Michael Owen subtly shades England teammates who 'courted the media' in heyday

14 September 2023 , 14:59

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Football legend Michael Owen has opened up about life in the public eye (Image: Peacocks)

Michael Owen has opened up about becoming one of the most recognisable footballers of his generation – but keeping his relationship low-profile.

The former Liverpool and Manchester United striker married wife Louise Bonsall in 2005 but while the couple often appear together online, their relationship has always remained quite private. But while Owen, 43, chose to keep his life off the pitch somewhat mysterious, his teammates including David Beckham often flaunted their personal lives.

During the 2006 World Cup, the WAGs of the England team including Coleen Rooney, Cheryl Tweedy, Victoria Beckham and Elen Rivas were often spotted on lavish nights out ensuring all eyes were on them. But while Louise enjoyed the nights out, she stayed out of the limelight.

Michael Owen has opened up about keeping his relationship with wife Louise private (Getty Images Europe)

Michael explained that while he often used aspects of the media, his sole focus was being a footballer (Peacocks)

Discussing how the couple have kept their lives low-key, Chester-born Michael told the Mirror: "I think it's reasonably easy. The one thing that the press would respect was, if you wanted privacy don't get me wrong, they would still be pushing the boundaries. But if you weren't out there flaunting it, then they probably wouldn't dig as much as they could. Whereas if you tipped someone off that you are going to go to you know, eat in a nice restaurant with your wife that night, you're going to get out your Rolls Royce and things like that and then the press are there, you're asking for it – the gloves are off.

"If you're courting that, then that's the world you're going down. I sat in the middle, in my generation, someone like Paul Scholes would be the extreme of just like, just wants to play football, no interviews, no, nothing. Whereas someone like David Beckham on the same team was cool with the press and media. Obviously having a famous wife as well, so that erupted.

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"You have two extremes, I sat in the middle whereby I was comfortable having commercial deals, comfortable meeting fans and doing interviews and coaching kids. I didn't really want to be seen as going out and partying, I wanted to be a footballer at the end of the day. So I sat in the middle so had some respect given to me by the press."

He explained that former teammate David Beckham was "cool" with the media as he became half of the biggest celeb power couple (Getty Images)

Michael joined Liverpool's first team aged just 17 and came back from the World Cup at 18, with fame hitting him "pretty quick". But while such success may be enough to rock anybody, he credits his "stable" family for keeping him grounded. "I think mentally I was always quite mature as well. I could cope with pressure I could cope with stress," he said.

He added: "I think fame was something that I coped with, I probably look back and think, you know, don't necessarily like, the image that people can give you. At least with social media, you can get out there and you can show everybody if you wanted to, you know that you're charitable or you that like fashion or you do whatever, you know, the image you want to portray."

Having hung his boots up in 2013, Michael turned his hand to commentating but revealed that social media trolls affected him so much that he contemplated "packing it all in". He said: "I used to read loads of comments right at the outset when Twitter first came in, and I was literally coming home from commentating on a football game and literally contemplating packing the whole thing in. Every single message seemed to be having a go at me.

Owen became one of the biggest players of his time (Daily Mirror)

He burst onto the scene aged just 17 (Press Association)

"I think when you talk about football, you just ignite a sort of passion. And hatred and this and that and the other and of course, you're saying good things about one club. That means all other 19 clubs in the Premier League, you're having to go with them." But away from commentating, Michael has teamed up to release his own edit with high street clothing brand, Peacocks.

Speaking about his collection, he said: "The pieces that they showed me I felt really suited me. I think over the years when you've been in my world, you sign up for a lot of things that sometimes you think 'Oh, I'm never gonna wear' that or 'I'm never going to drive that car,' but you sign up because it's a commercial deal and, and it's good for all parties and everything else like that. But this, this deal really was you know, as soon as I saw the, the, the items or clothing or whatever they were put in front of me. I just thought you know what, this really suits me, it really fits."

The Michael Owen Edit will be available online and across the 340 Peacocks stores nationwide. Peacocks offers fashion for all the family at affordable prices and great quality. www.peacocks.co.uk

Daniel Bird