"One obsessed girl threatened to strip of on Michael's front lawn if he didn't answer her letters"

Michael Owen's meteoric rise to stardom has seen the boy who was a virtual unknown this time last year being votedthe fourth-best footballer in the world in a recent sportswriters' poll - and he's still only 19. But the boy who took the World Cup by storm when he scored that famous goal against Argentina is very modest about his soaring success.

"I did alright in the World Cup,"he shrugs. "I wanted to do it for myself and to prove to myself that I could do it to the highest level."

And he proved it to the rest of Britain too. It's no wonder the ex-YTS kid now has a five-year contract with Liverpool, who wanted to insure him for a whopping $60 million. His team-mates reckon they act like minders because he's become such a star, but he's not too big to come in for a good after-match ribbing in the dressing room.

It's not a career built on hype and female fandom though. Michael's so much more than a pretty pitch popsy - his huge footy talent started sprouting when he was at school. By the time he was 11, eight league clubs were vying to get him on their books. Despite being an Everton fan, Michael went to Liverpool to train in 1991.

Michael scored 11 goals in five appearances as Liverpool won the FA Youth Club for the first time, so it wasn't long before he got to play witht he premiership big boys. He turned professional on lhis 17th birthday and scored on his debut for Liverpool, going on to notch on his FA Cup, Coca-Cola Cup and UEFA Cup debuts as well. Not bad!

Owenmania

But it was at France '98 that Owen earned his 'boy wonder' title - and all the fame and adulation that came with it. He started the World Cup on the bench, but as England trailed Romania one-nil the crowd were shouting for him and coach Glenn Hoddle had no choice but to give the young fella a chance. He made the right decision - Owen scored the equaliser.

Owenmania gripped the nation, and then his goal against Argentina catapulted him to worldwide fame. But his feet remain firmly on the ground.

"I've always been confident I would make it to the top, but for it to happen so quickly has surprised me," admits Michael. To him, it's the chance to do a job he loves, never mind the fame and fortune. And there's no denying he's doing what he's best at: he has all-round ability, confidence and scarily fast pace - not to mention nice legs.

Michael's life has changed in a big way since the World Cup. He's pursued by thousands of adoring fans and can't go anywhere without being recongnised. He still lives in his tiny home town of Hawarden, near Chester, but his parents' home is a target for adoring fans. One obsessed girl managed to get into his house and another threatened to strip off on his front lawn if he didn't answer her letters.

It must be bewildering and flattering to have to deal with all that kind of stuff, but Michael takes it all in his stride.

"I'm not really bothered if girls see me as a sex symbol,"he says. "If they want to stick pictures of me on their walls, sobe it. It's nice that they appreciate me."

Michael remains devoted to his childhood sweetheart Louise Bonsall and prefers a nice game of golf to a showbiz night out - the kind of footy golden boy you could take home to meet your mum.

Copyright � 1998-1999 Christy Chan. All rights reserved.