Michael Owen admits he would love to have worn the iconic green and white hoops of Celtic — a club close to his heart thanks to his family ties.
The legendary striker, who dazzled for Liverpool, Real Madrid, Newcastle, and Manchester United, enjoyed a glittering career capped by a Ballon d’Or win in 2001. Yet the 45-year-old, who hung up his boots in 2013 after an injury-plagued stint with Stoke City, has revealed he’s always had a special affection for Celtic due to his Scottish roots.
In an exclusive interview with Record Sport , courtesy of AceOdds, he said: “I guess it purely comes down to your family, doesn’t it? My dad grew up, spent a lot of time in Scotland, his mum was Scottish. My grandparents’ side of the family are Glaswegian, the Donnelly family.
“You listen, you hear, you ask questions in your childhood, and as part of my dad’s upbringing was Scottish and all his side of the family were huge Celtic fans. Naturally, my dad got me a Celtic shirt when I was a kid and I followed them as my team in Scotland. That’s the only connection. Of course, I played against Celtic a couple of times but that’s my only connection. It’s my dad’s side and my dad’s side of the family were all big Celtic fans.”
Owen was linked with a move to Glasgow’s east end in 2009 when his contract at St James’ Park expired. But the ex-Anfield hero ultimately plumped for a shock switch to Liverpool’s arch-rivals Man United.
Asked if there was any truth in the rumours, he said: “Yeah, I would have loved to have played for Celtic. I really would. That’s one thing I think. At that point in my career, I thought to myself, there were a lot of players at the time going up there, of similar ilk.
“Top players that maybe were around the 30, 31, 32 type of thing and having two or three years up scoring a few goals. And let’s get it right, you’ve got most of the ball all the time. When you’re playing for Celtic, you get most of the ball, you’re going to get more chances.
“It’s actually quite nice, as a player that’s in their 30s to not have to chase around and defend much. You always got the ball; you’re always getting chances. It would have been a lovely way I think to end my career. I don’t wish, but I would have liked at the time to maybe have gone to Celtic towards the end of my career.”
Owen isn’t the only Premier League great with a soft spot for Celts after Wayne Rooney confessed earlier this year that he wished he had played for the club. That’s a formidable partnership that would have terrified every defence in Scotland.
“We played together, of course, for England for many years and then for Manchester United”, Owen said. “I think it’s quite an appealing thing for a lot of people. For the true football person, which 99.9 per cent of footballers are, playing in front of a big crowd, playing in front of people that have got loads of passion, playing for a good team that, as I say, is going to dominate most games and you can express yourself, that’s actually quite an appealing thing.
“Let’s be honest. It’s not a very competitive league. It’s not something that you’d probably consider when you’re 23, 25.. But later on in your career, there are so many positive aspects to it. Let’s say me, not able to get into a Manchester United team, for example, if Rooney and Dimitar Berbatov are playing ahead of you, would you prefer to be third or fourth choice at Manchester United or play for Celtic?
“Then it becomes a really good debate to be had. I think at that time of your career when it definitely becomes quite relevant, or it certainly would have for me if I’d had the opportunity.”
Owen has experienced playing in front of crowds at the Bernabeu, Anfield and Old Trafford over the years but says nothing compares to the world-famous atmosphere at Celtic Park. He added: “Where does it rank? The best! When we played in Europe, Celtic against Liverpool, it was the single, most deafening, greatest atmosphere that I’ve ever played in. Bear in mind I’ve played in virtually every Derby there is in the UK.
“I’ve played in El Clasico, I’ve played in lots of big games. I played out in Turkey where the atmosphere is hostile. I’ve played in World Cups and European Championships, pretty much done the lot. I’ve never heard noise like it. When You’ll Never Walk Alone played before the game and both sets of fans belted it out. I’ve never heard noise like it. So much it inspired me.
“I think it was my first ever European game and I scored within about five minutes. No one remembers that because Steve McManaman scored the most incredible goal in that game. Everyone says, ‘Is that the game that McManaman scored? I’m like, yeah, I scored too!’ But that was an amazing atmosphere.”