My first ever trip to Wembley was back in 1995 when I saw an England Schoolboys team defeat their Brazilian equivalents 1-0. The goalscorer, from the penalty spot was a fifteen year-old Michael Owen. While aesthetically the only difference between Owen then and now is a coating of stubble which ensures he can get in for eighteen rated films, much has happened in the intermittent fourteen years.
From star of Liverpool and England to captain of a doomed Newcastle United via Real Madrid’s Gallaticos in between Owen has seen a lot in a career that should be far from over. However, the key word there of course is should. The combination of reoccurring injuries and dipping form at Newcastle and an incredibly high wage means that England’s ? highest goalscorer has had to resort to unusual measures to continue playing at the top level.
According to today’s papers Owen and his agent have sent a brochure around top flight clubs advertising the striker’s availability. Should it really come to this though, resorted to peddling himself in a glossy booklet like a posh new city centre apartment complex. The brochure itself promotes Owen’s past achievements and dispels the myths about his fitness and his lifestyle.
Throughout all I have read on this brochure and Owen’s reported keenness to ‘continue playing at the highest level’ there seems to me some key points that few are picking up on. Given their position Newcastle will be happy to offload Owen from their wage bill, meaning that no team will have to pay for him. That leads just one sticking point, wages. All that is stopping Owen from signing for another side is effectively his pay demands. If Owen is as desperate to play as he seems keen to put across, then a man of his considerable current wealth could probably afford to do so for free. Its time for the former European Footballer of the Year to put his mouth where his money is.
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