Now a football pundit, Michael Owen is regarded as one of the best strikers of his generation. The forward began his career in the Premier League with Liverpool, having spent five years in the club’s youth academy. He was named to the senior side for the first time in 1996, debuting the following year at just 17 years old.
Despite his youth, Owen became Liverpool’s starting striker in 1997 after an injury to Robbie Fowler, winning the Premier League Golden Boot as he spearheaded Liverpool’s, ultimately unsuccessful, bid for the title. Owen signed a new contract during the campaign, his place in the first-team firmly cemented.
Owen continued to develop and in the 2000/01 season, helped the Reds win a treble of the League Cup, FA Cup and UEFA Cup. His form throughout the year saw Owen win the 2001 Ballon d’Or at just 22 years of age. So good was Owen’s calibre that, from 1998 to 2004, he was Liverpool’s top scorer each year. Regardless of how fans feel about him, Owen remains one of Liverpool’s greatest strikers ever.
Michael Owen Liverpool Stats
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After much speculation, Owen departed Anfield in 2004, joining Real Madrid and playing alongside the likes of David Beckham, Ronaldo and Zinedine Zidane. Despite his promise, Owen struggled to settle in Spain and after just one season in Madrid, returned to England, joining Newcastle United for what was then a club-record fee.
Owen showed glimpses of the player he once was with Newcastle, but the injuries he had suffered across his career were catching up to him. He joined Manchester United in 2009, though struggled for consistency and after a season with Stoke City, Owen called time on his career in 2013.
Back in 2022, as per Optus Sport, Owen revealed which player he thought possessed the ability to one day win the Ballon d’Or. Should his prediction come true, then the player would become just the fifth English talent to lift the prestigious award.
‘He’s Got Absolutely Everything’
Owen full of praise for Man City star
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Owen named Phil Foden as a player that he thinks could, one day, win the Ballon d’Or. When Owen spoke, Foden was in the midst of a campaign that saw him record 25 goal contributions as Manchester City won the second of what would be four consistent Premier League titles. Owen said:
“He’s the one English player that I think could get to the very top of his profession. I’m talking one of the best players in the world. We’ve had some great players over the years, of course Harry Kane is still right up there, but this lad is special. This lad is different.
“He’s got absolutely everything. He is strong as an ox, even though he is small and slight, he’s got pace, even though he doesn’t scream pace at you, he’s so intelligent, his touch is just a dream. The highest praise I could say is that he could get to the very top.”
Foden’s form only improved in the following year or two, though City’s number 47 endured a poor 2024/25 campaign. Foden will, presumably, bounce back one day. For Owen’s prediction to come true, he would certainly need to.
( All stats are fromTransfermarktand are correct as of 29/05/2025 )
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