Michael Owen Fact File
Michael Owen was born on 14th December 1979 in Chester. He is a great asset to Liverpool Football Club and at the club he plays a forward. He has recently joined the England Squad and plays number 20, as this position he has become a great role model for all young footballers. Michael Owen signed with Liverpool aged 11, where he eventually won the Youth FA Cup. In 1997, he played his first games for the first team, becoming a regular. He then played for England in the 1998 World Cup at the age of 18. Michael Owen, a product of Liverpool's youth system burst on the scene towards the end of the 1996/97 season with a debut goal in the away draw with Wimbledon. He was given his first start later that week when Liverpool met Sheffield Wednesday. Michael was a constant threat in that match but he couldn't get the goal his performance deserved, he was still given the Man Of The Match award for his wholehearted performance. Unfortunately for Michael he didn't have another chance to impress that season, as that was the final match. At the start of the 1997/98 season Michael was still in the Liverpool side, as Robbie Fowler was carrying an injury. Playing alongside the experienced Riedle, Michael again showed his natural talent, again scoring an equalizer against Wimbledon. With Fowler missing games through injury and suspension Michael was given plenty of chances in the first team, and in a Coca-Cola Cup-tie against Grimsby he scored his first hatrick.Michael (20) is one of the most promising players in England and now has a regular first team place and is sure to be an Anfield favorite for years come…
1979:
Born December 14, Chester, son of footballer Terry who played for
Chester & Rochdale after a brief spell at Everton.
1991:
Breaks Ian Rush's goalscoring record for Deeside Primary Schools
in North Wales after he had previously beaten Gary Speed's record
as the youngest player to play for the team.
1994: Surpasses Kevin Gallen & Nick Barmby's joint goal-scoring record for England Under 15s
1995:
Beats Kevin gallen and nick Barmby's goalscoring record for
england Under-15s.
1996:
May-
Helps
Liverpool with the FA Youth Cup
October
- Makes his debut for the England
under-18s and scores all four goals in the win over Northern
Ireland.
December
-Signs professional terms with
Liverpool on 17th Birthday on December 14 after he had joined
them as a schoolboy.Helps youth team to win FA Youth Cup for the
first time in club history.
1997:
May
6 - Scores on his first team debut against
Wimbledon coming on as a substitute to
score in a 2-1 defeat at Selhurst Park.
June
- scores three goals in five games as
England Under 20s reach the second round stage of the World Youth
Championships in Malaysia.
August
9 - Starts the new season in the first
team in the absence of the injured Robbie Fowler & scores in
a 1-1 draw, again at Wimbledon.
September
9 -Sent off playing for England Under-18s
against Yugoslavia.
September
16 - Scores on European debut against
Celtic in UEFA Cup.
Oktober
5- Invited to train with England senior
squad.
November
18 - Nets his first senior hat-trick
against Grimsby in the Coca Cola Cup.
December
17 - Scores on this debut for England
Under-21s against Greece in a 4-2
victory.
1998:
February
2 -Named in Glenn Hoddle's senior squad
for the first time.
Invited into full England squad & makes debut in friendly
match against Chile. Breaks Duncan Edwards' 43-years-old record
as the youngest England player this century. Edwards was 18 years
& 183 days old when he played against Scotland in 1955 - Owen
was 18 years & 59 days when England played Chile.
February
11- Becomes youngest England international
this century when he strats against Chile.
February
14 - Scores his first Premeirship
hat-trick against Sheffield Wednesday.
April
10 - Sent off against Manchester United
after scoring equaliser.Finishes season joint top scorer in the
Premiership with 18 league goals.
May
27- Becomes youngest England goalscorer
when he nets the only goal against Morocco in Casablanca in the
1-0 win . Was knocked out earlier in the game after a collision
with Moroccan goalkeeper.
May
31 - Named in England's World Cup (France
98) squad of 22.
June
1 - Is named in Glenn Hoddle's England
squad for the World Cup finals in France as one of four main
strikers, along with Alan Shearer, Teddy Sheringham & Les
Ferdinand.
June
26 - Glenn Hoddle bows to public opinion by
naming him in the team to play Colombia at Lens.
June 30 - Scores a
sensational goal against Argentina before England bow out of
France 98 on penalties.
December
13- Named BBC Sports Personality of the
Year, one day ahead of his 19th birthday.
1999:
April
12 - Injuries his hamstring against Leeds
at Elland Road, a knock that rules him out for the rest of the
season. Clinches the Premiership's
joint top scorer award for the second season running with 18
goals.
FA
CUP - Scored 51 goals in 99 games for
Liverpool. Today ( Sunday 5th Dec 1999) is his 100th game for
Liverpool. Joint top Premiership scorer in past 2 seasons, with
18 goals in each. Missed start of this season after injuring
hamstring at Leeds on Apr 12.
Won 17th and 18th England caps (5 goals) in recent play-off games
v Scotland. Scored in
only 3 of his 13 games this season. Missed a penalty in 1-0 win v
Chelsea at Anfield on Oct
16. Redknapp has now taken over the responsibility.
Started last four games, having missed previous two with a
hamstring injury. He and Fowler
have played only 95 minutes together this season (3 v Arsenal, 26
v Man Utd and 66 v Everton).
Celebrates his 20th birthday on 14th December 1999. Has scored
twice in two FA Cup games. Both
goals came last season, in 3rd round 3-0 win at Port Vale, and in
4th round v Man Utd at Old Trafford (lost 2-1).
10 Fantastic Owen Facts!
1.Michael
is the youngest ever player to score for England, his first goal
was against Morocco in Casablanca after coming as a substitute
for the injured Ian Wright.
2.
He scored his first hat-trick away to Sheffield Wednesday and,
despite his stunning performance, Liverpool only drew the match
3-3.
3.
In his first full season at Anfield, Michael finished joint top
scorer in the premiership with 18 goals. Coventry's Dion Dublin
and Blackburn's Chris Sutton finished on the same total.
4.
He scored on his first-team debut at Wimbledon in May 1997. He
was only 17 and appeared as a second-half substitute, netting in
The Reds' 2-1 defeat.
5.
In 1995 Owen first hit the big time while wearing an England
shirt when he broke the schoolboys' goal scoring record.
6.
Michael has been going out with the same girl since his school
days.
7.
Michael received an FA Youth Cup winner's medal in the 1995-96
season, scoring a goal in the second leg of the final as they
beat West Ham 4-1 on aggregate.
8.
Owen picked up the PFA Young Player of The Year award after his
outstanding performances this year.
9.
Sports Umbro signed him up to wear their boots at the age of just
15. He has his own pair of custom made boots, which he sported in
the World Cup.
10.
Although Michael plays for England, he could have played
international football elsewhere. His grandparents are Scottish
and he grew up in Wales.
10 Things You Never Knew About Owen
1.
Michael has a rather broad taste in music, with his faves
including Three Lions popsters the Lightning Seeds... and
crinkly, crappy old crooner Lionel Richie
2.
He lives in Hawarden, a well posh village just a little way
outside Chester right on the border of England and Wales.
3.
When he was younger Michael's favorite TV show was Record
Breakers, but these days he prefers A Question of Sport.
4.
When he first signed for Liverpool as a YTS trainee Michael was
paid the grand sum of £42.50 a week by the Anfield club. His
wages have risen a little bit since then, apparently!
5.
Michael's mum cooks him tea every night as he's useless in the
kitchen.
6.
If Michael and his long term girlfriend Louise ever get hitched
don't expect to see loads of Becks n Posh style wedding pics in
Hello! "When i get married i want to do it quietly," he
says.
7.
Despite those Walkers crisps TV ads, don't expect Michael to
follow Vinny Jones and Eric Cantona into acting. "I'm really
bad at acting, i'd rather stick to what I can do."
8.
Michael's always been well into his sports. When he was a
youngster he trained as a boxer for a year and even had a few
bouts. His favourite boxer is yank bad boy Mike Tyson.
9.
Michael's the youngest but one in the Owen family. He's got two
older brothers (Terry n Andrew) and an older sister (Karen).
Youngest sister Lesley is only 15.
10.
Michael's been sent off twice in his career. Once while playing
for England under-18s against Yugoslavia and again against Man
Utd at Old Trafford.