Michael's goin'.. Stats, facts and star tributes as Owen announces he's hanging up his boots

19 Mar 2013 22:30

Lineker, Hoddle, Psycho and more tip their caps to the retiring striker PLUS Fascinating figures on his career at club and international level

Simply the best: Owen was the youngest player to 100 Premier League goals

Chris Brunskill - The FA

Michael Owen has announced he will retire as a player at the end of this season.
Injuries reduced a player who lit up the 1998 World Cup as a teenager with THAT goal against Argentina to a 30-something bench-warmer who could barely get a game for Stoke City.
Here, we gather tributes from current England stars, former team-mates and more and look at Owen's career by the numbers...

Tributes

Gary Lineker “He’s one of the greatest strikers who has ever put on an England shirt. But for injuries, Michael would have broken all England scoring records. Michael was unquestionably one of the best strikers in world football at his peak. We could do with someone like that now in the England set-up, a natural goalscorer.”
Frank Lampard “He’s a player I am very proud to have played alongside. The hat-trick against Germany in Munich was fantastic. He was at the top of his game.”
Stuart Pearce “I don’t think there are too many English players that have come on and had an impact as quickly and as young as Michael. He has been a fantastic ambassador for the game.”
Glenn Hoddle “He was a baby-faced assassin. His finishing was amazing for a young man. He had that coolness in the penalty box. Some players get anxious but he seemed to get calmer and calmer. He must have been a nightmare to defend against.”
James Milner “I remember growing up as an England fan and watching his goal against Argentina. I have also played with him and seen his quality first hand. His finishing is unreal, and it is great to have in the dressing room. He also did it at Real Madrid, and hasn’t had the credit for what he did over there.”
John Aldridge “Michael has flittered away, but in his early career he was just phenomenal. It must have been frustrating for him with the run of injuries that he had. In a way the fact that he was so quick might not have helped him.”
John Barnes “Forget about what he could have achieved if he hadn’t suffered so many injuries, it’s what he has achieved. He’s had one of the best careers anyone could hope for. I’m sure he has many options as to where he goes from here.”

England's leading goal-scorers

Bobby Charlton 49
Gary Lineker 48
Jimmy Greaves 44
Michael Owen 40
Wayne Rooney 33
Tom Finney 30
Nat Lofthouse 30
Alan Shearer 30

Youngest players to Score 100 Premier League goals

Name                 Age                    Apps
Michael Owen    23 y 4 m 12 d    185
Robbie Fowler   23 y 9 m 7 d       175
Wayne Rooney   24 y 3 m 7 d       247
Alan Shearer     25 y 4 m 17 d     124
Thierry Henry    26 y 5 m 23 d     160
Andy Cole         27 y 4 m 2 d       185
Robbie Keane    27 y 5 m 18 d     255
Darren Bent      27 y 11 m 26 d    226
Jermain Defoe   28 y 6 m 16 d     303
Dwight Yorke    29 y 0 m 22 d      254

Owen's England career

Appearances 89
Minutes On Pitch 6,222
Goals 40
Shots On Target 95
Shots Off Target 59
Assists 11
Wins 50
Draws 20
Losses 19
Win % 56.2

Leading Premier League scorers

Alan Shearer 260
Andy Cole 187
Thierry Henry 175
Robbie Fowler 163
Frank Lampard 162
Wayne Rooney 156
Les Ferdinand 150
Michael Owen 150
Teddy Sheringham 147 
Jimmy Floyd Hasselbaink 127

Who did Owen score most goals against?

Opponent            Apps   Mins   Goals
Newcastle               10     801    13
West Ham               17   1119    13
Blackburn               15   1211      9
Manchester City        9     524     7
Southampton          11     795     7
Aston Villa              18   1145     6
Everton                   18   1351     6
West Brom                3     270     6
Chelsea                  16    1155    5
Coventry                  8      624     5
Derby                     11      808    5
N Forest                   2      180    5
Sunderland            11       723    5
Tottenham             17     1318   5
Bolton                    10        755   4
Charlton                  9        763   4
Leeds                       9        643   4
Middlesbrough      14        968   4
Sheffield Wed          5         439   4
Arsenal                  19      1229   3
Birmingham             8        466   3
Ipswich                    3         240   3
Leicester                  7        533   3
Man United            14        846   3
Portsmouth             6        473    3
Wigan                      5       298    3
Wimbledon              6        451    3
Fulham                  11        741    2
Stoke                       5        281    2
Blackpool                 1         27    1
Bradford                  3       256     1
C Palace                   2       180     1
Reading                   3        270    1
Swansea                  1             5    1
Barnsley                  2         180    0
Burnley                    2           81    0
Hull                         3         235    0
Liverpool                 5         284    0
Watford                    2         143    0
Wolves                      3        194     0

Owen's stats by club

                                 Stoke   Man U   Newc     Real M      Liv      Total
Appearances                6           31          71      36         216      360
Minutes Played            64        913       5203   1879     16825   24884
Goals Scored                1           5           26       13         118      163
Minutes per Goal       64.0    182.6     200.1   144.5     142.6   152.7
Shots On Target           1         10         64         31         316      422
Shots Off Target           0         14         38         13        212     277
Shooting Accuracy     100%    41.7%    62.8%    70.5%   59.8%   60.4%
Conversion Rate        100%    20.8%    25.5%    29.5%   22.3%   23.3%
Assists                         0           0           1           3         31         35
Offsides                       0           7          50         28        247      332
Yellow Cards                0           1           2           1           8         12
Red Cards                    0           0            0           0          1          1

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Michael Owen: Career in pictures  -------------- Mirror Football