Unofficial fan-run reference · not affiliated with Michael Owen Last reviewed 2026
BORN14 Dec 1979 · Chester
CLUBSLiverpool · Real Madrid · Newcastle · Man Utd · Stoke
BALLON D'OR2001, age 22
ENGLAND89 caps · 40 goals
Culture

Michael Owen Quotes

Owen's deadpan, understated style as a commentator has made him almost as famous for his one-liners as for his goals.

On his own career

01Owen has said he considers Wayne Rooney the only fair comparison for his own game as a teenage striker, backing himself as the better of the two at 17.
02Reflecting on his 2001 Ballon d'Or, Owen has said he effectively won the award "in decline," pointing to a serious hamstring injury that hit soon after and affected the rest of that season.
03On his daughter Gemma's appearance on Love Island, Owen joked that he would leave the "meet the family" duties to his wife: "I'll represent the horses, and she'll represent the daughter."

His commentary style

As a pundit, Owen has become known for a flat, matter-of-fact delivery that fans have turned into a running joke online — pointing out moments where he states something fairly obvious in a very serious tone, such as observing that a player "looks like a footballer" while wearing full kit, or noting after a huge chance that the goalkeeper "has got to do better" even on an effectively unstoppable shot. He has generally taken the ribbing in good humour, occasionally responding directly to critics on social media.

For more on this side of his career, see what he's doing now and his brief detour into entertainment TV on the TV appearances page.

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