From Deeside to Balon D’Or: Michael Owen’s Career Journey
Michael Owen’s rise to stardom was very unique and has made for an incredible story in the Deeside community and the footballing world. Owen’s footballing knack was evident since his youth, much of which he spent playing in the quiet streets of Deeside, which is quite a story considering the global stage he reached in his successful career. In the prime of his career, his unpredictability was unique, like that of progressive jackpots slot games, with rapid acceleration and footwork that made him a nightmare for defenders. He remains one of the biggest footballing talents England has ever had, achieving so much at a young age, bursting onto the scene with his natural eye for a goal, and fearless attitude.
Despite being born in Cheshire, England, Owen spent a large part of his childhood in the Welsh town of Deeside. In this article, we will cover the meteoric rise of Michael Owen’s footballing career, exploring his time in Deeside and the success he reached in his career.
The Early Years
Football was part of Michael Owen’s blood, being the son of former Everton and Chester City player Terry Owen. Owen attended Rector Drew Primary School, located just on the outskirts of Deeside in Hawarden, where he got his first taste of competitive football. Owen was quickly gaining attention in the local area for his natural talent, which led to his selection for Deeside Area Primary School’s Under-11 team, despite being 2 years younger than most players. Michael Owen impressed all who watched him play, with incredible scoring records, blistering pace, and an impressive attitude.
Whilst playing for Deeside, many top clubs in English football had shown interest in Owen, though it was Liverpool where he first signed. Despite being a boyhood Everton fan, Owen was quickly impressed by Liverpool’s youth set-up, where he would stay for over a decade.
Impressing at Liverpool
After joining Liverpool’s youth set-up, he was encouraged to attend the FA School of Excellence at Lilleshaw. The setup was created by Sir Bobby Robson and designed for the country’s top 14-year-old footballers to play together, with the best available facilities. Whilst also competing for the FA School of Excellence, Michael Owen was still a large part of Liverpool’s youth set-up.
Owen came from the FA School of Excellence with more experience than before, having trained under some of the country’s best coaches and used the best facilities, which aided his game. He rapidly progressed through Liverpool’s academy ranks, breaking numerous scoring records at the club.
He was part of some incredible youth teams at Liverpool, with one of the best being in 1996, when Owen and Liverpool won the FA Youth Cup. The FA Youth Cup was a competition that brought together some of the greatest talents in football in a knockout tournament. Owen played a pivotal role in the triumph, not only scoring important goals but also showcasing his all-around playing talent on the biggest stage yet.
First Team Breakthrough
Owen skipped the traditional route to the first team, avoiding a stint in the reserve team, and instead made the jump to professional football at 17. His first professional contract came on the day of his 17th birthday, and shortly after, he was handed his first-team debut. He made his debut as a substitute against Wimbledon and quickly made his mark, scoring a debut goal for Liverpool.
In the following season, Michael Owen became Liverpool’s first-choice scorer, replacing the injured Robbie Fowler. This season marked his breakthrough to professional football, with the young striker being fully trusted by manager Roy Evans, which proved fruitful. Owen finished the season with a goal tally of 18, winning him the Premier League Golden Boot, as well as the PFA Young Player of the Year award.
Ballon d’Or Greatness
After consistent performances in the league, Owen was widely considered one of the brightest talents in world football. In the 2000/01 season, Owen played a pivotal role in securing the League Cup, FA Cup, and UEFA Cup, which ultimately earned him the Ballon d’Or award. The Ballon d’Or is an award voted on by hundreds of journalists, deciding the best individual footballer each year. Owen’s achievement made him the first Englishman to win the trophy since 1979, when Kevin Keegan won it.
Time in Spain and His Return to England
Owen signed for Real Madrid in 2004 and was presented with the number 11 shirt, playing alongside other world stars. Owen was compared to the likes of Ronaldo, Zinedine Zidane, David Beckham, and others, although it was not as joyful as it seemed. Owen struggled for regular game time, and after his first season, he was sold to Newcastle United.
Newcastle United signed Owen for a club-record fee, which would allow Owen to get much-needed game time before the upcoming World Cup. During the season, he missed most of the games due to injury, though when he did play, he still showed his quality, with 11 Premier League games and 7 goals.
Trouble with Injuries
In a group stage match against Sweden, Michael Owen sustained an injury to his ACL that would see him out of action for almost a year. Returning from his injury, he had lost a large part of his most valuable tool: his pace. After ACL surgery, Owen struggled, no longer able to accelerate as he once did and no longer able to beat players one-on-one consistently.
The defining injury in the World Cup led to many compensatory muscle issues, which would further deteriorate his game and result in inconsistent game time.
Owen had spells at Manchester United and Stoke after his time at Newcastle, but he struggled to replicate his Liverpool form, with injuries still a problem. Owen retired from professional football in 2013 at the age of 33, and remains one of the biggest ‘what if’ stories in the sport, with the injury limiting what could have been legendary.
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