S
Super G Ted'inho
Guest
I know we have had a thread about his retirement but I can't find it so I'm posting his blog from the Michael Owen Website here...
RETIREMENT
For some reason I thought it would be easy. After all, I had known for a few months that the end was near and had in fact shared my feelings with close family and friends. Having had plenty of time to get my head around my decision, I assumed that making the announcement public would be simple. Write a statement, upload it onto my website and post a message onto my Twitter feed at 9:30am. Job done! What followed caught me totally by surprise.
It started with a text from my sister. It was the last thing I was expecting as I had presumed that my nearest and dearest were already hardened to my decision. A text from my best mate was followed by one from my Dad. I had emotionally gone! For a couple of hours even the slightest thing would set me off. I headed off to see my parents. They were still in their bed clothes at 2:30pm glued to Sky Sports News. My Mum's eyes were swollen from all the crying. What I thought would be a day of celebration was getting worse by the minute. The realisation had set in, after a lifetime of dedication and pleasure that football had afforded us, it was all about to end.
Considering retirement was a gradual process but I had come to the decision before Christmas that this would be my final season in professional football although that wasnât quite the plan at the outset. I had signed for Stoke with every intention of playing more football than I had in recent seasons. For whatever reason, it hasn't transpired. Yes, I've had a couple of small muscle injuries but it would be wrong to blame my lack of action on fitness. I have been available for a higher percentage of games this season than in my previous two. It just hasn't happened and the simple fact is, it is either the managerâs opinion that I am not good enough to get into the team or that I donât fit into the system that we adopt. That is an opinion that I accepted a long time ago and that has obviously contributed to the timing of my announcement. It is also an opinion that I totally respect.
Looking at it realistically, things are unlikely to change in the remaining weeks of the season and having played so little in recent years, the chances of me continuing to play at the top level look remote. There have been a number of offers to continue playing outside of the Premiership, including several from abroad and whilst going to play in an emerging market did cross my mind, with four children settled in school, my familyâs happiness takes priority. Having played for some of the greatest teams in Europe I have decided to exit the game while Iâm still plying my trade in the top level of English football.
Despite me wanting to put the record straight in the future regarding certain chapters of my career, here is not the time nor the place to go into such detail. Instead, for me, it is a time to look back on my career with a sense of immense pride.
After showing plenty of promise as a youngster, it was at Liverpool where I felt most at home. Progressing through the ranks with Steven Gerrard, following the well trodden path of Fowler, McManaman, Matteo and Carragher, there was always a sense at the time that if you were good enough you would get a chance. That chance came at Selhurst Park on May 6th, 1997. The best years of my career followed in an eight year spell at The Reds. Having enjoyed one year in La Liga playing for Spanish giants Real Madrid, it was time to move home. A four year spell at Newcastle United, followed by three years at Manchester United, before spending my final year in professional football at Stoke City. During that 17 year period I had the honour of representing my country at every level culminating in 89 full caps and scoring 40 goals.
Looking back on my career, I suppose I have two overriding emotions. The first is a sense of pride at not only what I achieved, but how I achieved it. Winning virtually every trophy at club level is the stuff of dreams but in amongst all that there were some incredible days. Bursting onto the scene at Liverpool winning consecutive Golden Boots was just the start. Picking up PFA Young Player of The Year and The BBC Sports Personality of The Year Awards were moments I will never forget. Making my England debut having just turned 18 before heading to The World Cup where I would score 'That Goal' which catapulted me towards global recognition. Further International glory followed in the shape of a hat trick in Munich. In that same year we won five trophies at Liverpool with the highlight undoubtedly scoring a brace in the FA Cup Final towards snatch the trophy from Arsenalâs grasp. Collecting the European Footballer of The Year award at the end of that season was an amazing feeling and that trophy takes pride of place at home! Adrenalin rushes like scoring in a 4-2 El Classico win for Real Madrid not to mention the winner in a 4-3 Manchester derby victory have given me memories to last a lifetime.
The second emotion that lives with me is a sense of 'what might have been' had injuries not robbed me of my most lethal weapon - speed. Many of my highlights were early on in my career and I can only wonder what more I would have achieved had my body been able to withstand the demands that I was making of it. I was almost too quick. My hamstring gave way in an away game at Leeds at the tender age of 19 and from that moment on my career as a professional footballer was compromised. I actually take great pride in the fact that, even when not fully fit, I still competed at the very highest level playing for some of the biggest clubs in the world. I have no doubt that had I not suffered those 'pace depriving' injuries, I would be sat here now with a sack full of awards and a long list records. However, how can I really have any regrets!
So, what does the next stage of my life have in store? As I can testify, football is a short career and I would be daft if I hadn't mentally prepared for life after football. Despite the stick I have taken for apparently taking my eye off the ball, I am satisfied that I have prepared for life after football. I retire in eight weeks knowing exactly what my next steps will be and that is a comforting thought.
The media side of Football interests me. As many of you will have seen, I have appeared on various channels trying out different roles and gaining experience for a future on TV. I am currently in discussions with several broadcasters and hoping to secure a contract for next season and beyond. Radio commentary and personal Blogs are also platforms that I have enjoyed doing. At times during my career it has been difficult to express an opinion for a variety of reasons. Close family and friends always tell me I am very opinionated so it will be nice to be able to express my views in a number of ways.
For the last couple of years I have also been putting things in place for a career that interests me greatly. The representation of players is an area I believe I can excel in.
On July 1st, I propose to set up Michael Owen Management Limited focusing on guiding young players through their careers and offering them advice at every juncture of what can be a career full of pitfalls. I have seen so many horror stories during my own career and have learnt plenty from my own experiences. With the team I have built around me, I feel genuinely excited by the opportunity of guiding some of our best talent through their formative years and beyond. Having already spoken with a number of people within the game, I get a real sense that they too feel that I can play an important role in helping to nurture talented youngsters into our stars of the future both on and off the pitch.
It has been the best journey I could ever have wished for. Unfortunately, like all good things, it has to come to an end. I take pride in the fact that I have given people so much pleasure over the years. I retire in the knowledge that everybody knows where they were when 'That Goal' nestled into the top corner of the Argentinianâs net!
RETIREMENT
For some reason I thought it would be easy. After all, I had known for a few months that the end was near and had in fact shared my feelings with close family and friends. Having had plenty of time to get my head around my decision, I assumed that making the announcement public would be simple. Write a statement, upload it onto my website and post a message onto my Twitter feed at 9:30am. Job done! What followed caught me totally by surprise.
It started with a text from my sister. It was the last thing I was expecting as I had presumed that my nearest and dearest were already hardened to my decision. A text from my best mate was followed by one from my Dad. I had emotionally gone! For a couple of hours even the slightest thing would set me off. I headed off to see my parents. They were still in their bed clothes at 2:30pm glued to Sky Sports News. My Mum's eyes were swollen from all the crying. What I thought would be a day of celebration was getting worse by the minute. The realisation had set in, after a lifetime of dedication and pleasure that football had afforded us, it was all about to end.
Considering retirement was a gradual process but I had come to the decision before Christmas that this would be my final season in professional football although that wasnât quite the plan at the outset. I had signed for Stoke with every intention of playing more football than I had in recent seasons. For whatever reason, it hasn't transpired. Yes, I've had a couple of small muscle injuries but it would be wrong to blame my lack of action on fitness. I have been available for a higher percentage of games this season than in my previous two. It just hasn't happened and the simple fact is, it is either the managerâs opinion that I am not good enough to get into the team or that I donât fit into the system that we adopt. That is an opinion that I accepted a long time ago and that has obviously contributed to the timing of my announcement. It is also an opinion that I totally respect.
Looking at it realistically, things are unlikely to change in the remaining weeks of the season and having played so little in recent years, the chances of me continuing to play at the top level look remote. There have been a number of offers to continue playing outside of the Premiership, including several from abroad and whilst going to play in an emerging market did cross my mind, with four children settled in school, my familyâs happiness takes priority. Having played for some of the greatest teams in Europe I have decided to exit the game while Iâm still plying my trade in the top level of English football.
Despite me wanting to put the record straight in the future regarding certain chapters of my career, here is not the time nor the place to go into such detail. Instead, for me, it is a time to look back on my career with a sense of immense pride.
After showing plenty of promise as a youngster, it was at Liverpool where I felt most at home. Progressing through the ranks with Steven Gerrard, following the well trodden path of Fowler, McManaman, Matteo and Carragher, there was always a sense at the time that if you were good enough you would get a chance. That chance came at Selhurst Park on May 6th, 1997. The best years of my career followed in an eight year spell at The Reds. Having enjoyed one year in La Liga playing for Spanish giants Real Madrid, it was time to move home. A four year spell at Newcastle United, followed by three years at Manchester United, before spending my final year in professional football at Stoke City. During that 17 year period I had the honour of representing my country at every level culminating in 89 full caps and scoring 40 goals.
Looking back on my career, I suppose I have two overriding emotions. The first is a sense of pride at not only what I achieved, but how I achieved it. Winning virtually every trophy at club level is the stuff of dreams but in amongst all that there were some incredible days. Bursting onto the scene at Liverpool winning consecutive Golden Boots was just the start. Picking up PFA Young Player of The Year and The BBC Sports Personality of The Year Awards were moments I will never forget. Making my England debut having just turned 18 before heading to The World Cup where I would score 'That Goal' which catapulted me towards global recognition. Further International glory followed in the shape of a hat trick in Munich. In that same year we won five trophies at Liverpool with the highlight undoubtedly scoring a brace in the FA Cup Final towards snatch the trophy from Arsenalâs grasp. Collecting the European Footballer of The Year award at the end of that season was an amazing feeling and that trophy takes pride of place at home! Adrenalin rushes like scoring in a 4-2 El Classico win for Real Madrid not to mention the winner in a 4-3 Manchester derby victory have given me memories to last a lifetime.
The second emotion that lives with me is a sense of 'what might have been' had injuries not robbed me of my most lethal weapon - speed. Many of my highlights were early on in my career and I can only wonder what more I would have achieved had my body been able to withstand the demands that I was making of it. I was almost too quick. My hamstring gave way in an away game at Leeds at the tender age of 19 and from that moment on my career as a professional footballer was compromised. I actually take great pride in the fact that, even when not fully fit, I still competed at the very highest level playing for some of the biggest clubs in the world. I have no doubt that had I not suffered those 'pace depriving' injuries, I would be sat here now with a sack full of awards and a long list records. However, how can I really have any regrets!
So, what does the next stage of my life have in store? As I can testify, football is a short career and I would be daft if I hadn't mentally prepared for life after football. Despite the stick I have taken for apparently taking my eye off the ball, I am satisfied that I have prepared for life after football. I retire in eight weeks knowing exactly what my next steps will be and that is a comforting thought.
The media side of Football interests me. As many of you will have seen, I have appeared on various channels trying out different roles and gaining experience for a future on TV. I am currently in discussions with several broadcasters and hoping to secure a contract for next season and beyond. Radio commentary and personal Blogs are also platforms that I have enjoyed doing. At times during my career it has been difficult to express an opinion for a variety of reasons. Close family and friends always tell me I am very opinionated so it will be nice to be able to express my views in a number of ways.
For the last couple of years I have also been putting things in place for a career that interests me greatly. The representation of players is an area I believe I can excel in.
On July 1st, I propose to set up Michael Owen Management Limited focusing on guiding young players through their careers and offering them advice at every juncture of what can be a career full of pitfalls. I have seen so many horror stories during my own career and have learnt plenty from my own experiences. With the team I have built around me, I feel genuinely excited by the opportunity of guiding some of our best talent through their formative years and beyond. Having already spoken with a number of people within the game, I get a real sense that they too feel that I can play an important role in helping to nurture talented youngsters into our stars of the future both on and off the pitch.
It has been the best journey I could ever have wished for. Unfortunately, like all good things, it has to come to an end. I take pride in the fact that I have given people so much pleasure over the years. I retire in the knowledge that everybody knows where they were when 'That Goal' nestled into the top corner of the Argentinianâs net!
Better than a kick in the balls
What a lovely trophy it is 
