Michael aged 3 years

The Beginning  

Michael James Owen was born on the 14th December 1979 in the Countess of Chester Hospital, Cheshire, UK. He was born to mother Janette and Father Terry Owen.

Michael is one of 5 children and is the second youngest in his family. He has 2 brothers, Andrew and Terry Junior and 2 sisters, Karen and Lesley. All his siblings are older than Michael except Lesley who is 4 years younger.

The Football Bug

Michael was bitten by the "football bug" at a very young age. Michael's Dad Terry was a footballer and had previously played for Everton! As far back as Michael could remember he loved kicking a football round with his Dad and 2 brothers. It was at this time that he began to show a real talent for football and was bought his first pair of football boots when he was just seven.

As his Dad had played for Everton, it was only natural Michael grew up being a Everton fan. His favourite player was Gary Lineker and he always insisted that he was Gary when he and his dad had a kick about.

When Michael was 7 his Dad managed to persuade the manager of a local football team, Mold Alexandra, into letting Michael into his team. The team was mainly consisted of 10 year old boys, so Michael was quite a bit younger than them, and smaller too. But Michael was soon showing off his "flair" and started in most of the games.

Michael also was picked to play for his Primary School Team.. Although small, Michael could out pace all the players and was a natural at scoring goals. He started to make a name for himself and became quite famous within the schoolboy football circuit. He had many football scouts come to see him play, but he was "off limits" to big name clubs as it was the school policy.

When Michael started at Hawarden High School when he was 12, he was more free to delegate with some major Premiership clubs. Clubs such as Chelsea, Manchester United, Arsenal and of course Liverpool were interested in signing Michael. And even though Michael was a die-hard Everton supporter, he chose to sign for Liverpool.

Michael turns from a  Blue to a Red

So, now Michael was a Liverpool Schoolboy. It was Liverpool who recommended Michael to enrol at Lilleshall School of Excellence. Michael was accepted, and he started at the age of 14. Lilleshall is in Shropshire, so Michael had to leave home for 2 years. However, it was not too far from home and Michael's parents would visit him at weekends. Michael now also had the chance to play for the England Schoolboy sides. And it was as a England Schoolboy that he scored his favourite goal, the one against Scotland!

Michael graduated from Lilleshall School of Excellence at 16 and joined Liverpool on a YTS Scheme (Youth Training Scheme) Michael was on the YTS scheme for 4 months before he was asked to sign for the Liverpool senior team. Michael signed on his 17th Birthday, but didn't get to play until May the next year.

Michael was brought on as a substitute against Wimbledon at Selhurst Park. Liverpool were losing 2-0, but Michael managed to score his first senior goal to try and raise Liverpool's spirits. They lost the game 2-1, but Michael never looked back. He became a regular for the Liverpool side and was scoring plenty of goals. Although, Michael was virtually unheard of outside of the Shankly Gates, he was becoming quite a little hero for Liverpool!