Despite scoring 158 goals for Liverpool, helping fire the Reds to an historic cup treble, and even winning the Ballon d’Or for his individual efforts, Michael Owen is not a popular figure amongst Kopites.
He used to be, of course, when leading the line for Gerard Houllier’s side and wearing the famous red shirt.
Even after he left for Real Madrid in the summer of 2004, Liverpool fans famously chanted, ‘There’s only one Michael Owen!’
Liverpool were priced out of a transfer return as Newcastle United offered a then club-record £17m for the striker.
Upon his first return to Anfield with the Magpies, rather than his name being chanted, Kopites instead sang, ‘Where were you in Istanbul?’
the killer blow to Owen’s relationship with fans of his former club was his controversial decision to join their bitter-rivals, Manchester United
he was available on a free transfer following Newcastle’s relegation, Liverpool had rejected his attempts to return to Anfield, and he was left with a choice of the Red Devils, Everton, or Hull City.
Jamie Carragher, who is close friends with Owen, did try to block his controversial transfer, only for his efforts to be in vain.
Carragher
"Someone told me, I got wind of it and I phoned you straight away,. You went 'Yeah I am signing in two days'.
“I got in touch with Rafa, said ‘Listen Owen is on a free and he is about to sign for Man United in two days. Whether you like him or not, do it to stump Man United'.
“'He is happy to sit on the bench, whatever. I think – you look at it now and I think we had just signed David Ngog and they were like ‘No we don’t want to do it, let it go’.”
Owen
“I always remember coming off the pitch for the first time and looking at my phone in the dressing room,”
“Carragher text me - we’re big mates. It said ‘Phone me as soon as you can mate, I want you to let me know what a Fergie team talk is like.’”
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