So Stoke striker Michael Owen has announced his retirement at the end of the season. After an illustrious career featuring stints at Liverpool, Real Madrid, Newcastle and Manchester United while scoring 40 goals for the English National team many argue Michael Owen had quite the career. Others argue it was one of unfilled potential.
Following his retirement there has been many views shared with some unfunny claims about him retiring years ago and others dismaying at the lack of respect for a striker that was certainly among the best of his generation during his peak.
Michael Owen burst on to the scene as young teenager for Liverpool as teenager at the end of the 1996-1997 season with a goal against Wimbledon. After an impressive follow up season he made the World Cup and “arrived” on the world stage withthat goal against Argentina as England bowed out on penalties.
It was the following 6 years at Liverpool that was Michael Owens peak. During this spell among other things he won the European golden boot and coveted Ballon D’Or while also scoring a hat-trick for England in Germany’s backyard and pretty much single-handily winning the 2001 FA cup for Liverpool. During this spell he terrorized defenses with his dynamic play and pace combined with deadly finishing and a knack for being in the right place at the right time.In 2004 he left for Real Madrid and thus the second (and less fruitful) part of Michael Owen began.
Despite maintaining a healthy goal record at Madrid (primarily from the bench) he was offloaded to Newcastle where injuries took their toll and left Owen limited to only 71 appearances over 4 years. He had one last go at the big time with 3 years and 31 appearances for Manchester United before semi-retiring to Stoke before his recent announcement.
So how will Michael Owen be remembered? Well from 1997 to 2005, Owen was one of the most feared strikers in the world performed excellently in the major competition for Liverpool and the world stage for England scoring in both the 1998 and 2002 world cups. And this is what he will be remembered for. Yes , he endured a torrid 8 following years mainly due to injury that diminished his powers and reduced his game time and led to a drawn out end to his career. But when he was good he was good. And the good thing about football careers is that they are not like books where the ending is the most important and remembered part. Look at George Best, Diego Maradona and even the Brazilian Ronaldo. All their careers tailed off as their powers diminished in the latter stages of the careers but they will forever be remembered as legends of the game.
Michael Owen simply peaked very young and this took a toll on his body. These days most footballers don’t break into the first team untill there are 20-21. This means they wont reach their peak till they are maybe 23-24 where they will be lucky to have an 8 year career at the top level for a striker bringing them to 31-32. After this they are likelyto tail off and become more of a bit part player. Owen just came right out of the blocks and hit a sustained peak level of performance very early in his career that would take its toll on his injury hit body. Yet he still amassed 89 appearances for his national side and 40 goals. Anyone writing off Owens career as unfulfilled potential should bear this in mind. He maybe stuck around for a little too long and probably showed a lack of ambition in singing an extension to his “bench” contract with Manchester United but Michael Owen was the best English striker of his generation and will be remembered for his blinding pace and deadly finishing above all else.
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