Michael Owen top 10 moments that defined his career
Breaking onto the scene
Owen played a prominent role in the Liverpool's FA Youth Cup win of 1996, scoring 11 goals in just five games, including hat-tricks against Manchester United in the quarter-finals, Crystal Palace in the semi-finals and a single strike in the final, as the Reds came back from 1-0 down to win 2-1 against a West Ham team that were unbeaten in 24 games.
Liverpool debut and goal
Owen made his first appearance for the Reds away to Wimbledon in the 1996-97 season at the age of 17, and also scored his first goal for the club in a 2-1 defeat.
Goal v Argentina, World Cup 1998
Perhaps the moment Owen will be remembered for more than any other. Following a fantastic season in which he won the Premier League, golden boot and the PFA Young Player of the Year, Owen followed it up with what is undoubtedly one of the all-time great World Cup goals.
Taking the ball high, he ghosted past one defender before burning another for pace and slammed an effort high into the net - a goal as unexpected as it was classy. England were subsequently knocked out on penalties, yet again.
First hamstring injury
In a career that would come to be known almost as much for injuries as it was for his goalscoring records, Owen's first serious problem came with a hamstring injury against Leeds in April 1999.
The injury ended his season, and robbed him of a subsequent five months of the 1999-00 campaign. The injury ended up troubling him throughout his career, as he never truly regained the pace that terrified defenders in his first two seasons at Anfield.
FA Cup final v Arsenal, 2001
Liverpool were heading for defeat against Arsene Wenger's side in the 2001 FA Cup final at the Millennium Stadium in Cardiff, the first to be held outside of England, thanks to Freddie Ljungberg's goal with less than 20 minutes to go.
But with seven minutes of the game left, Owen pounced from a corner to volley home past international team-mate David Seaman.
And with the game heading towards extra time, Owen chased a long ball, outstripping Lee Dixon for pace and holding off a challenge from centre-back Tony Adams, before firing past Seaman again into the bottom corner to complete a famous turnaround in a treble-winning season for the Reds.
Germany 1-5 England, hat-trick
With Owen perhaps at the peak of his powers, the striker helped guide his country to one of their finest wins in the modern era, a 5-1 away win over long-time rivals Germany in Munich.
Following an opening goal from Carsten Jancker, Owen scored a volleyed equaliser before Steven Gerrard put the visitors ahead on the stroke of half-time.
With three minutes gone in the second half, Owen extended the lead with another shot on the bounce, as Oliver Kahn was unable to push his effort out.
And 15 minutes later, Owen completed a hat-trick by running through on goal and finishing calmly, displaying a predator's touch as he scored his third of the game with only five touches involved. Liverpool strike-partner Emile Heskey later completed the rout.
Ballon d'Or winner, 2001
Following his fantastic year with Liverpool and goalscoring exploits with England, Owen became only the fourth English player to win the European Footballer of the Year award.
Owen finished in front of future Real Madrid team-mate Raul in the running, sealing his status as one of the top strikers in the world at the time.
Real Madrid 4-2 Barcelona, 2005
Following Owen's move to Spain in 2004, the striker received plenty of criticism as he failed to assert himself among the Galacticos that enveloped los Blancos during his brief stint at the Santiago Bernabeu.
Indeed, the striker only stayed at the club for a season before moving on, but after a slow start he found his goalscoring touch, and once again displayed his clinical nature when racing onto a David Beckham pass before taking a touch and firing his side into a 3-1 lead, and joining a select group of Englishmen to have scored in a Clasico encounter.
Knee injury, World Cup 2006
Another major tournament for Owen that ended in disappointment, but this was more than just the familiar feeling of being knocked out with England.
After rushing back from a broken metatarsal suffered with Newcastle only five months before, Owen declared himself fit for England despite missing the last game of the season for the Magpies, stating that he was "not 100 per cent happy" with his foot.
But in the first minute of the group stage game against Sweden, Owen's injury curse struck again as he twisted awkwardly and ruptured his anterior cruciate ligament, ruling him out for almost an entire year.
Manchester United 4-3 Manchester City, 2009
Owen was a fan favourite at Newcastle United following his arrival from Real Madrid as the club's record signing, but by the time he left on a free transfer, the feelings were vastly different after an injury-blighted spell at St James' Park.
His move to Manchester United was met with much scepticism, but following the game against their arch-rivals City, Owen endeared himself to the Old Trafford faithful with a 97th minute winner.
While his connections to Liverpool and lack of real playing time ensured he never truly became a cult hero, that goal secured a soft spot for the man in the red half of Manchester.
Breaking onto the scene
Owen played a prominent role in the Liverpool's FA Youth Cup win of 1996, scoring 11 goals in just five games, including hat-tricks against Manchester United in the quarter-finals, Crystal Palace in the semi-finals and a single strike in the final, as the Reds came back from 1-0 down to win 2-1 against a West Ham team that were unbeaten in 24 games.
Liverpool debut and goal
Owen made his first appearance for the Reds away to Wimbledon in the 1996-97 season at the age of 17, and also scored his first goal for the club in a 2-1 defeat.
Goal v Argentina, World Cup 1998
Perhaps the moment Owen will be remembered for more than any other. Following a fantastic season in which he won the Premier League, golden boot and the PFA Young Player of the Year, Owen followed it up with what is undoubtedly one of the all-time great World Cup goals. Taking the ball high, he ghosted past one defender before burning another for pace and slammed an effort high into the net - a goal as unexpected as it was classy. England were subsequently knocked out on penalties, yet again.
First hamstring injury
In a career that would come to be known almost as much for injuries as it was for his goalscoring records, Owen's first serious problem came with a hamstring injury against Leeds in April 1999.
The injury ended his season, and robbed him of a subsequent five months of the 1999-00 campaign. The injury ended up troubling him throughout his career, as he never truly regained the pace that terrified defenders in his first two seasons at Anfield.
FA Cup final v Arsenal, 2001
Liverpool were heading for defeat against Arsene Wenger's side in the 2001 FA Cup final at the Millennium Stadium in Cardiff, the first to be held outside of England, thanks to Freddie Ljungberg's goal with less than 20 minutes to go.But with seven minutes of the game left, Owen pounced from a corner to volley home past international team-mate David Seaman.
And with the game heading towards extra time, Owen chased a long ball, outstripping Lee Dixon for pace and holding off a challenge from centre-back Tony Adams, before firing past Seaman again into the bottom corner to complete a famous turnaround in a treble-winning season for the Reds.
Germany 1-5 England, hat-trick
With Owen perhaps at the peak of his powers, the striker helped guide his country to one of their finest wins in the modern era, a 5-1 away win over long-time rivals Germany in Munich.Following an opening goal from Carsten Jancker, Owen scored a volleyed equaliser before Steven Gerrard put the visitors ahead on the stroke of half-time.
With three minutes gone in the second half, Owen extended the lead with another shot on the bounce, as Oliver Kahn was unable to push his effort out.
And 15 minutes later, Owen completed a hat-trick by running through on goal and finishing calmly, displaying a predator's touch as he scored his third of the game with only five touches involved. Liverpool strike-partner Emile Heskey later completed the rout.
Ballon d'Or winner, 2001
Following his fantastic year with Liverpool and goalscoring exploits with England, Owen became only the fourth English player to win the European Footballer of the Year award.Owen finished in front of future Real Madrid team-mate Raul in the running, sealing his status as one of the top strikers in the world at the time.
Real Madrid 4-2 Barcelona, 2005
Following Owen's move to Spain in 2004, the striker received plenty of criticism as he failed to assert himself among the Galacticos that enveloped los Blancos during his brief stint at the Santiago Bernabeu.Indeed, the striker only stayed at the club for a season before moving on, but after a slow start he found his goalscoring touch, and once again displayed his clinical nature when racing onto a David Beckham pass before taking a touch and firing his side into a 3-1 lead, and joining a select group of Englishmen to have scored in a Clasico encounter.
Knee injury, World Cup 2006
Another major tournament for Owen that ended in disappointment, but this was more than just the familiar feeling of being knocked out with England. After rushing back from a broken metatarsal suffered with Newcastle only five months before, Owen declared himself fit for England despite missing the last game of the season for the Magpies, stating that he was "not 100 per cent happy" with his foot.
But in the first minute of the group stage game against Sweden, Owen's injury curse struck again as he twisted awkwardly and ruptured his anterior cruciate ligament, ruling him out for almost an entire year.
Manchester United 4-3 Manchester City, 2009
Owen was a fan favourite at Newcastle United following his arrival from Real Madrid as the club's record signing, but by the time he left on a free transfer, the feelings were vastly different after an injury-blighted spell at St James' Park.His move to Manchester United was met with much scepticism, but following the game against their arch-rivals City, Owen endeared himself to the Old Trafford faithful with a 97th minute winner.
While his connections to Liverpool and lack of real playing time ensured he never truly became a cult hero, that goal secured a soft spot for the man in the red half of Manchester.
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