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 Michael Owen's highs and lows
 Here is a look at the highs and lows of the career of Michael Owen who completed his move to Manchester United. HIGH: Breaks Ian Rush's Deeside primary schools goalscoring record at the age of 12. LOW: Sent off playing for England Under-18s against Yugoslavia in 1997. HIGH: Signs professional contract with Liverpool on his 17th birthday and goes on to score on his first-team debut against Wimbledon. HIGH: Having been named in Glenn Hoddle's England squad for the first time, Owen becomes the youngest England international of the 20th Century when he starts against Chile.
HIGH: Lights up the World Cup with a sensational goal against Argentina which catapults him towards global stardom and the BBC Sports Personality of the Year award. LOW: Sits out the end of the 1998-99 season with hamstring and tendon injuries suffered in a goalless draw against Leeds. HIGH: Scores twice in the last seven minutes to lead Liverpool back from the dead to beat Arsenal 2-1 in the 2001 FA Cup final.
HIGH: Hits a hat-trick in England's historic 5-1 win over Germany in the World Cup qualifier in Munich in September 2001. His feat helps him be crowned European Footballer of the Year. LOW: Racked by knee ligament and foot problems which rule him out for the end of the 2001-02 campaign. HIGH: Equals Ian Rush's club record by scoring his 20th goal in European competitions for Liverpool in February 2003. LOW: Dragged through the tabloids in January 2003 amid rumours of gambling problem which Owen denies and claims they are exaggerated. HIGH: Is named England captain in the absence of David Beckham and scores twice in the 2-1 Euro 2004 win over Slovakia. LOW: Shin and thigh problems sideline Owen for much of the beginning of the 2003-04 season. LOW: Contract negotiations apparently break down with Liverpool and he is left on the bench for their Champions League qualifier amid rumours of an imminent departure. HIGH: Rafael Benitez confirms Owen will sign for Real Madrid.
HIGH: Passes medical on August 13 2004 to seal his move. LOW: Calls to be dropped for Jermain Defoe ahead of England's World Cup qualifiers against Wales and Azerbaijan. HIGH: Skippers national team in Azerbaijan and scores the only goal of the game.
HIGH: Scores first goal for Madrid as they beat Dynamo Kiev in the Champions League.
HIGH: Continues goalscoring form and scores four in four games for his club side.
HIGH: Goes fourth in all-time England goalscorers' charts with a hat-trick in 3-2 defeat of Colombia in New Jersey. LOW: Madrid sign Julio Baptista and Robinho, relegating Owen to fifth-choice striker. HIGH: Signs for Newcastle on a four-year deal, subject to a medical, after the Magpies agreed a club-record fee with Real Madrid.
HIGH: Opens his account for the Magpies with a strike against Blackburn on his second appearance. Nets in his third appearance too.
HIGH: Equals Gary Lineker's record of 22 England goals in competitive games, scoring against Poland in the final World Cup qualifier.
HIGH: Scores twice as England come from 2-1 down to beat Argentina 3-2 in a friendly in Geneva. LOW: Breaks a metatarsal bone in his right foot on December 31, 2005.
LOW: After returning to training on January 17, Newcastle announce Owen requires surgery to tighten a screw inserted in his foot during the initial operation. HIGH: Caretaker Magpies boss Glenn Roeder reveals he is "confident" Owen will play for Newcastle before the end of the season, a view later backed up by the player himself.
HIGH: Owen plays 29 minutes of Premiership draw with Birmingham.
HIGH: Named in England squad for World Cup and plays more than an hour of England B's 2-1 defeat to Belarus at Reading.
HIGH: Scores in 6-0 defeat of Jamaica ahead of World Cup. LOW: Injures knee in first minute of group game against Sweden in Cologne and is immediately replaced. HIGH: Named in Steve McClaren's England B squad to face Albania at Turf Moor on May 25.
HIGH: Nets third goal in 3-0 win in Estonia in June.
HIGH: Handed the Newcastle captaincy from new boss Kevin Keegan. LOW: Misses England's summer friendlies against United States and Trinidad and Tobago after contracting mumps.
LOW: England manager Fabio Capello decides against selecting him in his squad for the World Cup qualifiers against Kazakhstan and Belarus.
LOW: Suffers ankle injury against Manchester City which rules him out for six weeks.
LOW: Newcastle are relegated from the Premier League.
LOW: Owen confirms he will not renew his Newcastle contract. HIGH: Undergoes medical with Manchester United and signs on a free transfer. ---------------------------------------------- |
