Lethal weapon

L'attaquant anglais de Liverpool Michael Owen pose avec son trophée, le 08 décembre 2001 à Liverpool. Michael Owen a été élu Ballon d'or France Football 2001 le 17 décembre 2001.

Michael Owen completed his second World Cup in 2002 still months away from his 22nd birthday but the 2001 European Footballer of the Year was already a household name and his cool, clinical style in front of goal has made him one of the game's greatest modern day strikers.

England's forward Michael Owen chases the ball during the 1998 Soccer World Cup group G match between England and Colombia, 26 June at the Felix Bollaert stadium in Lens, northern France. England won 2-0 and qualified for the second round. (ELECTRONIC IMAGE) AFP PHOTO PEDRO UGARTE

At 18 years and 59 days, Owen became the youngest man ever to play for England against Chile in February 1998, although that mark has since been beaten by rising Everton star Wayne Rooney.

The goal that catapulted Owen to international stardom came in England's second round clash with Argentina in the 1998 World Cup.

Collecting the ball around the centre-circle, Liverpool's baby-faced youngster scorched through the South American defence before smashing an unstoppable angled drive into the far corner of the net to give England a 2-1 lead.

Although they eventually lost the match on penalties, England's consolation was that they knew they had found a superstar.

Munich hat-trick

England`s Michael Owen celebrates after scoring the 3-1 lead for his team during the FIFA World Cup European Qualifying Group Nine game at the Olympic Stadium, Munich, 01 September 2001.

Any question marks concerning Owen's ability were firmly put to rest in September 2001 when the youngster scored a hat-trick in Munich in a World Cup qualifier against Germany.

His spectacular contribution not only enabled England to soar to a glorious 5-1 win, but completely changed the complexion of the qualifying group.

Eriksson has described him as "cold", a reference not to his character (which is modest and retiring) but for his pitiless and destructive efficiency in front of goal, and nowhere was this aspect of his skill more evident than against the Germans.

Searing pace

After making his debut for Liverpool against Wimbledon in May 1997 he played in 85 of Liverpool's next 91 games and although he missed much of the 1999/2000 in the English Premiership he bounced back in style in the 2001 season.

Liverpool's Michael Owen (front) is fouled by Alaves' goalkeeper Martin Herrera during their UEFA Cup final at the Westfalen Stadium in Dortmund on Wednesday, 16 May 2001. AFP PHOTO EPA/ANJA NIEDRINGHAUS

Liverpool's Michael Owen holds aloft the F.A Cup trophy after his team beat Arsenal in the final at The Millennium Stadium in Cardiff 12 May 2001. Liverpool won the game 2-1 after Owen scored two late goals to seal the victory.

Liverpool won five trophies including the UEFA Cup and Owen played a major role.

Time and time again, Owen gets in behind the defence latches onto through balls and gleefully beats the 'keeper.

English forward Michael Owen (L) controls the ball in front of Argentinian defender Diego Placente during the Group F first round match Argentina/England of the 2002 FIFA World Cup in Korea and Japan, 07 June 2001 at Sapporo Dome Stadium. England won 1-0. AFP PHOTO WILLIAM WEST

At the 2002 World Cup, he caused havoc in the nail-biting 1-0 group win over Argentina, and then scored in the 3-0 rout of Denmark in the second round.

Owen then opened the scoring against Brazil but it was the end of the road for England, eliminated by the eventual champions 2-1.

At club level, Owen hinted in November, 2003 that he may be set to leave Liverpool if coach Gerard Houllier fails to take them into the Champions League in 2004.

There will be no shortage of interested clubs willing to sign up Owen who will still only be 24-years-old when Euro 2004 wraps up in Portugal.