Michael Owen has opened up to Rio Ferdinand about the struggles that haunted his final years in football, admitting he often felt “half embarrassed” during his Manchester United spell. Despite a glittering career that included a Ballon d’Or and unforgettable highs at Liverpool, Owen confessed that his decline overshadowed his legacy and left him battling mental strain rather than physical limits.
The Agony of Decline
Speaking on the Rio Ferdinand Presents podcast, Owen revealed how painful it was to be remembered for the wrong reasons. “People will have only seen me … when I’m getting worse and worse,” he admitted, adding that it was “agony” knowing his best years had faded from public memory. He explained that although he enjoyed winning trophies at Man United, he did not feel like the same explosive player he had been in his youth. The striker even wished he could “change his name” to escape that version of himself.
Ballon d’Or in ‘Decline’
Michael Owen also reflected on the irony that he won Europe’s best player award in 2001. He told Rio that he won the Ballon d’Or “in decline,” noting that injuries had already blunted the pace that once made him unstoppable. Between the ages of seven and 19, he felt untouchable, even alongside Thierry Henry, yet by his late twenties he described himself as “just a Premier League player.” Owen admitted he retired not because his body failed but because his mind was “about to explode” under the weight of that contrast.
Author’s Opinion
Owen’s honesty highlights a rarely spoken truth: fans remember footballers more for their fading years than for their peaks. His United years may not define him, but his vulnerability in sharing this struggle adds depth to a career often reduced to highlight reels. Instead of embarrassment, history should recognise Owen’s courage in confronting the shadow side of greatness.