The controversial decision to join Manchester United had some difficult and emotional consequences for Michael Owen when he returned to boyhood club Liverpool.
Owen joined Liverpool’s academy at the age of 12 and quickly emerged as one of the most exciting players in the Premier League after making his first-team debut in 1996.
Blessed with incredible pace and efficient finishing, Owen finished his first full season with Liverpool as the joint-top goalscorer in the Premier League and was the club’s top goalscorer from 1997 to 2004.
Owen, who soon established himself as an England regular, helped Liverpool win a cup treble in 2001 and won the prestigious Ballon d’Or award later that year ahead of Real Madrid forward Raul and Bayern Munich goalkeeper Oliver Kahn.
The England striker decided to leave Anfield as Liverpool began to lose ground on their Premier League title rivals in the early 2000s, joining Real Madrid in 2004 and finishing his Reds career with 158 goals in 297 appearances.
But Owen would only spend one year at the Bernabeu before returning to the Premier League, Newcastle United securing his signature after a potential return to Liverpool was blocked by Real Madrid.
Owen struggled with injuries during his four-year spell at St James’ Park and completed a surprise move to Manchester United ahead of the 2009-10 campaign.
Now in his 30s, Owen struggled for game-time at Old Trafford but did at least get his hands on the Premier League trophy, with United also lifting the League Cup in 2010, Owen scoring in the final against Aston Villa.
Owen does not regret joining Manchester United but says it created an uncomfortable atmosphere whenever he returned to boyhood club Liverpool, where he was subjected to jeers from the Anfield faithful.
‘I’m respected at Man United; the derby winner, Champions League hat-trick, goal in a cup final,’ Owen told the Daily Mail in 2021.
‘It’s not like I’m one of their own, we know that, but there’s mutual respect and good memories.
‘But when I go through the doors at Liverpool, it’s in my heart. I hated going back as a player. It felt like I was punching my brother. Being booed, I felt sick. My parents were shot to bits.
‘It rarely happens now, the odd voice might shout, “You Manc”, but I can put it in a box. It doesn’t stop me thinking I would love to have the legacy of Carra (Jamie Carragher) or Stevie (Steven Gerrard).
‘They won the Champions League the season I left. I wanted my mates to win, absolutely, but part of me was gutted, “God, that could have been me”. I have to accept that. It was my decision to leave.’
Owen, who scored 40 goals in 89 appearances for England, hung up his boots in 2013 and has since gone into punditry, working mainly for TNT Sports and Premier League Productions.
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