Michael Owen Book

Michael Owen, the boy from Hawarden in Wales, made the football world sit up and take notice with some dazzling displays for Liverpool and England in his first full season of professional football. By the tender age of 18, he had his own illustrated biography. Although it claims to be a biography it is more of a chronological review of the 18 months of top- flight football that Michael Owen had tasted up to the time of writing. Though his rise had been nothing short of meteoric, there is only a certain amount that one can write about--especially when the kid himself hasn't been interviewed. Quotes are abundant, but brief and disappointing, with most being lifted from magazines and press conferences. Perhaps the writing is less important with it being an illustrated biography and it is certainly well presented in a glossy A4 format with some high quality photographs. The book starts promisingly enough, recounting Owen's goal-scoring exploits of his even younger youth when he broke Ian Rush's Deeside Schools' scoring record. But it soon deteriorates into a game- by-game review of Liverpool's season 1997/98, which, even to a Liverpool fan, was a little tedious. England is not forgotten and it dedicates a chapter to "that" goal against Argentina in the 1998 World Cup as well as profiling his rise through the junior England ranks to the senior side. It may not appeal to older generations, who may be hesitant to spend money on some glossy pictures of Michael Owen, but for aspiring footballers in their early teens, it is a fairytale story to inspire--and a great present. Oh yes, and it will appeal to the young girls who obviously appreciate the finer points of Michael Owen's dazzling array of footballing skills!Read More