Michael Owen, who is already a Liverpool legend at such a young age broke into the Liverpool team in 1998 and made his Liverpool debut against Wimbledon were he scored. Owen has since then gone on to become, one of the best strikers in the world today.
He caught the eye of the country when he stared in Liverpool's FA youth cup triumph in 1996. Since then he has played over a hundred games for the Reds and has scored over a hundred goals for Liverpool. His 100th goal came against West Ham United in a match were Liverpool drew 1-1.
Owen broke in to the England national side in February of 1998 were he scored on his debut against Chile. In the 1998 world cup, he was the talk of the continent, as he scored that amazing goal against Argentina and became the youngest player to ever represent England in a World Cup, this century. He also scored some other goals which helped England to a place in the quarter finals of the competition. Owen was voted PFA young player of the year for the 1997-'98 season. He was also voted BBC's sports personality of the year and finished as Liverpool 's top goal scorer.
In Owen's first full season in Liverpool, he scored 21 goals and the season after that he went on to score 23 goals, proving to people that he wasn't a one season wonder. Towards the end of the 1998-'99 season, Owen suffered a hamstring injury against Leeds United. This was his first major injury in his career. Regardless of his injury, he still finished with the Premier League's golden boot that year.
Many thought he won't be able to regain his form but when Owen returned, he returned better than ever. His frightening pace was still there and he continued to score goals for the Reds. Owen's form earned him an england call-up to the European Chamiponships in Belgium and Holland where he scored one goal, which came against Romania and played in all of England's three games in the competition.
Owen also showed that he is as commited to Liverpool as he was to England as he single handedly destroyed Roma by scoring two goals and how can we ever forget his two late goals against Arsenal in the FA Cup finals at Cardiff, Wales. He also was among the goals as Liverpool beat Bayern Munich in the Super Cup in Monaco. Owen played a big part in Liverpool winning five trophies that season and he was also a prolific scorer for England.
Owen has also had a great year this season and no one will ever forget the hat-trick he scored against Germany as England thrashed them 5-1. He was also named European footballer of the year in December 2001.
Owen has done it all at such a young age and all he is really missing now, is a World Cup and Champions League medal, and with Liverpool you know the later will eventually be fufiled. |
