God Speed Michael Owen (Video)

So, it was made official on Tuesday morning that Michael Owen will retire from football at the end of the season. It has been a turbulent few years for the England international, who has struggled with a series of injuries during stints with Manchester United and Stoke City.

More often than becoming the ridicule of jokes across the country as a lack of playing time began to to see football connoisseurs continuously poked fun at Owen, it's hard to remember that he was good enough to play for Liverpool, Real Madrid and United.

His goalscoring record on the international stage was impressive also, netting 40 goals in 89 appearances, including a hat trick in the memorable 5-1 win over Germany and that goal against Argentina in the 1998 World Cup.

Injuries absolutely savaged his career, in a much similar way to Ledley King, and denied him the chance of real glory on the international stage, even if he did attain FA Cup, UEFA Cup and Premier League winners' medal during his career.

Either way, it's easy to poke fun of Owen, but the fact is he was one of England's better strikers in recent years. Had his hamstrings not been made of chewing gum, the 33-year-old could've easily gone on to break the international goals record for England and achieved so much more at a club level, although a 2001 Ballon d'Or will surely suffice.  

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