Mumbai: Michael Owen’s career defined a generation, a 17-year-old phenomenon who lit up France ’98, the last Englishman to win the Ballon d’Or, and a striker whose speed and instinct made him unplayable. Now a pundit, Owen reflects on how football has changed, why athleticism now trumps artistry, what’s wrong at Manchester United, and more. Excerpts:You were part of the Premier League during its explosive early years. How do you see the league’s evolution now?One of the Premier League’s USPs has always been its intensity, the speed of the football, fewer stoppages. That’s what fans love about it. It’s always been more physical, with referees letting play go on. That part has stayed.But the biggest change now is technology, VAR and the assistance referees get. And football itself has become more about athleticism. Twenty years ago, you could be a genius with the ball and still be great even if you didn’t run much. Now, the data says you have to be an athlete first. That’s possibly not as palatable for me. I used to love watching players like (Eric) Cantona, (Dennis) Bergkamp, (Gianfranco) Zola, (Matt) Le Tissier, those mavericks with unique genius. We’re moving away from that towards players who tick athletic boxes.Would there still be space for a striker like you in today’s football?Absolutely. My biggest strength was athletic ability. I was quick, fit, and sharp. That kind of player will always have a place. In fact, speed is even more valuable now because of how teams play and how data drives recruitment. It’s the type of players who aren’t athletically gifted who’ll struggle. If anything, we’d be more sought after.
Honestly, no. And that’s not arrogance. They’re all brilliant. Cole Palmer, for instance, has better touch, vision, and skill than I ever had. But the things I was great at — speed, timing, instinct — they’re totally different. There aren’t many 5’8” centre-forwards who are lightning quick now. If I were playing today, I might be used more like Salah or Gakpo, coming in from wide areas, making inside runs.
Michael Owen
You mentioned data and analytics. Can stats really measure finisher’s instinct?I work in television, so I’m surrounded by data every day. I believe in sports science and measurement, but you can’t quantify everything. In open play, there are too many variables — the spin, the speed of the ball, the weather, how it sits up, how it came to you. Football is full of nuances. You can’t capture instinct in a spreadsheet.Has social media made strikers more cautious or self-aware about how they express themselves?I don’t think so. People say there’s more pressure now, but the pressure was always there; it just came from newspapers before. If you missed a chance, you might have your picture on the front page with a turnip on your head, or worse. You had no choice. Now players can choose whether to engage with social media or not. There’s an off switch.You’ve seen Man United struggle for years. From a player’s perspective, what’s wrong?How long have you got? (laughs) It’s been over a decade since they were the powerhouse we all knew. They’ve changed managers, directors, recruitment policies, facilities, players, everything. They’ve spent over a billion pounds. So what else is there to change? Every time results dip, the conversation shifts: first it was the manager, then the players, then the system, now it’s the formation. People act like changing from three at the back to four will suddenly fix everything. It won’t. When a club is flying, everyone looks like a genius. When it’s struggling, even great managers and players look average. That’s what’s happened at United. Look at Liverpool in the last decade, almost every signing has worked. Now name a United player who left the club with a better reputation. Hardly any.
Poll
Who do you think would win the Premier League this season?
Who are your favourites for the Premier League title this season?At the start of the season, I said Liverpool would win it, with Arsenal as their biggest threat and Manchester City third. I still think that. Arsenal look slightly stronger right now. They’ve had a tough run of fixtures but handled it well. Liverpool have a few question marks.When you watch young English forwards like Phil Foden, Anthony Gordon, or Cole Palmer, do any of them remind you of yourself?Honestly, no. And that’s not arrogance. They’re all brilliant. Cole Palmer, for instance, has better touch, vision, and skill than I ever had. But the things I was great at — speed, timing, instinct — they’re totally different. There aren’t many 5’8” centre-forwards who are lightning quick now. If I were playing today, I might be used more like Salah or Gakpo, coming in from wide areas, making inside runs.
