Michael Owen opens up on 'embarrassing' Man Utd regret - 'It's killing me'

Michael Owen has opened up on struggling to deal mentally with his decline during the latter stages of his career at Manchester United . The former England striker admits he felt "embarrassed" by how dramatically his level fell during the second half of his playing days, admitting it was "killing him inside”.

Owen burst onto the Premier League scene as a 17-year-old at Liverpool , quickly establishing himself with his lightning pace in behind defences and clinical finishing ability. He claimed the league's golden boot award in his first two full seasons before making his mark on the international stage with a stunning strike against Argentina aged 18 at the World Cup 1998.

After playing a pivotal role in Liverpool's Treble success with the UEFA Cup, FA Cup and League Cup in 2001 - which earned him the Ballon d'Or - he secured a move to Spanish giants Real Madrid in 2004.

Owen spent just one campaign in La Liga before his £16.8million switch to Newcastle , where persistent muscle injuries meant he was sidelined for lengthy periods across the following four seasons on Tyneside. His fitness woes continued at Manchester United and later Stoke City , with the striker eventually opting to retire in 2013.

The 45-year-old recently appeared on the Rio Presents podcast, where former Red Devils team-mate Rio Ferdinand asked him about the drop off from going from an elite environment to one that isn’t. Owen instead reflected on his own career, explaining he views it in two distinct halves: pre and post injury troubles.

The pundit said: “Well, I've said before, I mean, I sort of split my career into two. Almost Liverpool and maybe Madrid. And then afterwards, because I just wasn't the same. Not that I didn't like it. I loved it at United. I love you and the lads and whatever.

“But I'm not me. I'm not me. You know what I was when I was 18. And you know what I was when I was 30. It's like, I was half embarrassed. I'm coming out, they've been to these big stadiums, St James' Park, Old Trafford, with my name on my back.

“It's like, can I not just change my name and just think of something, like call me something else? I don't want people to remember me like this. Still good, still scoring. But I'm not what I was. It's killing me. But it's like, what can you do?”

Owen's time at Liverpool saw him score more than 20 goals in all competitions in each season but two. Following his 16-goal haul in 45 appearances for Real Madrid , his numbers plummeted dramatically as injuries mounted and his electric pace diminished.

Speaking about his spells at Newcastle, United and Stoke, he candidly said: “I had it for eight years, when I'm thinking, ‘I don't like this.’ I was looking at the clock half of my career, thinking only 20 minutes. And I could still score. I could still play well.

“I couldn't rip a team's heart out anymore. I could just finish if I get the opportunity. I'm relying on everyone else now. Whereas I used to be able to, I didn't need anyone else. Just give me the ball and I'll do it. And that change of mentality.

“I didn't retire because of my body. I still played in a game the other day. I retired because my mind was about to explode. And I couldn't have it anymore that I was just a Premier League player.”

Though his displays failed to meet his own lofty standards, Owen's time at Manchester United delivered an elusive Premier League trophy in 2010/11, along with another League Cup victory. He ended his career with an impressive record of 222 goals across 482 matches, alongside 40 goals in 89 England appearances.

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