Michael Owen facts for kids

Quick facts for kids
Michael Owen

Owen in 2014
Personal information
Date of birth	(1979-12-14) 14 December 1979 (age 45)
Place of birth	Chester, England
Height	5 feet 8 inches (1.73 m)
Playing position	Striker
Youth career
	Mold Alexandra
1991–1996	Liverpool
Senior career*
Years	Team	Apps†	(Gls)†
1996–2004	Liverpool	216	(118)
2004–2005	Real Madrid	36	(13)
2005–2009	Newcastle United	71	(26)
2009–2012	Manchester United	31	(5)
2012–2013	Stoke City	8	(1)
Total		362	(175)
National team
	England U15	8	(15)
	England U16	11	(15)
	England U18	14	(10)
1997	England U20	4	(3)
1997	England U21	1	(1)
2006–2007	England B	2	(0)
1998–2008	England	89	(40)
Senior club appearances and goals counted for the domestic league only. † Appearances (Goals).

Michael James Owen (born 14 December 1979) is a famous English former footballer. He played as a striker for top clubs like Liverpool, Real Madrid, and Manchester United. He also played for the England national team. Many people think Owen was one of the best strikers of his time. In 2004, the legendary footballer Pelé even included him in his FIFA 100 list of the world's greatest living players.

Michael Owen started his senior career at Liverpool in 1996. He was known for his amazing speed and calm way of scoring goals. He quickly became Liverpool's youngest goalscorer. In his first full season, he was the joint top scorer in the Premier League. He won the Ballon d'Or award in 2001, which is a huge honor for a footballer. He scored 158 goals in 297 games for Liverpool.

After playing for Liverpool, Owen moved to Real Madrid in Spain. He then returned to England to play for Newcastle United and later Manchester United. He is one of only ten players to score 150 or more goals in the Premier League. He retired from playing football in 2013. Since then, he has become a racehorse owner and often works as a sports commentator.

Michael Owen's Early Life and Football Start

Michael Owen was born in Chester, England. His dad, Terry Owen, was also a professional footballer. Michael started playing football at age seven. Even though he was a fan of Everton as a boy, he joined the Liverpool youth team.

When he was eight, Michael was chosen for the Deeside Area Primary School's Under-11 team. By age ten, he broke a 20-year record by scoring 97 goals in one season for the same team! He also played for the youth team of Mold Alexandra. He scored on his first game for them, helping his team win 2–0. He scored 34 goals in 24 games in his first season there.

Joining Liverpool's Youth Academy

Owen warming up for Liverpool at Anfield before Jamie Carragher's Testimonial Match in 2010

At 12 years old, Owen signed a schoolboy contract with Liverpool. Other big clubs like Manchester United, Chelsea, and Arsenal were also interested in him. But Liverpool's youth officer, Steve Heighway, wrote a special letter to Owen. Michael was very impressed and decided to join Liverpool.

Liverpool then encouraged Owen to attend the FA's School of Excellence at Lilleshall. By 14, he was already playing for England's youth teams. He broke many scoring records, with 28 goals in 20 games for the England under-15 and under-16 teams. He also did well in school, earning ten GCSEs.

In the 1995–96 season, Owen played for Liverpool's youth team even though he was only 16. He scored three goals in a game against Manchester United in the FA Youth Cup. He scored another three goals in the semi-finals against Crystal Palace. Liverpool reached the final against West Ham United. Owen missed the first game but returned for the second. He scored a goal, and Liverpool won the match 2-1. This was the first time Liverpool had won the FA Youth Cup.

Michael Owen's Club Career Highlights

Liverpool: Becoming a Star Striker

When Owen turned 17, he signed a professional contract with Liverpool. He joined the senior team. On 6 May 1997, Owen scored a goal in his first game for Liverpool against Wimbledon. The Liverpool Echo newspaper said it was a "debut marked in the grand manner."

In the 1997–98 season, Owen became Liverpool's main striker. He won the Premier League Golden Boot award for scoring the most goals. He also won the PFA Young Player of the Year award. Owen signed a five-year contract with Liverpool, making him the highest-paid teenager in British football history. He was also recognized internationally, finishing high in the FIFA World Player of the Year and European Player of the Year awards.

Owen won the Premier League Golden Boot again in the 1998–99 season. However, he started having hamstring injuries, which affected his playing time. These injuries would become a problem throughout his career.

Winning the Treble and Ballon d'Or

In the 2000–01 season, Owen helped Liverpool win three trophies: the League Cup, the FA Cup, and the UEFA Cup. This was called a "treble." In the FA Cup Final, Owen scored two late goals to help Liverpool beat Arsenal 2–1.

Because of his amazing performances that season, Owen won the Ballon d'Or award. This made him the first English player to win it since Kevin Keegan in 1979. Liverpool also won the Charity Shield and the UEFA Super Cup in 2001, meaning they won five trophies in one year!

Owen continued to play very well in the 2001–02 season. Liverpool finished second in the league. On 29 December 2001, Owen scored his 100th goal for Liverpool. He signed a new contract, becoming one of the highest-paid players in the English Premier League.

Final Seasons at Liverpool

Owen kept playing strongly in the 2002–03 season. He scored his 100th Premier League goal on 26 April 2003. Liverpool also won the League Cup again, with Owen scoring in the final against Manchester United. However, Liverpool didn't qualify for the Champions League, which led to talk about Owen leaving the club.

In the 2003–04 season, Owen suffered an ankle injury. This kept him out of many games. Despite more injuries, he helped Liverpool finish fourth in the league, securing a Champions League spot. After the season, Owen decided to leave Liverpool. He joined Real Madrid for £8 million on 13 August 2004.

Real Madrid: A Short but Sweet Stay

Owen at a training camp with Real Madrid

When Owen joined Real Madrid, he was part of their famous "Galácticos" team. He played alongside huge stars like Luís Figo, Zinedine Zidane, Ronaldo, and David Beckham.

Owen had a slow start, often sitting on the bench. But he soon found his form. In October 2004, he scored his first goal for Real Madrid in a Champions League game. A few days later, he scored his first La Liga goal. He ended the 2004–05 season with 13 goals in La Liga. He scored more goals per minute played than anyone else that season. In total, Owen scored 16 goals in 45 games for Real Madrid.

Newcastle United: Injuries and Captaincy

On 24 August 2005, Owen moved back to England, joining Newcastle United for a club record fee of £16.8 million. He wanted more playing time to secure his spot in the England team for the upcoming World Cup.

Owen scored his first goal for Newcastle in his second game. On 17 December, he scored his first hat-trick for Newcastle. However, on 31 December 2005, he broke a bone in his foot. This injury kept him out for a long time.

World Cup Injury and Recovery

At the 2006 FIFA World Cup, Owen suffered a very serious injury to his right knee. This kept him out of football for almost a year. Newcastle United was very upset about this injury because it happened while he was playing for England. They even threatened to sue the Football Association (FA) for compensation. Eventually, a settlement was reached.

Owen training with Newcastle in 2007

Owen started training again in February 2007. He made his comeback in a friendly game in April 2007. He played his first full game for Newcastle in over a year on 30 April 2007. In July 2007, Owen confirmed he would stay at Newcastle.

Later Seasons at Newcastle

Owen continued to struggle with injuries. In September 2007, he needed an operation for a double hernia. He also suffered a thigh strain in November 2007. Despite these setbacks, he became the team captain in January 2008. He scored his first league goal of 2008 in February. By the end of the 2007–08 season, he had scored 11 goals.

In the 2008–09 season, Owen missed pre-season due to mumps and a calf strain. He returned to score a winning goal against Bolton Wanderers in August 2008. Newcastle had a very bad season and were relegated from the Premier League. Owen decided not to re-sign with Newcastle and looked for a new club.

Manchester United: A Surprise Move

Owen (wearing No.7) at his Manchester United début, against Birmingham City on 16 August 2009.

On 3 July 2009, Owen made a surprising move to Manchester United, Liverpool's biggest rivals. He signed a two-year deal and was given the famous number 7 shirt, which had been worn by legends like George Best and David Beckham.

Owen scored his first goal for United in a friendly game. He made his league debut on 16 August. On 20 September, he scored a dramatic winning goal in the last minute against local rivals Manchester City, giving United a 4–3 victory. This was a very important goal for him. On 8 December 2009, Owen scored his first three goals in one game (a hat-trick) for Manchester United in a Champions League match.

On 28 February 2010, Owen scored United's first goal in their 2–1 win over Aston Villa in the League Cup final. However, he got another hamstring injury and missed the rest of the season.

Winning the Premier League Title

Owen (right) playing for Manchester United, with Everton's John Heitinga.

Owen returned from injury and scored in a pre-season game in August 2010. He scored twice in a League Cup game against Scunthorpe United in September. He also scored his first league goal of the season against Bolton Wanderers.

By the end of the 2010–11 season, Owen had played enough games to earn a Premier League winner's medal. This was his first league title in 15 years as a professional! Manchester United secured the title with a 1–1 draw against Blackburn Rovers. Owen was an unused substitute in that game. He scored United's final goal in their last league game of the season against Blackpool. He signed a one-year extension to his contract in June 2011.

Final Season at United

Owen defended by Lucas Neill of Everton

In the 2011–12 season, Owen scored two goals in a League Cup game against Leeds United. He scored again in the next round against Aldershot Town. His last game for Manchester United was on 2 November, when he got a thigh injury in a Champions League match. In May 2012, Owen announced that Manchester United would not offer him a new contract.

Stoke City: Retirement Season

Owen playing for Stoke City in a Premier League match on 22 September 2012 against Chelsea

On 4 September 2012, Owen joined Stoke City on a one-year contract. He made his debut on 15 September. His time at Stoke was affected by another hamstring injury. Owen scored his only goal for Stoke on 19 January 2013 against Swansea City. This goal made him only the seventh player to reach 150 Premier League goals.

On 19 March 2013, Owen announced that he would retire from playing football at the end of the 2012–13 season. He played his final game on 19 May 2013, receiving a standing ovation from the fans.

Michael Owen's International Career for England

Michael Owen played for England 89 times and scored 40 goals. He is sixth on the list of all-time top scorers for England. His 89 games also make him England's eleventh most-capped player.

Owen played for England in three FIFA World Cups (1998, 2002, and 2006) and two UEFA European Championships (2000 and 2004). He scored goals in all but one of these tournaments. This makes him the only player to score in four major tournaments for England.

Becoming a Young England Star

Owen had a very successful youth career for England. He played for the England under-20 team and scored three goals in four games. He also played once for the England under-21 team, scoring a goal.

He made his debut for the senior England team on 11 February 1998. He was 18 years and 59 days old, making him the youngest player to represent England in the 20th century. Before the 1998 World Cup, Owen scored his first goal for England, becoming the youngest ever player to score for England at that time.

1998 World Cup: The Argentina Goal

Owen was chosen for the 1998 World Cup squad. He became England's youngest ever player at a World Cup. In a game against Romania, he scored a goal, making him England's youngest goalscorer in the tournament.

In the second round match against Argentina, Owen scored a truly amazing individual goal. He ran from the halfway line, beating two defenders, and shot the ball past the goalkeeper. This goal was later voted as the third-greatest in England's history. England lost the game on penalties, but Owen successfully scored his penalty kick. At the end of 1998, he won the BBC Sports Personality of the Year award.

Euro 2000 and 2002 World Cup

Owen played in the Euro 2000 tournament, scoring one goal. England was knocked out in the group stage.

After Alan Shearer retired, Owen became England's main striker. He scored six goals during the 2002 World Cup qualifying games, including three goals (a hat-trick) against Germany in Munich. His great performances led him to be named European Footballer of the Year for 2001.

In April 2002, Owen was named England's captain for a friendly match. He was the youngest England captain since 1963. At the 2002 World Cup finals, Owen scored against Denmark and then gave England an early lead against Brazil in the quarter-finals.

Euro 2004 and 2006 World Cup

Owen scored five goals in the qualification for Euro 2004. In the tournament, he scored in the quarter-final against Portugal. England lost the game on penalties.

Owen (wearing No.10) lining up for England against Paraguay at the 2006 FIFA World Cup.

In May 2005, he scored his second international hat-trick in a friendly game against Colombia. In November 2005, he scored two late goals to help England beat Argentina 3–2.

Owen started England's first two games of the 2006 World Cup. However, in the final group game against Sweden, he badly twisted his right knee and had to leave the match. A scan showed he had torn a ligament, and he was sent home from the tournament. Owen later said that this injury caused many of his later problems.

Final England Appearances

Owen had surgery and was out of action until April 2007. He returned to play for England in June 2007 and scored against Estonia. On 12 September 2007, Owen scored twice for England in a 3–0 win over Russia. These were his last goals for England.

After England failed to qualify for Euro 2008, Owen made only one more appearance for England in March 2008.

Michael Owen's Playing Style

When he was at his best, Michael Owen was known for his incredible speed, quick thinking, and ability to score goals. He was a very accurate and powerful finisher, even though he wasn't very tall. He could also use his head to score goals. Owen was also good at passing the ball and creating chances for his teammates.

However, because of his early talent, Owen played a lot and faced many injuries throughout his career. These injuries affected his speed and overall performance in later years.

Michael Owen's Personal Life

Michael Owen met his wife, Louise Bonsall, in primary school. They got married in 2005. They have four children: Gemma Rose, James Michael, Emily May, and Jessica.

Owen loves horse racing and owns many racehorses. One of his horses, Brown Panther, won a big race in 2011. In 2017, Owen even rode in a charity horse race at Ascot and finished second.

Owen has appeared in many adverts, including for breakfast cereal and washing powder. He was also on the cover of the video game Pro Evolution Soccer 2008. He has worked with watchmaker Tissot and car manufacturer Jaguar.

He also appeared as himself in a children's TV show called Hero to Zero. In the show, his poster would come to life to give advice. Owen has said he would like to be involved with Chester, his local team, in the future.

In January 2022, Owen appeared on the TV show The Masked Singer as "Doughnuts". In June 2022, his oldest daughter, Gemma, appeared on the reality TV show Love Island. In January 2024, Owen shared that his son James has been diagnosed with Stargardt disease, an eye condition.

Career statistics

Club

International

Scores and results list England's goal tally first, score column indicates score after each Owen goal.

List of international goals scored by Michael Owen

No.	Date	Venue	Opponent	Score	Result	Competition
1	27 May 1998	Stade Mohamed V, Casablanca	Morocco	1–0	1–0	1998 King Hassan II International Cup Tournament
2	22 June 1998	Stade de Toulouse, Toulouse	Romania	1–1	1–2	1998 FIFA World Cup
3	30 June 1998	Stade Geoffroy-Guichard, Saint-Étienne	Argentina	2–1	2–2 (3–4p)	1998 FIFA World Cup
4	14 October 1998	Stade Josy Barthel, Luxembourg City	Luxembourg	1–0	3–0	UEFA Euro 2000 qualification
5	4 September 1999	Wembley Stadium, London	Luxembourg	6–0	6–0	UEFA Euro 2000 qualification
6	27 May 2000	Wembley Stadium, London	Brazil	1–0	1–1	Friendly
7	20 June 2000	Stade du Pays de Charleroi, Charleroi	Romania	2–1	2–3	UEFA Euro 2000
8	2 September 2000	Stade de France, Paris	France	1–1	1–1	Friendly
9	24 March 2001	Anfield, Liverpool	Finland	1–1	2–1	2002 FIFA World Cup qualification
10	28 March 2001	Qemal Stafa, Tirana	Albania	1–0	3–1	2002 FIFA World Cup qualification
11	1 September 2001	Olympic Stadium, Munich	Germany	1–1	5–1	2002 FIFA World Cup qualification
12				3–1
13				4–1
14	5 September 2001	St James' Park, Newcastle	Albania	1–0	2–0	2002 FIFA World Cup qualification
15	17 April 2002	Anfield, Liverpool	Paraguay	1–0	4–0	Friendly
16	21 May 2002	Jeju World Cup Stadium, Seogwipo	South Korea	1–0	1–1	Friendly
17	15 June 2002	Stadium Big Swan, Niigata	Denmark	2–0	3–0	2002 FIFA World Cup
18	21 June 2002	Shizuoka Stadium, Shizuoka	Brazil	1–0	1–2	2002 FIFA World Cup
19	12 October 2002	Tehelné pole, Bratislava	Slovakia	2–1	2–1	UEFA Euro 2004 qualification
20	29 March 2003	Rheinpark Stadion, Vaduz	Liechtenstein	1–0	2–0	UEFA Euro 2004 qualification
21	11 June 2003	Riverside Stadium, Middlesbrough	Slovakia	1–1	2–1	UEFA Euro 2004 qualification
22				2–1
23	20 August 2003	Portman Road, Ipswich	Croatia	2–0	3–1	Friendly
24	10 September 2003	Old Trafford, Manchester	Liechtenstein	1–0	2–0	UEFA Euro 2004 qualification
25	1 June 2004	City of Manchester Stadium, Manchester	Japan	1–0	1–1	2004 FA Summer Tournament
26	24 June 2004	Estádio da Luz, Lisbon	Portugal	1–0	2–2 (5–6p)	UEFA Euro 2004
27	18 August 2004	St James' Park, Newcastle	Ukraine	2–0	3–0	Friendly
28	13 October 2004	Tofik Bakhramov Stadium, Baku	Azerbaijan	1–0	1–0	2006 FIFA World Cup qualification
29	26 March 2005	Old Trafford, Manchester	Northern Ireland	2–0	4–0	2006 FIFA World Cup qualification
30	31 May 2005	Giants Stadium, East Rutherford	Colombia	1–0	3–2	Friendly
31				2–0
32				3–1
33	12 October 2005	Old Trafford, Manchester	Poland	1–0	2–1	2006 FIFA World Cup qualification
34	12 November 2005	Stade de Genève, Geneva	Argentina	2–2	3–2	Friendly
35				3–2
36	3 June 2006	Old Trafford, Manchester	Jamaica	4–0	6–0	Friendly
37	6 June 2007	A. Le Coq Arena, Tallinn	Estonia	3–0	3–0	UEFA Euro 2008 qualification
38	8 September 2007	Wembley Stadium, London	Israel	2–0	3–0	UEFA Euro 2008 qualification
39	12 September 2007	Wembley Stadium, London	Russia	1–0	3–0	UEFA Euro 2008 qualification
40				2–0

Honours

Liverpool

• FA Cup: 2000–01
• League Cup: 2000–01, 2002–03
• FA Charity Shield: 2001
• UEFA Cup: 2000–01
• UEFA Super Cup: 2001

Newcastle United

• UEFA Intertoto Cup: 2006

Manchester United

• Premier League: 2010–11
• League Cup: 2009–10
• FA Community Shield: 2010

Individual

• Ballon d'Or: 2001
• World Soccer World Player of the Year: 2001
• ESM Team of the Year: 2000–01
• Onze d'Argent: 2001
• BBC Sports Personality of the Year: 1998
• Premier League Golden Boot: 1997–98, 1998–99
• Premier League Player of the Season: 1997–98
• PFA Young Player of the Year: 1997–98
• PFA Team of the Year: 1997–98 Premier League
• Premier League Player of the Month: August 1998
• FIFA World Cup Best Young Player Award: France 1998
• FIFA World Cup All-Star Team: 1998 (Reserve)
• Premier League 10 Seasons Awards: Domestic Team of the Decade
• FIFA 100
• English Football Hall of Fame: 2014
• Golden Foot: 2017, as football legend

See also

In Spanish: Michael Owen para niños