Twenty years ago this week, former England star Michael Owen won the Ballon d’Or, the special prize which has been so overhyped since. In fact, controversy is the word which describes this prestigious award in 2021, as Robert Lewandowski, after all he did last season, failed to get it, while Lionel Messi picked up his record seventh one. But back then, it wasn’t so important, at least for the English. Maybe it’s because they can’t name many of their players who won it in the past. Kevin Keegan won Ballon d’Or 22 years before Owen, who won it 20 years ago, and it seems that there won’t be another Englishman on the podium any time soon.Happy Birthday Michael Owen (@themichaelowen) 🎂He burst into the Liverpool first team as a 17 year old in 1997, going onto to score 158 goals for the club ⚽️Ballon d’Or winner in 2001 🥇Scored 40 goals in 89 caps for England 🏴 🎥 by @90sfootballpic.twitter.com/U4mFJAvoWI— Football Remind (@FootballRemind) December 14, 2021 And Michael Owen recalls the time he won the award and admits he only became aware what he had won when he switched to Real Madrid. In a big interview with Daily Mail, former England, Liverpool, Real, Newcastle and Manchester United striker talked about many things: Ballon d’Or, former and current England squads, injuries and fans abuse.„I was in the Stadio Olimpico dressing-room about to play Roma when Phil Thompson gestured for me to come outside. Gerard Houllier had been ill but was on the phone. He said, “This is top secret, but I wanted to give you a boost – you’ve won the Ballon d’Or”. I was buzzing, but I’ll also be honest, I didn’t quite know what it was. It wasn’t as prominent in England. Even when I was presented with the trophy at Anfield, I was like, “Get it off the pitch, we’re about to kick off!”. ‘It was only when I joined Real Madrid and it was all, “We’ve signed a Ballon d’Or winner!”. I was like, “Jesus, no-one gives me any credit back home”. Now, I look at it with so much pride“ recalls Owen.’Sir Alex was unprofessional so I just hung up the phone’Former Liverpool man debuted for the England national team at 18, and went on to finish with 89 appearances and 40 goals. And he remains a big fan of the current crop of players, but….„I’m definitely an England fan. And I wanted us to win, yes. But there is something different when you’re an ex-player. It’s not jealousy, I’m so proud of this team. The lads look like they really love each other. But if they had won, I know one of my feelings would be, “Jesus, not one of those players would have got in our team. Is Harry Kane better than Rooney? I’d say not. Ashley Cole was the best left-back in the world, our centre-halves were incredible, the current midfielders are nowhere near Gerrard, Frank Lampard and Paul Scholes. So yeah, it would have made me depressed just thinking, “How the hell didn’t we win anything?” says Owen. Michael Owen’s birthday, you say? Any excuse to watch this goal against Argentina again.pic.twitter.com/JWfpsR9quY— Planet Football (@planetfutebol) December 14, 2021 And yes, the logical question is why this team, dubbed „The Golden Generation“, hasn’t won anything, not even went to any of the major tournament finals? They switched from Glenn Hoddle, through Sven Goran Eriksson to Fabio Capello and yet…„I can give you two reasons. Firstly, our team spirit was nothing like it is now. We liked each other, but we also bloody hated each other every other week. We just couldn’t get past that rivalry. ‘Secondly, the manager. If Glenn Hoddle had still been in charge in 2002 and not Sven-Goran Eriksson we would have won the World Cup. Glenn would have gone 3-5-2 and we would have won tournaments. We had loads of brilliant centre-halves, so playing three was perfect. We never had a left-winger, so why try to play Scholes there? Come on. Just let Ashley Cole take care of the left. Glenn would have got it right. He was the best we had“ says Owen.England score TEN GOALS to secure World Cup qualification while Italy drop outDuring the current World Cup qualification games, England played with San Marino and thrashed the tiny country 10-0, with Harry Kane scoring four goals, and Owen couldn’t helped himself tweeting that games like this are ‘absolutely pointless’. He also used this opportunity to take a jab at England striker.„It was only jealously because I never got to play against San Marino! I actually looked at my scoring record – Brazil, Argentina, Germany – and I was checking it against Harry’s and thinking, “Pens against San Marino shouldn’t count!”. I just need to calm down and say to myself, “You’re 42, you’re never going to play again, let it go”. But I’m still competing with the world. I want to relax, but I can’t“ admits Owen.Frank Lampard’s late night trips to the toilet kept Ferdinand awakeFormer Liverpool and Manchester striker now works as a TV pundit and is peace with the abuse he gets from both his former clubs.„Well, I’m absolutely fine at both. I’m respected at Man United; the derby winner, Champions League hat-trick, goal in a cup final. It’s not like I’m one of their own, we know that, but there’s mutual respect and good memories. But when I go through the doors at Liverpool, it’s in my heart. I hated going back as a player. It felt like I was punching my brother. Being booed, I felt sick. My parents were shot to bits. It rarely happens now, the odd voice might shout, “You Manc”, but I can put it in a box. It doesn’t stop me thinking I would love to have the legacy of Jamie Carragher or Stevie Gerrard. They won the Champions League the season I left. I wanted my mates to win, absolutely, but part of me was gutted, “God, that could have been me”. I have to accept that. It was my decision to leave“ says Owen.Lampard and Ferdinand used to party every nightFormer Liverpool striker thinks that injuries prevented him become even better, and specifically mentions the one against Leeds in 1999.„From 10 to 17, I believe there wasn’t anyone in the world as good. By 18, I was scoring goals at a World Cup. By 21, the Ballon d’Or. But honestly, I was better at 19. That was when I suffered a crippling injury. Everything comes back to that. I wish it had been a broken leg. The worst injury for me was a snapped hamstring, because back then you didn’t operate, you just allowed them to reattach. I was running with two hamstring muscles in my right leg and three in my left for the rest of my career. It was a point of weakness. I often wonder if it was just a freak injury. Until then I was solid as a rock, never missed a game. But no-one gets injured through walking. I was going so quick, I suppose it was always likely to go“ said Owen.
