When Michael Owen signed for Newcastle United from Real Madrid for a club-record fee of £16million in the summer of 2005, Magpies fans turned up in their thousands to welcome him during his unveiling at St James' Park. But just four years later his untimely exit ensured he became hated on Tyneside. Owen's Newcastle career started well - he scored seven times in 11 games during his first season - but injury blighted his spell in the North East, and he managed just 71 appearances in four years (netting on 30 occasions). In fact, Owen was often accused of prioritising England over Newcastle - with the striker rushing back from a metatarsal injury in early 2006 in order to prove his fitness for the 2006 World Cup in Germany, where he then damaged an anterior cruciate ligament which ruled him out for the majority of the following season. With Owen clearly wishing he had been able to secure a return to Liverpool instead of a move to Newcastle, many Magpies fans became frustrated with the striker picking up his £110,000-a-week wages for seemingly little return. This frustration was compounded in the summer of 2009 when Newcastle were relegated - partially down to the fact Owen was unable to net the goals to keep them in the Premier League - and the striker had spent the campaign refusing to sign a new deal, only to leave for Manchester United on a free transfer. Newcastle in all spent close to £40million in terms of wages and transfer fees on Owen - and he deserted them when they were relegated, meaning he will always be a villain in Magpies fans' eyes.
NUFC editor for WhatCulture.com/NUFC. History graduate (University of Edinburgh) and NCTJ-trained journalist. I love sports, hopelessly following Newcastle United and Newcastle Falcons. My pastimes include watching and attending sports matches religiously, reading spy books and sampling ales.
