On this day in 2013: Michael Owen announces his retirement

Former England striker Michael Owen announced his retirement at the end of the season on this day in 2013.

Owen, then 33, had signed a one-year deal with Stoke after leaving Manchester United last summer but his time at the Potteries was hampered by a hamstring injury, which contributed to his decision to call it a day.

Owen scored 40 goals in 89 games for England – then the sixth highest goalscorer for his country’s men’s team – and played at the highest level for Liverpool, Real Madrid, Newcastle and Manchester United.

“It is with great pride that I announce my intention to retire,” Owen said on March 19, 2013.

“I have been fortunate in that my career has taken me on a journey I could only dream of.

“I now feel that it is the right time to end my career.”

Owen burst onto the stage as a teenager in Liverpool and was included in England’s World Cup squad in 1998 aged just 18.

His memorable solo goal against Argentina in that tournament made him a global superstar.

Owen scored 220 goals in club football, won the Premier League, FA Cup and UEFA Cup and was a three-time League Cup winner.

The pinnacle of his club career was at Liverpool, where he scored 158 goals in 297 games, including a late double in the Reds’ 2-1 FA Cup final win over Arsenal in 2001 – before joining Real Madrid in 2004.

Owen returned to the Premier League with Newcastle in August 2005 and joined Manchester United on a free transfer after four injury-plagued years at Tyneside, winning his only Premier League title at Old Trafford in 2011.

He was named European Footballer of the Year in 2001 – the first Englishman to win the award since Kevin Keegan in 1979.