Michael James Owen was born on 14 December 1979 in Chester, England, and grew up across the border in Hawarden, Flintshire, Wales. He is widely remembered as one of the sharpest, fastest finishers of his generation — a Liverpool academy graduate who broke into the first team at 17 and, within four years, was the best player in Europe.
Owen's professional career ran from 1996 to 2013. He played for five clubs — Liverpool, Real Madrid, Newcastle United, Manchester United and Stoke City — and won 89 caps for England, scoring 40 international goals. In 2001 he was awarded the Ballon d'Or, becoming the last English footballer to win it.
Career timeline
- 1991–1996Joined Liverpool's youth academy as a boy prodigy after starring for his primary school and district sides.
- 1996(97)–2004Broke into Liverpool's first team, won back-to-back Golden Boots and the 2001 cup treble. See Liverpool career.
- 2001Won the Ballon d'Or at age 22. Full story on the Ballon d'Or page.
- 2004–2005Signed for Real Madrid as one of the club's "Galácticos".
- 2005–2009Returned to England with Newcastle United for a then British transfer record fee.
- 2009–2012Joined Manchester United on a free transfer, winning the Premier League.
- 2012–2013Finished his career at Stoke City before retiring in May 2013.
Beyond football
Since retiring, Owen has built a second career as a racehorse breeder through his Manor House Stables, works as a television pundit and commentator (see what he's doing now), runs a football agency, and has written three autobiographies. He is married to Louise Bonsall and the couple have four children, including Gemma Owen and James Owen.
"The only person you could possibly compare me to in our country is Wayne Rooney" — Owen, reflecting on his own peak years as a teenage striker.