Michael Owen (Chester, 14 December 1979) is an English footballer, a striker, winner of the Ballon d'Or in 2001. Considered one of the best English centre-forwards in the history of football as well as one of the best of his generation. He also won the title of top scorer in the Premier League twice in a row (1997-1998 and 1998-1999). He made his Premier League debut in 1997 with Liverpool, scoring immediately in his debut match against Wimbledon. He played eight seasons with the English team before being sold, in 2004, to Real Madrid, a team in which he did not have the opportunity to shine, so much so that in the autumn of 2005 he returned to England, signed by Newcastle Utd . On 3 July 2009 the player moved to Manchester United. In total he played 50 games with the Red Devils shirt, scoring 17 goals (5 in the Premier League, 4 in the Champions League, 1 in the FA Cup and 7 in the Carling Cup) and enriching his palmarès with a victory in the championship, a in the Carling Cup and two in the Community Shield. With his national team he boasts 89 appearances and 40 goals.