Michael Owen: A Tribute

Michael Owen: A Tribute

With the news of Michael Owen's retirement at the end of the season, I decided to write a short article looking at the career and the legacy of one of England’s most prolific strikers.

As a child, I can remember Owen breaking onto the scene. I remember watching his ‘Soccer Skills’ programme on the BBC and his brilliant goal against Argentina.

He had a great spell at Liverpool and a decent record (mostly off the bench) at Real Madrid that earned him the respect of the footballing world.

But I can also remember him labouring as Newcastle were inexplicably relegated in the 08-09 season, or when he turned his knee in the first few minutes of the 2006 World Cup game against Sweden.

Then there are the more recent years spent as a benchwarmer for Manchester United, until finally he can’t get a game for Stoke.

Some may say it’s a sad end to the career of one of England’s biggest footballing superstars.

But which Owen will we collectively remember? The young man in his glory days or the broken shell he seems to have become?

His goal for Stoke against Swansea is a testament to the prolific nature of his play. Even as his body fails him, his instincts just don’t seem to dampen.

Where did it all go wrong? The media like to portray Owen as somebody who ‘likes his horses’ and I’ve seen a few comments suggesting his heart just isn’t in football anymore.

Did Owen lose his love for the game? Playing at prestigious clubs such as Madrid and Liverpool are most players’ dreams come true.

But most professionals don’t move club to sit on a bench, especially at the later stages of their careers, even if that bench does belong to Man Utd.

It was a gamble that didn’t pay off, with Javier Hernandez establishing himself above Owen in the pecking order in his glorious breakthrough season at the Red Devils.

You may blame the injuries which stole Owens pace, but Ledley King proved that desire and class can overcome the worst of afflictions.

It’s a sorry end to the former galáctico’s career and English football will be sure to miss its former prodigal son.

He shouldn’t be remembered as a man who didn’t fulfil his potential, because for a time he was England’s shining light on the world stage along with David Beckham.

We should remember Owen as proof that England can still produce world beaters and as one of the best strikers to grace the EPL.

Never mind the ‘what if’s’ and the ‘could have’s’, injuries and the slow, steady trickle of time will never rob you of class.

Class, now that’s something Michael Owen has in spades.