Wayne Rooney diplomatically responds to Michael Owen’s claim about being better at age 17. Rooney acknowledges Owen’s early brilliance but emphasizes their different styles and his own admiration for Owen, highlighting Owen’s reputation as one of the best centre forwards globally during his prime. Rooney praises Owen’s character and career, noting Owen’s career achievements and dismissing the perception of him being boring. The discussion revolves around their different career trajectories, with Rooney pointing out that Owen’s career had been impacted by injuries.
The debate igniting football fans worldwide: Who shone brighter at 17, Michael Owen or Wayne Rooney? The spark? None other than Michael Owen himself, who confidently backed his younger self against his former England teammate, Wayne Rooney. Now, Rooney has weighed in on the discussion, offering a diplomatic perspective on the fiery debate.
"Michael and I were very different players," Rooney stated on the latest episode of The Wayne Rooney Show, available on BBC Sounds. He fondly recalled his childhood admiration for Owen, admitting, "I used to go out on the street and pretend to be Michael Owen – even though he played for Liverpool."
The controversy began when Owen, during a recent appearance on Rio Ferdinand's podcast, recounted, "I saw Wazza got asked who was the best out of us at the age of 17 or 18. And I did smile." He further asserted that Wayne Rooney was the only player he could be compared to at that age in England.
Adding fuel to the fire, BBC Match of the Day's X account posed the question directly to fans: "Who was better aged 17, Michael Owen or Wayne Rooney?" Owen didn't hesitate to declare himself the superior player.
Rooney, six years younger than Owen, responded with admirable humility. "I think his comments are fair. Of course, he's going to back himself. I'd back myself," he conceded. However, he emphasized his respect for Owen, stating, "But, I'd never judge myself against Michael Owen because he's someone I actually looked up to and had the pleasure of playing alongside [for England and Manchester United]."
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Rooney responds to Owen claims on who was better
Delving into their goal-scoring prowess, a graphic illustrates their Premier League statistics by age, providing a visual comparison of their early careers.
While Rooney acknowledges Owen's achievements, particularly early in his career, he underscores the differences in their playing styles. "But we're two completely different footballers - different styles, different techniques," he explains. "Michael Owen, for a three or four-year period, was probably the best centre forward in the world." Rooney passionately defends Owen's legacy, lamenting that people often forget just how dominant he was. He suggests that injuries hampered Owen's ability to adapt his game in the later stages of his career, while Rooney himself could transition to different positions.
Rooney reminisces about playing alongside Owen, highlighting it as an honour. "It was an honour for me to play with him. I really did look up to him when I was young and we had very similar pathways in terms of we both come into the England squad quite young and then we played together," he shared.
In a surprising revelation, Rooney claims that Owen assisted him more often than he assisted Owen, defying conventional expectations. Further dispelling common misconceptions, Rooney defends Owen's personality, asserting, "He is one of the funniest people you'll meet. I hope he just gets that out because everyone who played with him, we know what a good lad he is, and sometimes that doesn't always come across."
Looking at their overall careers, while Owen was a Ballon d'Or winner at a young age, injuries took their toll, limiting his appearances and impact later on. Rooney, on the other hand, enjoyed a longer and arguably more decorated career, amassing records and trophies for both club and country. Ultimately, the debate over who was better at 17 remains subjective, hinging on individual preferences and criteria for evaluation. Both Owen and Rooney left indelible marks on English football, inspiring countless fans and aspiring players.
In response to the MOTD post, Owen had said: "At 17 I scored 18 PL goals (winning the Golden Boot), Wazza scored 6. At 18 I again scored 18 goals (again winning the Golden Boot and coming 4th in The Ballon d'Or), Wazza scored 9," he wrote.
Owen's stats include the age he was at the start of a season. He turned 18 midway through that first 18-goal season.
He continued: "In our opening 7 seasons, Wazza didn't outscore me once (117 goals v 80). In which time I became the 2nd youngest Ballon d'Or winner ever.
"Injuries hindered me from then on while he sustained his level. Therefore, he'll go down as a better player than me. But, at 17, please……"
Owen, who has devastating pace before his injuries, won two Premier League Golden Boots for Liverpool before turning 20 - while Rooney never won one.
Also at 18 he scored twice for England at the 1998 World Cup, including a famous solo effort against Argentina.
He was 22 when he won the Ballon d'Or in 2021.