Michael Owen had a fantastic career in football, but the last year of his career at Stoke City was quite strange considering.
He broke out as a superstar on the world stage at the 1998 World Cup, before becoming one of the Premier League’s top strikers at Liverpool.
A treble in 2001 saw him win the Ballon D’or, before making the move to Real Madrid in 2005 as the latest of their Galacticos signings.
However, he lasted just one year in Spain before returning to England. He joined Newcastle United, but his spell at the club was troubled by injuries and eventually saw the club relegated to the Championship.
The striker then made a shock move to Manchester United in the summer of 2009. Owen was brought in as a free transfer and handed the number seven shirt that had been vacated when Cristiano Ronaldo made the move to Madrid in the summer.
He helped the club win the Premier League in his second season at the club, picking up his first ever Premier League medal. However, injuries and being out of favour under Sir Alex Ferguson meant his appearances were limited.
Owen played just 52 times for United in his three years at the club, scoring a respectable 17 goals before being released in the summer of 2012
Owen joined Stoke City on a free transfer in 2012
After his contract with Manchester United expired in the summer of 2012, Michael Owen had very few options after an injury-hit three years.
Liverpool turned down the chance to re-sign the veteran striker, almost a decade after he left the club to join Real Madrid, which left him with few options going into the new season.
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