In brief
Merely twelve players have ventured to represent both Manchester United and Liverpool, so provoking the wrath of both supporters.
After winning a Ballon d’Or at Liverpool, Michael Owen drew criticism for leaving the red half of Merseyside to join United.
Owen acknowledged that Liverpool supporters will despise him for choosing Manchester United over Everton.
Switching from Liverpool to Manchester United is like signing a contract with the devil; it’s as welcome as a fox in a henhouse. The two most illustrious football teams in England have been engaged in a decades-long struggle for supremacy, with neither side prepared to give up its claim to the crown.
Therefore, it should come as no surprise that only a dozen players have ever ventured to cross the boundary between Old Trafford and Anfield. Wearing both shirts is a risky move that might forever incite the wrath of two of football’s most ardent fan bases. Maybe no player in modern history has been more hurt by that betrayal than a former Ballon d’Or winner who became a star at Anfield, then went on to Real Madrid and Newcastle United before ending up back at Old Trafford after failing to bring his boyhood club back.
Michael Owen has devoted a large portion of his time as a pundit to reflecting on his playing days, frequently seeming perplexed by his position as a Merseyside outcast. Once a golden boy at Anfield, he now encounters cold indifference or open animosity whenever Merseysiders hear his name. The retired striker, who was born in Chester, maintains that he has no regrets about his choice despite all the strained relations.
Michael Owen Reflected on Man Utd Transfer Decision
He knew he’d be hated by Liverpool fans, but went ahead with it anyway
After leaving Newcastle United in 2009, Owen made a shocking move to Old Trafford. In just a few weeks, the forward, who had acquired Cristiano Ronaldo’s number seven shirt, had made Manchester derby history with a thrilling, last-minute victory over City in a thrilling match that saw seven goals scored. See the objective below:
However, after establishing himself at Anfield 13 years earlier, when he scored 158 goals in 297 games from 1996 to 2004, his decision to play for the old rivals at Old Trafford guaranteed that he would be essentially shunned by all Merseyside’s red factions. The former England player acknowledged that animosity played a role in his choice to relocate to Manchester, even though Everton was interested in signing him.
He said in his book Reboot: My Life, My point, “By this time, I had honestly just resigned myself to the fact that Liverpool fans were going to hate me whatever I did,” according to the Manchester Evening News.
Would they be more upset with me for attending Manchester United than Everton? Flip a coin. I had no choice but to choose a career that would benefit my family and me alone. It was obvious that a return to Liverpool was never going to materialise, even if I had tried everything to make it happen.
“It wasn’t difficult at all to sign with Manchester United when I was presented with the prospect of playing in the Champions League with guys I knew and played with at England, at a large club with excellent facilities. I have no regrets about that at all. In addition, my family was thrilled for me.
He went on: “I was a football player first and foremost. I made money playing football. As a result, I was able to support my family and play the game at my best in my later years of employment. Contrary to what they may claim, I highly doubt that many players would have declined.
The Damaged Career of Michael Owen at Liverpool
The 2001 Ballon d’Or winner has every attribute required to establish himself as a Kop legend.
Owen became the final Englishman to win the Golden Ball for the finest football player in the world in 2001 after defeating an absurd list of players. Under the late great Gerard Houlier, he led the Reds to an unconventional treble of the UEFA Cup, FA Cup, and League Cup that season with 24 goals and seven assists.
Undoubtedly, the 22-year-old appeared ready to become one of the greatest forwards in Liverpool’s storied past, following in the footsteps of other icons like Ian Rush, Kevin Keegan, Robbie Fowler, and others. Later, he would add a second League Cup and the UEFA Super Cup to his collection of trophies at Anfield.
The career statistics of Michael Owen
Years
Club
Games
Objectives
Helps
1996–2004
Liverpool
297
158
49
From 1998 to 2008
England
89
40
Twelve
2004–2005
Real Madrid
45
16
4.
From 2005 to 2009
Newcastle United
79
30
2.
From 2009 to 2012
United Manchester
52
17
3.
2012–2013
City of Stoke
9.
One
0
Owen, however, was never going to get away with doing the same before then, representing the derided Red Devils, even though some hard-to-please Kopites still despise Steve McManaman for his choice to join Real Madrid.
His decision to forgo the chance to become a giant at Anfield never felt justified, especially since he missed out on the historic 2005 Champions League victory in Istanbul and instead had to deal with career uncertainty due to frequent injury setbacks while playing for clubs outside of Merseyside.
Well-known figures in the Liverpool community have done a great deal to let Owen know that he isn’t exactly welcome back in the city these days. Among them is Steven Gerrard, who humiliated him live on TV in 2021 when he enquired about going back to Anfield. Even so, the 47-year-old’s usage of the cliche “if you can’t beat them, join them” following his 2011 Premier League victory was a bad mistake.
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