Delivering failed. It's possible that the target you're trying to mail is unsubscribed from EWN mailers. Former Britain striker Michael Owen. Picture: AFP Prior line Next line LONDON - A vocation that was launched into orbit with a beautiful target against Argentina in the 1998 World Cup will end meekly 15 years later after Michael Owen announced on Tuesday his boots will be hung up by him at the end of the period. The former England striker, who made his first-team debut for Liverpool as a 17-year-old and also performed for Real Madrid, Newcastle United and Manchester United, has nearly disappeared from view at Stoke City for whom he signed last September. "I now feel it's the right time and energy to bring the curtain down on my career," the injury-prone 33-year-old said on his personal site. "I have been very fortunate in that my profession has taken me on a journey that like many young players starting out, I possibly could only have dreamt of." Diminutive Owen had already found his potential at Liverpool when he forced himself onto the world stage with a fabulous solo purpose against Argentina in a 1998 World Cup second round defeat in St Etienne. An all natural striker with a devastating burst of rate, Owen went on to produce 89 global shows, rating 40 goals to sit last on the all-time England goalscorers' list. Still another popular England performance came in the 5-1 World Cup qualifying gain in Germany in 2001 when he scored a hat-trick. "It is sad news for football that Michael Owen may retire. He's been an incredible soccer player for all the groups he performed for and for England," Sven Goran Eriksson, his England coach from 2001-2006, informed Britain's Sky Sports News TELEVISION. "He was quite simple to handle. To start with, he's a fantastic guy - professional, never any issues on or off the message. If you had him in your staff you knew that at any time he is a chance, the winning goal can be scored by him. "Beating Germany 5-1, that could not or should not happen. It absolutely was one of those games you can always remember. I felt very pleased to function as the manager of Michael Owen." DAMAGE ISSUES In 297 performances for Liverpool he obtained 158 goals, making him one of the most sought-after strikers in the world, voted 2001 European Player of the Year and twice winning the Premier League's Golden Boot honor. In 2001 he helped the Reds gain the FA Cup, with two late goals in the remaining to return to beat Arsenal 2-1, as well as the League Cup and UEFA Cup. Owen joined a Real Madrid group in 2004 and despite starting largely instead, he managed to score 16 aims in his only season at the Bernabeu before time for English football with Newcastle. The latter years of Owen's career have already been marked by normal damage dilemmas. After battling to recover from a foot to be fit for the 2006 World Cup finals, Owen suffered a severe knee injury in the first moment of a against Sweden and missed very nearly a year. "It is a great pity that Michael has decided to call time on his career, but they can look back with great delight and pleasure of getting contributed so much to the overall game, both at international level and domestically," English FA Chairman David Bernstein said in a statement. "We wish Michael's knowledge isn't lost to football." Owen's free transfer shift from Newcastle to Manchester United was a surprise for supporters of arch-rivals Liverpool but apart from a in the Champions League against Wolfsburg, it was obvious that he had lost the velocity that once terrorised defenders. A primary Premier League winner's honor was forthcoming though with United in 2010/11 and an injury-time winner in the 4-3 derby victory over Manchester City the season before is going to be forever remembered by United supporters. Because joining Stoke he's made only eight appearances, six of them as change, scoring one goal. "Emotional day," Owen said on his Twitter site. "I am overrun. Therefore many great messages. Having known it for a while I thought I would be ok. Reduced to tears."
Via: [Live Football] Denmark - Bulgaria - FIFA World Cup 2014 Qualifying
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