There was only ever one club that captured Robbie Fowlers heart during his career and it wasnt Chelsea. However, with relations having broken down beyond repair with Liverpool boss Gerard Houllier at the turn of the millenium, there was only ever going to be one survivor at the club and it wasnt the man the Kop had affectionately termed God. While Fowler will have been overjoyed at finding his way back to Anfield for a brief stint as a 29 year old hitman in 2006, he will have been slightly disappointed with his career choices during the interim. Having left his boyhood club in 2001, he arrived at a turmoil-ridden Elland Road, where he largely struggled, before leaving for a poor Manchester City, where he continued to struggle, just one year later. Its no surprise that his international career pretty much ended during his troubled time at Leeds, so for the sake of his own career, Fowler might secretly have wished that he had jumped at the potential move to Stamford Bridge when he had the chance. In December 2000, Chelsea boss Claudio Ranieri had been hoping to take advantage of the tension between Houllier and Fowler at Anfield, tabling a £12 million bid for his services. However, the Frenchman quickly rebuffed the overture, citing that Fowler was still a key figure in his dressing room.
''Robbie Fowler is a player we have been interested in for the best part of the past two years. Liverpool are aware of that and have always said that if he becomes available, then they will let us know. - Chelsea managing director, Colin Hutchinson, December 2000.
Whether they followed through on their word a year later when Fowler was deemed surplus to requirements, only the Chelsea board can testify to.
Recent Journalism & New Media graduate. Insatiable thirst for all things football, and hopes to break into the field of sports journalism in the near future.
Have made a significantly insignificant playing career out of receiving several slaps around the head for not passing the ball.
