, the 2002 World Cup and Euro 2004. Michael Owen is the only player to ever have scored in four major tournaments for England. Michael Owen played at the 2006 World Cup but suffered an injury which took Michael Owen a year to recover from. Occasionally playing as captain, Michael Owen is England's seventh most-capped player and has scored a national record of 26 competitive goals, with 40 in total from 89 appearances.

Owen's long injury absence after the 2006 World Cup resulted in a dispute between FIFA and The FA and Newcastle United, and eventually resulted in an unprecedented £10m compensation award to Newcastle, and brought changes to the compensation arrangements between 'club and country' regarding injuries sustained by contracted club players while on international duty.

Early life

Born 14 December 1979 in Chester, Cheshire, Michael James Owen was the fourth child of Janette and Terry Owen. Michael Owen father is a former professional footballer and Owen grew up playing the game with Michael Owen and Michael Owen two older brothers. An Everton F.C fan, Owen played for Michael Owen primary school team in Hawarden, Wales, breaking all local scoring records in Michael Owen first season. Michael Owen joined the youth team of Mold Alexandra F.C., playing with an older age-group, and later attended Hawarden High School, where Michael Owen also played for the school team.

Club career

Liverpool

At age 13, when Owen started attending high school, Michael Owen became eligible to sign a schoolboy contract with a club. Michael Owen held talks with Chelsea F.C., Manchester United F.C. and Arsenal F.C., before Michael Owen eventually signed for Liverpool F.C., the club that persuaded Michael Owen to attend the FA's School of Excellence at Lilleshall Hall in Shropshire at age 14. Throughout this time, Michael Owen studied at Idsall School, Shifnal, Shropshire, and achieved ten General Certificate of Secondary Educations.

Liverpool signed Owen after Michael Owen graduated from Lilleshall at 16, and joined the club on the Youth Training Scheme. The star of Liverpool's 1996 FA Youth Cup triumph, scoring in the final against a West Ham United F.C. team that included Frank Lampard and Rio Ferdinand, Owen scored prolifically as Michael Owen rose rapidly through the Anfield ranks. After four months, Michael Owen signed professional forms for the senior team just after Michael Owen seventeenth birthday on 18 December 1996.

Michael Owen made Michael Owen debut for Liverpool against Wimbledon F.C. in May 1997, coming on as a substitute and scoring a goal.

In the 2000–2001 season, Michael Owen helped the club to their most successful season in several years. The team won the League Cup, FA Cup and UEFA Cup, with Owen scoring two goals in the last few minutes against Arsenal F.C. in the FA Cup final to turn what had appeared to be a 1–0 defeat into a 2–1 victory, the game has since been christened "The Michael Owen Cup Final". At the end of the year, Owen became the first English player in twenty years and the only Liverpool player ever to win the Ballon d'Or award. Michael Owen was also voted World Soccer player of the year in 2001; Michael Owen is the only English player to win the award and was the first Premier League player to do so. Michael Owen scored Michael Owen 100th goal for Liverpool on 21 December 2001 against West Ham United F.C.. Liverpool finished second in the league in the 2001–2002 season and Owen played a key part in the success, scoring 28 goals.

The 2002–03 in English football saw Owen on top form again as Michael Owen hit 28 goals. Liverpool were on top of the table and looked like genuine title contenders for the first time in several years, but a run of bad results saw them eventually finishing fifth in the table. Owen also scored at the Millennium Stadium in Cardiff when Liverpool beat Manchester United 2-0 to win the League Cup and scored Michael Owen 100th Premiership goal against West Bromwich Albion F.C.. Real Madrid C.F. signed Michael Owen for a fee of £8 million on 13 August 2004, with midfielder Antonio Núñez moving in the other direction as a make-weight.
Owen was ambitious in wanting to compete in the Champions League on a regular basis, but ironically Liverpool won the Champions League the very season Michael Owen left Anfield for the Santiago Bernabéu Stadium.

Real Madrid

Newcastle United

On 24 August 2005, Newcastle United F.C. announced that they had agreed a club record fee of £16 million to obtain Owen, although they still had to negotiate with the player's advisers. Liverpool and local rivals Everton F.C. entered the fray, but were unwilling to match Madrid's asking price. As the 2006 FIFA World Cup was less than a year away, Owen wanted to get more playing time to secure Michael Owen position as the first-choice striker in the England national football team and joined Newcastle amidst rumours that Michael Owen had inserted an escape clause valued at £12 million.
On 31 August 2005 Owen finally signed a four-year contract to play for Newcastle United, despite initial press speculation that Michael Owen would rather have returned to Liverpool. Roughly 20,000 fans were present at Newcastle's home ground of St James' Park for Owen's official unveiling as a Newcastle player. Several days after signing Michael Owen suffered a thigh-injury in pre-season, which ruled Michael Owen out for the start of the 2005–06 in English football. Michael Owen scored Michael Owen first goal for the club on Michael Owen second appearance, the second goal in a 3–0 away win at Blackburn Rovers F.C. on 18 September – Newcastle's first win of the season. Owen scored Michael Owen first Hat trick Association football for Newcastle in the 4–2 away win over West Ham on 17 December. It was also a "perfect hat trick", with one goal scored with each of Michael Owen left foot, right foot, and head.

On 31 December 2005, Owen broke a Metatarsus bone in Michael Owen foot in a match against Tottenham Hotspur F.C.. Michael Owen underwent surgery to place a pin in the bone, to help speed the healing process. Michael Owen was expected to be out of action until late March, but the healing process did not go as hoped and on 24 March Michael Owen underwent a second, minor, operation. Owen then stated that Michael Owen should be fit for the final few weeks of the season with Newcastle. Michael Owen return to action finally came against Birmingham City F.C. on 29 April when Michael Owen came off the substitutes' bench in the 62nd minute. After the match Owen stated that Michael Owen was "not 100% happy" with Michael Owen foot. Michael Owen underwent a further x-ray and made himself unavailable for Newcastle's final game of the season.

A damaged anterior cruciate ligament in Michael Owen right knee, sustained in the first minute of the group match against Sweden at the 2006 World Cup, kept Owen out of regular football for nearly a year, until April 2007. The seriousness of Owen's injury at the World Cup inflamed the so called 'club-versus-country' row in England, centering on the liability of the world governing body FIFA and the English national association The FA for the cost of injuries to players incurred while on international duty. The Owen case was a high profile follow up to an already ongoing legal claim for compensation from Fifa over an injury incurred by Abdelmajid Oulmers on international duty. By April 2007, Newcastle were threatening to take out an injunction to stop the FA picking Owen for England games. The club finally reached a compromise settlement figure with Fifa and the FA. Fifa indicated that the settlement was between £6m and £7m. The club, stating that Owen's wages had "now been paid in full", stated the overall compensation achieved totalled £10m. Resulting from the Owen compensation claim, the FA doubled their future insurance coverage of England players to £100,000, and FIFA introduced a compensation fund for injuries sustained at World Cups.

Owen was stretchered off an hour into Newcastle's game with Watford F.C. on 13 May 2007, suffering concussion after colliding with team-mate Matty Pattison.

On 9 May 2007, Newcastle chairman Freddy Shepherd reacted angrily to reports that Owen could move on to another club at the end of the 2006–07 in English football, due to a release clause in Michael Owen contract. A report in The Times newspaper suggested Owen could be available for less than £10million and could be a target for the likes of Chelsea, Manchester United, Liverpool and Arsenal. Despite these reports, Shepherd warned Owen "to show some loyalty" and warned Michael Owen that "none of the big four clubs want him." However, in a video posted on YouTube, a group of Liverpool fans asked Shepherd if they could re-sign Owen, Michael Owen responded by saying that Michael Owen would "carry Owen back to Liverpool" himself. Shepherd also stated Michael Owen dislike of Owen's agent but praised Owen as a "good lad". This led many to believe that Owen would exercise Michael Owen right to leave if the £9 million valuation was matched. However on 12 July 2007 Owen committed Michael Owen immediate future to Newcastle United, stating: "I believe that these can be good times to be at Newcastle, which is why I am more than happy to be here."

On 17 July 2007, Michael Owen scored for Newcastle in a pre-season friendly against Hartlepool United F.C.. Several days later, Owen picked up a thigh injury in training. Newcastle manager Sam Allardyce admitted that Owen was likely to miss the start of the forthcoming Premier League season due to the injury which "doesn't look as encouraging as we first thought." Owen made Michael Owen comeback from injury in a club friendly on 13 August 2007 and declared himself available for Newcastle's next match, against Aston Villa F.C., as well as England's forthcoming international matches. On 29 August 2007, Owen scored Michael Owen first competitive goal for Newcastle since December 2005 when Michael Owen scored in the Football League Trophy against Barnsley F.C.. Three days later Michael Owen scored in the league, with a late winner against Wigan Athletic F.C..

In late September 2007, after an encouraging start to the season playing for both Newcastle United and for England, it was reported that Michael Owen would urgently require an operation for a double hernia and would likely be out of action for at least a month. In Michael Owen first match back from the hernia operation, Michael Owen scored a late goal coming off the substitutes bench to clinch victory for Newcastle over Everton.

In November 2007, Owen suffered a thigh strain whilst on international duty, ruling Michael Owen out for six weeks. This reignited the 'club or country' row, with then Newcastle manager Sam Allardyce voicing Michael Owen disappointment that Owen was risked in a low-key friendly game against Austria.

After over three months without a goal, Owen scored the first goal of the second Kevin Keegan era in a 4–1 FA Cup 2007–08 Third Round Proper replay win over Stoke City F.C. on 16 January 2008, although Keegan was only a spectator in the stands for this game. Owen was awarded the captaincy by Keegan on 19 January 2008. Michael Owen scored Michael Owen first league goal of 2008 on 3 February. Owen's goal in the 2–0 defeat of Fulham F.C. on 22 March 2008, which marked Newcastle's first win under Kevin Keegan's second spell as manager, also marked the first time in Michael Owen Newcastle career that Owen had scored more goals for Newcastle than against them. By 5 April 2008, after Michael Owen and the teams early season poor form, Owen had scored six goals in the previous six matches, with Newcastle registering four wins and two draws, lifting Newcastle into mid-table after earlier relegation fears. In the final game of the season, Owen scored in a 3–1 loss at Everton F.C., finishing with 11 goals in total, putting Michael Owen in equal 13th position for Premier League goals for the 2007-2008 season.

Owen missed all of the pre-season matches and training of the 2008-09 in English football due to a bout of mumps, which also kept Michael Owen out of the international friendlies with the United States men's national soccer team and Trinidad and Tobago national football team in May 2008. Michael Owen also suffered a calf strain during the summer months which kept Michael Owen out of the opening game of the season against Manchester United at Old Trafford, a game which Newcastle drew 1–1. Michael Owen made Michael Owen return in the second game of the season against Bolton Wanderers F.C. on 23 August 2008, coming on in the 53rd minute for the injured Obafemi Martins. Michael Owen scored the winning header in the 71st minute with the game finishing 1–0. Three days later Michael Owen was named on the bench in a Football League Cup 2008-09 match away to Coventry City F.C., Michael Owen came on as a substitute and scored the winner in extra time in a 2–3 victory. In the 2008–2009 season Michael Owen featured more consistently than in prior seasons, scoring four goals in twelve league appearances.

Under the transfer rules, with the 2008/09 season being the final year of Michael Owen contract with Newcastle, Owen would have been allowed to sign a pre-contract agreement with other clubs during in January. On 22 December 2008, Owen rejected a new contract offer from Newcastle, but stated that Michael Owen would not be seeking move in the January transfer window and instead intended to postpone talks over Michael Owen contract situation until the end of the season. With speculation over Michael Owen future continuing in the second half of the season, Owen received "substantial damages" in June in the High Court in London and a public apology, following a story on 15 May in the Daily Express alleging that due to a lack of interest from Premiership clubs, Owen's career was effectively finished and Michael Owen intended to retire. After a disastrous season in general for the club, which culminated in Owen's former Newcastle and England team mate Alan Shearer being brought in as a temporary manager for the final 8 games of the season, on the final day of the season on 24 May, Newcastle were relegated from the Premiership for the first time in 15 years. On 14 June it was reported that Owen's management company Wasserman Media Group had sent out a 34-page brochure advertising Owen to several potential clubs.
On 22 June Owen confirmed Michael Owen would not be re-signing for Newcastle, in preference for a move to another Premiership club, or other top flight foreign club. Owen had also been linked with Hull City A.F.C., Stoke City F.C., Everton F.C., and Aston Villa F.C., before signing for United, and Michael Owen said that the approach from manager Alex Ferguson came from "out of the blue". Owen scored Michael Owen first goal for United on Michael Owen debut, scoring an 84th-minute winner after coming on as a second half substitute in a friendly against a Malaysian XI. Michael Owen followed this up with Michael Owen second goal for the club on Michael Owen first start two days later against the same opposition, before hitting another two goals in an 8–2 win over Hangzhou Greentown F.C. on 26 July.

International career

Owen had a highly successful record at Youth level, playing for the England national under-20 football team team at the 1997 FIFA World Youth Championship and scoring three goals in four games. Michael Owen was only briefly a member of the England national under-21 football team team (netting on Michael Owen only appearance in a win over Greece national under-21 football team at Carrow Road) before Michael Owen made Michael Owen début for the England national football team in a 2–0 friendly loss to Chile national football team on 11 February 1998. Playing in this game made Owen the youngest player to represent England in the whole of the 20th century at 18 years and 59 days of age.

Owen's youthful enthusiasm, pace and talent made Michael Owen a popular player across the country, and many fans were keen for Michael Owen to be made a regular player for the team ahead of that year's Football World Cup 1998. Michael Owen first goal for England, against Morocco national football team in another friendly game prior to the tournament, further enhanced Michael Owen reputation. The goal also made Michael Owen the youngest ever player to have scored for England, until Michael Owen record was surpassed by Wayne Rooney in 2003.

Although Michael Owen was selected for the World Cup squad by manager Glenn Hoddle, Michael Owen was left on the bench as a substitute in the first two games. However, Michael Owen substitute appearance in the second game, a 2–1 defeat to Romania national football team, saw Michael Owen score a goal and hit the post with another shot, almost salvaging a point from the game. After that, Hoddle played Michael Owen from the start, and in England's second round match against Argentina national football team Michael Owen scored a sensational individual goal after beating defenders Roberto Ayala and José Chamot before striking the ball just outside the penalty box. This goal voted by many as the goal of the tournament, thus bringing Michael Owen to the attention of the world football scene.

England drew that match and went out of the tournament on penalties, but Owen had sealed Michael Owen place as an England choice and Michael Owen popularity in the country had increased greatly. At the end of the year, Michael Owen won a public vote to be elected winner of the prestigious BBC Sports Personality of the Year title.

Michael Owen has since played for England in 2000 European Football Championship, the Football World Cup 2002 and 2004 European Football Championship, scoring goals in all three tournaments. This makes Michael Owen the only player to ever have scored in four major tournaments for England. Michael Owen also became one of only a handful of England players to appear in three World Cup tournaments when Michael Owen played at the 2006 FIFA World Cup, although Michael Owen did not score and was injured in the final group game.

In April 2002, Michael Owen was named as England's captain (football) for a friendly match against Paraguay national football team in place of the injured regular captain David Beckham. Owen was the youngest England skipper since Bobby Moore in 1963, and in the following few seasons regularly captained England during any absence of the regular captain.

Owen made Michael Owen debut for the England national football team (B) in a friendly against Belarus national football team on 25 May 2006, as part of Michael Owen return to match fitness ahead of the 2006 FIFA World Cup. Michael Owen captained England B in this game, playing for 61 minutes before being substituted.

Owen started England's first two games of the 2006 World Cup, against Paraguay national football team and Trinidad and Tobago national football team, but did not manage to score. After playing only 51 seconds of Michael Owen third appearance of the tournament, and 80th cap, in the 2006 World Cup against Sweden national football team, Owen badly twisted Michael Owen left knee and was forced to leave the match on a stretcher. A scan of the injury on 21 June confirmed that Owen had torn the anterior cruciate ligament in Michael Owen knee, and was sent home, no longer able to play in the tournament.

Owen underwent successful reconstruction surgery, carried out by Richard Steadman, on 6 September 2006. The injury sidelined Michael Owen until April 2007, meaning Michael Owen missed England's first six matches in 2008 UEFA European Football Championship qualifying Group E for Euro 2008. Michael Owen returned for the England B game against Albania national football team, and was named in the full squad for the games against Brazil national football team and Estonia national football team, with Owen stating "I feel sharp and, if given the chance, I feel confident when in front of goal." Michael Owen played in both matches and scored against Estonia, breaking Gary Lineker's record for most goals in competitive internationals for England. Owen's latest international efforts include a brace for England in a 3–0 win over Russia national football team on 12 September 2007.

With Michael Owen two goals against Russia, Michael Owen became the first player to score international goals at both the old and new Wembley Stadiums.

As of 26 August 2008, Owen has been capped 89 times for England and scored 40 goals: Michael Owen is fourth in the list of all-time top scorers for the England team, behind Bobby Charlton (49 goals), Gary Lineker (48) and Jimmy Greaves (44). Michael Owen has also scored a record 26 goals for England in competitive matches (World Cup and European Championship games and the qualifiers for those tournaments) and has been captain for England in 7 matches.

As of December 2007, Owen has never gone more than four international games in a row without scoring a goal. Owen's future as first choice striker for England is uncertain however, due to competition from Manchester United's Wayne Rooney and fast-developing Theo Walcott amongst others. Owen's lack of action in Fabio Capello's first two England friendlies and Capello's selection of a single striker 4-5-1 formation also support the view that Owen's international opportunities may in future be limited.

2008 was a tough year for Owen as Michael Owen was excluded from 2010 FIFA World Cup qualifiers against Andorra national football team, Croatia national football team, Kazakhstan national football team & Belarus national football team despite at times being in good goalscoring form and having a good workrate in a poor Newcastle side. Many fans and pundits have called for Owen to be reinstated in the national team but whether Capello will select Michael Owen still remains to be uncertain. Michael Owen was once again left out of the squad for the friendly against Germany national football team in November 2008, despite forwards Emile Heskey and Wayne Rooney being unavailable for the match. However Capello stated in November 2008 that Owen could still be reinstated to the side at some point in the future.

International goals

Personal life

Owen met English-born Louise Bonsall at primary school in 1984. The couple bought Lower Soughton Manor in Flintshire, North Wales where Owen keeps Michael Owen cars and Louise keeps her horses. They got engaged on 14 February 2004, and married on 24 June 2005, at the Carden Park Hotel in Chester, Cheshire, Cheshire. The couple had initially planned to get married at their home, but changed plans when they were informed that if a licence was granted for a marriage ceremony the venue must be made available for other weddings for three years, On 6 February 2006, they welcomed a son named James Michael. Their third child, a daughter, Emily May, was
born 29 October 2007.

After Owen returned to the UK to play for Newcastle United, Michael Owen traveled to a nearby BAE facility on a daily basis in order to fly, via helicopter, to train with Michael Owen club. However, there is now a helipad installed within the grounds of the house to accommodate Owen's Eurocopter Dauphin, with which Michael Owen both travels and is training to become a pilot. Owen was eventually banned from training to be a pilot by Newcastle United, due to excessive insurance premiums.

Owen also bought an entire street for Michael Owen extended family (Austen Close, Ewloe), which is in an area close to where Michael Owen used to live. and in 2008 was reported in the Daily Express as surveying the purchase of the original Walt Disney site with celebrity realtor Paul Grimshaw in Estepona, Southern Spain.

In 2004, Owen's sister Karen was assaulted by two youths, who attempted to kidnap her. When she revealed that she was pregnant, they fled.

Owen owns several cars and a helicopter and enjoys horse racing and gambling. Owen is the brother in-law of footballer Richie Partridge.

Owen starred in a series of adverts that charted Michael Owen life, and rise to fame. In 2001, Michael Owen was the advertising face of breakfast cereal "Nestlé Sporties". Michael Owen also appeared in several adverts for the washing powder Persil, in a contract worth £1,000,000. Michael Owen has been an ambassador of the Swiss watchmaker Tissot since 1998 and has a contract with car manufacturer Jaguar Cars.

Michael Owen has indicated that Michael Owen would like to become involved with Chester City F.C. in some capacity when Michael Owen retires as it was Michael Owen local team growing up and Michael Owen father is a former Chester City player.