The release of Michael Owen’s new autobiography has resulted in the former England striker taking flak from fans and former team-mates.
He could now be set for more criticism, after he compared playing for Manchester United after Liverpool as similar to switching supermarket jobs.
The 39-year-old was the darling of the Liverpool faithful after coming through the Anfield youth ranks, before scoring 158 goals in 297 appearances for the Merseysiders.
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However, after spells with Real Madrid and Newcastle, Owen opted to join the Reds’ fierce rivals Manchester United in summer 2009.
He won the League Cup and his first Premier League title with the Red Devils, where he scored 17 goals in 52 outings.
Owen’s switch to Old Trafford did not go down well with the Liverpool supporters at the time and he has used his new book to defend his actions, likening the decision to somebody opting to work for a rival supermarket or bank.
He said: “Fans never change their colours and we all understand that. It is their life, it is their passion, but they will change jobs from time to time in their careers and they don’t see that as betraying their former employer.
“These people who criticise you probably make similar moves in their careers. They might move from Barclays Bank to Lloyds Bank or from Sainsbury’s to Tesco’s and they are not accused of being disloyal.”
Owen went on to add: “If a footballer moves from their club, these same people have a very different view. They accuse the player of lacking loyalty, of being a mercenary…. and yet the reality is, this is someone moving from one job to another, often with the aim of bettering themselves professionally and to look after their family.”
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