The Career that Ended Half Way Through – Michael Owen

Yesterday Stoke City’s striker Michael Owen announced that he will retire from the game at the end of the current season, bringing an end to a career that perhaps ended half way through mainly because of injuries.
England has perhaps still not replaced a striker as brilliant as him, Rooney has been around but the only major tournament he shone at was Euro 2004. Since then, the Manchester United striker has flopped in every major competition for the national side.
Owen was a shining star and perhaps the next big thing at the start of his career for England as well as Liverpool. After scoring a wonder goal against Argentina in the World Cup 1998, Owen was considered one of those players that were destined for greatness and was on his way until injuries marred his career.
Nevertheless, he did win the most memorable individual prize in football that many top top quality players have not won. Michael Owen was the first English player to win the prestigious Ballon D’Or since Kevin Keegan won the award in 1979 playing for Hamburg. The European player of the year award was mainly the result of brilliant performances for Liverpool that helped the side win Treble in 2001.
After leaving Real Madrid in 2005, Owen joined English side Newcastle United but only started 10 premier league games for the Magpies. Still the former red did not lose his scoring touch as in those appearances he scored 7 goals as well.

Owen was renowned for his quick turn of pace and sublime finishing, the aspects that completely terrorized defenders but sadly the form did not last for long especially after the major injury in FIFA World Cup 2006.
In his second season with Newcastle, Owen could only feature in three premier league games. He did recover for the next two seasons, playing 30 odd games in 2007-08 and 2008-09 when the magpies were relegated from the league but his scoring form was no way near his best.
Since joining Manchester United from Newcastle at the age of 29, Owen was only responsible for bit part roles due to his form and constant injuries. The above given stats say it all. Owen made five, one and zero premier league starts respectively in his 3 seasons with the Red Devils. Most notably, he won the premier league crown with Alex Ferguson’s side in 2010-11 after featuring in the exact number of games required to be eligible for the medal i.e. 11. Owen made 10 substitute appearances in that season.
The love for the game perhaps motivated him to continue football as he opted to join Stoke City in summer. Although he did score his 150th premier league goal of the career but once again he has only made 6 appearances in the league and all of them after coming on from the bench. The time was perhaps right for the 33 year old to announce that he will not continue any further after the end of this season.
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