Michael Owen retired from football today so here are 5 of his best moments

Michael Owen today announced that he will hang up his boots at the end of the season after a career where he has appeared for some of the best teams around. And Stoke.

By Declan Whooley

After bursting onto the scene with THAT goal against Argentina in the 1998 World Cup, he has played for Liverpool, Real Madrid, Newcastle, Man Utd and more recently Stoke.

“It is with an immense amount of pride that I am announcing my intention to retire from professional football at the end of this season,” he announced on his blog this morning.

“Having progressed through the ranks at Liverpool to make my first team debut at 17, before embarking upon spells at Real Madrid, Newcastle United, Manchester United and Stoke City, not to mention representing my country on 89 occasions, I now feel it is the right time to bring the curtain down on my career.”

He will leave the game with many memories and an expert knowledge on injuries. Here are five of his most memorable moment.

England v Argentina, 1998 World Cup

Where else could you start but with the goal that marked his arrival on the international stage. Luckily, the 18 year-old decided not to pass to Paul Scholes and score one of the most talked about World Cup goals in recent times.

2001 FA Cup Final

Look away Arsenal fans, this is a painful reminder of the past. Stephane Henchoz getting away with a blatant handball and two goals in the final ten minutes saw Liverpool claim a dramatic FA Cup win.

Owen against Tony Adams and Lee Dixon was a no-contest and his cool finish saw Liverpool take the spoils. Martin Tyler’s commentary merely added to the occasion.

Liverpool v United 2003, League Cup Final

For a man who has played with such a glittering array of top clubs, his silverware collection is pretty small. This goal helped the Reds to a League Cup win over his future employers, sealing a 2-0 victory in the final five minutes.

Man Utd v Man City, Premier League, 2009

His United career saw him more often than not on the substitutes bench, if in the match-day squad at all, but this injury-time winner was easily his best moment at Old Trafford.

With the game level at 3-3, Owen showed he still had it with a finish to send the home crowd wild with delight.

Family Fortunes, 2013

The Owen clan were all in front of the camera earlier this month when Michael and family appeared on Family Fortunes.

They took on the Lancaster family, with model Penny sharing a lot in common with the footballer with acknowledging they were a handful up front but possibly have their best days behind them.