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New goals after hanging up boots
By Liu Xiaolin |
June 23, 2013, Sunday
|
Print Edition
Print Edition
DESPITE hanging up his boots last month, Michael Owen has no intention of putting his feet up, the former England striker told Shanghai Daily.
The ex-Liverpool, Real Madrid, Newcastle United and Manchester United star will be in the commentary box of UK sports Channel BT Sport to co-anchor English Premier League games next season. And he plans to counsel young players, "offering them advice from my own experiences."
"One thing is for sure, 90 percent of my future life will still be involved with football," Owen said during an appearance in Shanghai last Saturday to promote teenage football training.
While in town, he sat for a talk with Shanghai Daily. Dressed casually in a deep blue sports shirt and black shorts, Owen said for now he's simply enjoying the break after a long season.
"I'll probably miss being on the pitch when next season begins, when I'll see others playing while I can't," he said.
Three months ago, the 33-year-old, then playing for Stoke City, announced his retirement at the end of the season.
"It was very difficult to retire. I was very sad but I knew it was difficult to continue knowing I'm not fast or fit enough, or whatever, to compete at the highest level," he said calmly, though with an obvious tinge of regret.
"I'd been thinking about it for the past year. Everybody retires at some time. It's the time. I want people to remember the best of me, talk about good memories, not a player who slipped from the top."
After calling it quits, Owen wrote on his website: "It has been the best journey I could ever have wished for … I retire in the knowledge that everybody knows where they were when 'That Goal' nestled into the top corner of the Argentinian's net."
Born in 1979 in Chester, north England, Owen grew up in a footballing family. His father was a professional for 15 years and once played for Liverpool's city rivals Everton. His two big brothers are also pros.
"Almost every young boy in Britain dreams of becoming a professional footballer," Owen recalled.
Young Michael showed his talent from an early age and turned pro at age 17 with Liverpool.
In 1998, 18-year-old Owen burst onto the world stage, escaping the attentions of two defenders and scoring a stunning goal against Argentina in the World Cup in France.
Though England eventually lost the game in a penalty shootout, Owen had wowed world soccer fans with his speed, the ability to loiter for a chance and his clinical goalscoring.
"That Goal" was among many highlights of Owen's career: a hat-trick in the Champions League for Liverpool against New Castle in 1998; an incredible haul of five cups in 2001 with Liverpool; being named European Footballer of the Year the same year; his debut strike for Manchester United in 2009, deep into stoppage time against rivals Manchester City to secure a 4-3 win; and the one he scored that changed the game and nailed the championship for Manchester United in 2010 against Aston Villa.
Owen is philosophical about his early rise to fame. "I don't think it was a good or a bad thing. It just happened," he said.
"And I was strong enough to take it, both physically and emotionally."
Yet for much of his career, Owen was plagued by injuries, which many have linked to him playing so many top-level games at such a young age.
Last season, he made just nine appearances for Stoke, scoring one goal.
"Once you're injured, the first thing you ask your doctor is how long before you can get back on the field," he told Shanghai Daily. "Mentally, it's difficult. You have to focus on the rehabilitation and forget what you'll miss, trying to get back to be as good as you were."
"But it's hard ... My body didn't listen to me," he added.
Owen has said that were it not for his injuries, he would have "a sack full of awards and a long list records."
Yet he has still had a successful career, with his Liverpool cups, a Premier League title with Manchester United and 89 England caps.
As he once said in a newspaper interview, "I'm not that unlucky."
Now Owen looks to spend more time with his family, run his own racing stables and travel.
And as part of the latter, last week, he embarked on a four-day tour to Beijing, Shenzhen and Shanghai.
"China's football is grassroots, and there's much to improve if China can invest more on youth training," Owen said in Shanghai.
"China has a huge number of football fans, but not many who play football. We've heard of the name of some Chinese footballers and clubs in Shanghai and Beijing, but you can't just invest in the national team.
"You need to train talented youth, to invest in facilities, good coaches and work on the training system. It's important to have an environment for young talents to flourish."
Owen said he can understand that some Chinese parents pressurize their children to give up football for academic work. "In Britain, parents also put pressure on children's education, so that if they can't be pros, they can do something else," he said.
But Owen says parents should encourage talent. "You can always see if your children show talent," he said.
"It's not true to say you can be a great footballer if you keep practicing.
"Practice does count, but you have to be talented first."
The ex-Liverpool, Real Madrid, Newcastle United and Manchester United star will be in the commentary box of UK sports Channel BT Sport to co-anchor English Premier League games next season. And he plans to counsel young players, "offering them advice from my own experiences."
"One thing is for sure, 90 percent of my future life will still be involved with football," Owen said during an appearance in Shanghai last Saturday to promote teenage football training.
While in town, he sat for a talk with Shanghai Daily. Dressed casually in a deep blue sports shirt and black shorts, Owen said for now he's simply enjoying the break after a long season.
"I'll probably miss being on the pitch when next season begins, when I'll see others playing while I can't," he said.
Three months ago, the 33-year-old, then playing for Stoke City, announced his retirement at the end of the season.
"It was very difficult to retire. I was very sad but I knew it was difficult to continue knowing I'm not fast or fit enough, or whatever, to compete at the highest level," he said calmly, though with an obvious tinge of regret.
"I'd been thinking about it for the past year. Everybody retires at some time. It's the time. I want people to remember the best of me, talk about good memories, not a player who slipped from the top."
After calling it quits, Owen wrote on his website: "It has been the best journey I could ever have wished for … I retire in the knowledge that everybody knows where they were when 'That Goal' nestled into the top corner of the Argentinian's net."
Born in 1979 in Chester, north England, Owen grew up in a footballing family. His father was a professional for 15 years and once played for Liverpool's city rivals Everton. His two big brothers are also pros.
"Almost every young boy in Britain dreams of becoming a professional footballer," Owen recalled.
Young Michael showed his talent from an early age and turned pro at age 17 with Liverpool.
In 1998, 18-year-old Owen burst onto the world stage, escaping the attentions of two defenders and scoring a stunning goal against Argentina in the World Cup in France.
Though England eventually lost the game in a penalty shootout, Owen had wowed world soccer fans with his speed, the ability to loiter for a chance and his clinical goalscoring.
"That Goal" was among many highlights of Owen's career: a hat-trick in the Champions League for Liverpool against New Castle in 1998; an incredible haul of five cups in 2001 with Liverpool; being named European Footballer of the Year the same year; his debut strike for Manchester United in 2009, deep into stoppage time against rivals Manchester City to secure a 4-3 win; and the one he scored that changed the game and nailed the championship for Manchester United in 2010 against Aston Villa.
Owen is philosophical about his early rise to fame. "I don't think it was a good or a bad thing. It just happened," he said.
"And I was strong enough to take it, both physically and emotionally."
Yet for much of his career, Owen was plagued by injuries, which many have linked to him playing so many top-level games at such a young age.
Last season, he made just nine appearances for Stoke, scoring one goal.
"Once you're injured, the first thing you ask your doctor is how long before you can get back on the field," he told Shanghai Daily. "Mentally, it's difficult. You have to focus on the rehabilitation and forget what you'll miss, trying to get back to be as good as you were."
"But it's hard ... My body didn't listen to me," he added.
Owen has said that were it not for his injuries, he would have "a sack full of awards and a long list records."
Yet he has still had a successful career, with his Liverpool cups, a Premier League title with Manchester United and 89 England caps.
As he once said in a newspaper interview, "I'm not that unlucky."
Now Owen looks to spend more time with his family, run his own racing stables and travel.
And as part of the latter, last week, he embarked on a four-day tour to Beijing, Shenzhen and Shanghai.
"China's football is grassroots, and there's much to improve if China can invest more on youth training," Owen said in Shanghai.
"China has a huge number of football fans, but not many who play football. We've heard of the name of some Chinese footballers and clubs in Shanghai and Beijing, but you can't just invest in the national team.
"You need to train talented youth, to invest in facilities, good coaches and work on the training system. It's important to have an environment for young talents to flourish."
Owen said he can understand that some Chinese parents pressurize their children to give up football for academic work. "In Britain, parents also put pressure on children's education, so that if they can't be pros, they can do something else," he said.
But Owen says parents should encourage talent. "You can always see if your children show talent," he said.
"It's not true to say you can be a great footballer if you keep practicing.
"Practice does count, but you have to be talented first."
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