Michael Owen - The Homeless Player

The year is 1996, and Michael Owen has burst onto the scene as a graduate from Liverpool’s academy. With skill and pace to spare, the young Englishman was ready to make his mark, and make his mark he did.

After making his professional debut for his boyhood club, Owen would go on to play for some of the world’s biggest teams throughout his 17-year career. He would also go on to represent his country at five major tournaments, most notably the 1998 World Cup where he famously scored against Argentina in the quarter-final.

Across his club career, Owen played 482 games and scored 222 goals. For country, his record is even more impressive, having scored 40 times in 89 appearances.

And let’s not forget about his 2001 Ballon D’or.

So with such a record, why doesn’t any fanbase claim Michael Owen as their own?

Well, with only having played on 71 occasions for Newcastle United, and an even fewer nine times for Stoke City, the answer seems obvious. So that makes sense.

But what about the three giants of football whose kits he has donned?

His time at Real Madrid was meant to be the stuff of dreams. Recruited by one of the biggest clubs in the game, who were building a super team of Galacticos that included the likes of David Beckham, Zinedine Zidane, Luis Figo, Roberto Carlos, and Ronaldo. But things didn’t go as planned and Owen was on a flight home after one season with no winners’ medals to show for it. So that makes sense.

Upon his return to England he settled at Newcastle before making the shocking move to Liverpool’s greatest rivals: Manchester United. The logic was simple; he was looking for a move and his beloved Liverpool was not interested in making an offer. In stepped Sir Alex Ferguson, who saw Owen as a perfect addition to his side, a side battling on all fronts that would be in need of squad depth. And even though he lifted his first and only league title with the Red Devils, and scored the famous winner in the Manchester Derby,  it was always going to be hard for United fans to claim him as one of their own. I mean, how could they? A man who had scored against them while wearing the red of Liverpool? A man who had lifted silverware with their most bitter of rivals? So that makes sense.

But what about Merseyside? Well, similar to the logic used by Man United supporters, Liverpool fans saw a form of betrayal. How could a club legend who was once seen as a proud cornerstone of the academy do the unthinkable? For Owen it was business but for his boyhood club it was much more personal. The minute he signed that contract and stepped onto that Old Trafford pitch he was taken off the walls of the Liverpool greats. No longer could he be mentioned along the likes of Ian Rush and Kenny Dalglish. So that makes sense.

In what would turn out to be a career more unique than most, it still feels like Michael Owen sits on the outside looking in. Even with all the goals and great moments, he will always remain… the homeless player.