Did Michael Owen REALLY Flop at Real Madrid?

[@MrBirchieBirch]

I watched pretty much every Madrid game that season, and he was definitely not a flop. Club politics (Raul) meant he got less minuites than he actually deserved. Goals to minutes tells you everything you need to know about his time at Madrid.

[@LaughterCigar]

The words of the media are not necessarily the reality of the fans. Me and all my Madridista friends at the time really liked Owen and thought he should play more. We didn't like the board's decision to sell him.

[@jimclawley9117]

No, he was injury prone late 20’s but boy what a talent he was 17-25

[@gladiatorscoops4907]

Anyone who think he flopped didn't watch him back then. He just struggled to get minutes cos he had Raul (the golden boy of Madrid) and R9 (I don't need to say anything about R9) ahead of him. He was an unbelievable option Madrid had coming off the bench with his pace and goal threat and scored a fair amount of goals.

[@beejj6190]

Yup. Owen's issue was one of perception amongst the Madrid higher ups and the press., They didn't care he was a speed demon and scoring prodigy... they wanted a fantasy player [technically] which wasn't Owens's particular genius.

[@MCsorlotron]

As a kid from the UK who grew up in spain i can honestly say he was so go for madrid that year. Politics!

[@GamerFrisco]

Stupid politics

[@lukespencer7499]

So did I! Where did u grow up? My family are from Jerez

[@MCsorlotron]

@Luke Spencer valencia bro but always loved the era of galacticos

[@nilber24]

I remember Owen and I really liked him, all I remember is him scoring, scoring and scoring coming from the bench. He was a great forward.

[@MrGts92]

He was misused but he was also impatient. If he stayed there longer he would've given the coach no choice but to play. His goals to minutes ratio was excellent. Not to mention a less physical league, he could've sustained his body alot longer and maybe another Spanish team could've come in for him.

[@MrGts92]

@dannybuck2047 but Owen wasn't due not "fitting culture" ... Salgado even confirmed everything.

[@jerichosaril2395]

In Liverpool he was the golden boy...but in Galacticos there are players who shine better than you...but he wasnt a flop...he scored crucial goals during that season in Real

[@hod2116]

His best attributes had already left him due to injury he was scared to run full speed as a result

[@manbearpiglett-4110]

Ahead of Raul? You reckon, Madrid would eventually play Owen, ahead of Raul? You know before Ronaldo CR7, and actually Ronaldo CR9, Raul was THE best Madrid player, the legend from their own academy. I think Owen was right to leave.

[@L1am21]

​@@manbearpiglett-4110Raul had fell off he played like shit at this time.

[@AliMakaveli]

*Owen loves Liverpool so much that he joined United on a free transfer to win the league with them. A true scouse.*

[@TheBritSniper]

He wanted to come back to Liverpool but Liverpool didint want him so he was offered a choice to go to either Manchester United or Stoke!

[@lrtvhighlights3687]

Owen is from Chester not Liverpool

[@DrShakamoto9]

He’s not scouse

[@oo0024]

He was an Everton supporter as a child 🤣

[@iamthewalruscuckookachoo1372]

Put your dummy back in soft La.

[@pushon10]

Oh man. I actually feel bad for Owen here. I also wasn't expecting Raul to be so petty and unprofessional! He seemed like such a gentleman.

[@pereirafernando7413]

Raul was always petty like that. He has helped to push out tons of talents because he perceived them as a threat, and who’s to say that’s bad for him? He ended up being an icon for the club. However, Perez was right in getting rid of Raul when he’s getting old.

[@123kido]

For the benefit of youngsters, Owen really was a superstar when he came onto the scene

[@herbert9241]

Limited opportunities but gave a good account of himself when those opportunities came. The supporters appreciated him.

[@rogermellie8068]

You can't get into any kind of consistency when you are sub half of the time. If Owen had played every week he would've been on fire , Raul sounded threatened by Owens arrival and tried his hardest to screw it up for him . Selfish and not a team player .

[@CHILDRENOFTHEYEAR]

Massive fan of this channel mate, severely underrated. Another top video!

[@flashbackfootball1367]

Much appreciated man, Glad you're enjoying it!

[@tazzatamania]

Simply put, no, he didn't flop. He scored most times that he played and they only bought him to show how mighty they were.

[@messiisgoat007]

This is the same thing that's happening to Real Madrid now. Perez's obsession to bring Mbappe is killing the team. When they had the chance to sign Kane Perez didn't go for him just coz he is obsessed to bring Mbappe and now they are without a good striker !!

[@michael7949]

This channel is so underrated great video again.

[@javiersuarez4288]

He definitely didnt flop! He scored a lot of goals, he had great players ahead of him and didnt get the play time that he needed akd deserved, but he definitely didnt flop! Neither did Macca by the way :p

[@aahillcfc229]

Owen was really good at real even as a sub! Unfortunately his move to Newcastle and injuries failed him

[@RaseYourProbs]

I'm a Newcastle fan, I saw him for Newcastle. It wasn't that Newcastle was a bad move for him, trust me. Look at his number, his goal to game ratio was still up there. The problem was not his quality, he still had it and was getting decent service to showcase his quality. The problem was his body was failing him, the biggest problem. He just wasn't ever fit for more than 5/6 games. The fans turned on him as well that didn't help. But the main issue was his fitness.

[@ByuntaeOG]

Raul had little to do with him not playing. It was the change of formation that killed him, they went from 2 strikers to Ronaldo as a lone striker. Raul himself that season was played as a weird roaming left winger (hence the garbage stats), Guti and Beckham were played as defensive midfielders, they had defensive midfielders playing CB, CBs playing left back, the entire team was a complete mess... They tried to put Owen on the right wing, except they already had Figo there.

[@MrThedonhead]

Owen was a great player just had his prime young from 17 to 25 he was brilliant and always exciting to watch thats a long time being one of the best players in the world

[@power279]

Imagine if Micheal Owen join other team suchs as Bayern, Barca or Lyon during that period..ill bet..he will do very well.

[@craigmullen9046]

Great at Liverpool, he had one great season at Real Madrid. After that never the same

[@corneliussmiff2773]

He had some horrific injuries to be fair.

[@ebenezerappiah7576]

Owen was the man, him playing for Madrid makes him a legend.His skills and goals are legendary!!!

[@Makadocious88]

Honestly I didn’t know what Owen went through in Madrid, always thought he was a major problem. (Always cheering for Barcelona) I remember even Ronaldo had problems with both Raul, Morientes & Guti during the 2004/2005/2006 years. What a shame, even as a Barcelona fan I loved watching the galaticos! It was crazy times to be a football fan

[@nintendope8837]

I feel it was quite unfair on him, that real madrid team had the likes of raul and owen. But he definitely deserved to play more

[@darrenenglish899]

Subscribed just there. Top class videos for a "smaller" channel. Keep it up💜

[@flashbackfootball1367]

Thank you! Will do!

[@bigheadedm]

He didn’t flop but he wasn’t a regular… he should have stayed there in Spain as it was less physical!

[@dannysstart2218]

yh but he would of just sat on the bench.

[@bigheadedm]

@@dannysstart2218 when I said stay in Spain .. I mean play for another Spanish team like Valencia who were a top team at that time!

[@Bulskee]

Well researched. Good vid mate 👍

[@Jordan_Clark]

Hi, fellow scot! Thank you for making these videos, I enjoy them a very much. Also, you inspire me to pursue my aspirations ❤😊

[@flashbackfootball1367]

Glad you enjoy them man, and happy to hear that - Just go for it, there's nothing to lose!

[@fabiocaroca5495]

I'm really enjoying your channel. Keep it up, my friend

[@paulcooper7942]

I thought he did well Grew up with him and Beckham as 2 of my favourite England players ever, England could have won world cup 2002 and should have won euro 2004

[@nickash9936]

Even when raul was playing badly the manger still would,nt start owen and when he played him he played well,i think he was given a raw raw deal at madrid

[@dscwac396]

Lmao he was injured pretty much from 23 till he retired and he was considered the best of the striker still, just imagine if he stays healthy.

[@corneliussmiff2773]

He was legit a GOAT level striker at such a young age, but his body was not able to comply. It's scary how good he could have become in later years.

[@dscwac396]

@@corneliussmiff2773 this sad part is when he left Liverpool at 23 I think it was he had already peaked and he was on the decline

[@cosmicslop1272]

Very good video. Great info

[@jasonchatto]

Good video. A lot of truths. Some players don't get accepted. Some don't fit in a system. No doubt Owen was a class striker. Just not a showman trick master

[@solidbanjobanjo9367]

To understand Spanish culture and media is to understand that if you’re not Latino, Mediterranean or African you’re gonna have a hard time, the jealousy in that country is off the charts

[@jasonchatto]

Beckham was well liked at Madrid. A lot of UK fans don't rate him. Very underated.

[@jimelements7472]

That’s not really true. There was some bad feeling towards Beckham for a few years after his sending off at the 98 World Cup and his celebrity lifestyle didn’t help him but he proved himself many times with inspirational performances as England captain over the next few years and is highly respected by football fans in the UK.

[@MrGts92]

Yeah that's because of their own politics.

[@lenkiewitcz]

@@jimelements7472 That was the press again...that sending off was as political as it gets...and we still goto Penalties with 10 men. Even as a Liverpool fan i've always felt Beckham was a class player.

[@brunaciompi1717]

​@@lenkiewitcz He was a class player but was massively overrated

[@brunaciompi1717]

Beckham flopped at Madrid except for his last season. He was a generational talent who was overhyped and underperformed for a good part of his career but was rated like an all the time great by the media. He is underrated by a set of football fans but hardly underrated in the grand scheme of things. He was very much overrated in the way his performances were rated

[@sf2explus184]

It's a shame people forgot so quick how good owen was before his injuries. just look at the finnishes he knew how to create angles to finnish even if it meant leaning and dropping to make contact a true striker. i had a liverpool fan the other day telling me prime vs prime mo salah is better than owen. now it's a valid opinion but i don't think mo salah next to zidane,ronaldo, raul could still perform the way owen did next to almost an entire squad of all time greats

[@simon0044]

Ruud walked into that team and was first team straight away. That’s the difference

[@gladiatorscoops4907]

Difference was R9 was coming to the end of his time at Madrid and struggled with injuries so there was a place for Ruud.

[@Edelweiss1102]

Zidane, Figo and Owen himself were gone by that time, and Ronaldo was starting to be way more injured, so there was actual room for Rude to play. 2004/2005 was just a fucking mess with 3 trainers, the unfortunate sell of Makelele who was the pivot who kept everything together and a shit town of world-class, but not fitting stars. They had Raul, Ronaldo, Owen, Morientens, Zidane, Figo, Beckham, Guti and Solari that season, good luck trying to make them all fit.

[@cm182cm]

You said Owen adapted well to a new country... he lived in a hotel the whole time and watched British TV

[@flashbackfootball1367]

Yeah, maybe adapted was the wrong word, I'm meant more that in sporting terms he managed to adapt quickly and do reasonably well. Living in a hotel turned out to be a good decision in the end though.

[@bigzardman]

Just found your channel and subbed great content suppose the big question is when will an English man ever win a balloon do'or again

[@flashbackfootball1367]

Welcome aboard chief. I don't see it happening any time soon, they don't seem keen on English players. Maybe someone like Phil Foden or Jude Bellingham has the Potential? Or Harry Kane if he moves to one of their favoured leagues and scores boat loads. But again, I'm not holding my breath 😂

[@bigzardman]

@@flashbackfootball1367 I agree jude or Phil have a chance but I think there's only been perhaps 3 midfielders in recent times to have won it those being Zidane, kaka and modric 😬

[@manbearpiglett-4110]

Honestly English talent isn't bad at all, but compared to some of the absolute stars around the world, they're just not on the same level. Stats alone don't count for everything but equally it's very hard to compare an English striker to the stats of Benzema, Ronaldo, Messi, Lewandowski. Midfielders like Modric, De Bruyne, Xavi, Iniesta, Zidane, Kaka. I honestly don't think it's mean-spirited, it's just that objectively English players aren't excelling to that level. Foden is a good shout, Bellingham too, there's definitely cause for hope

[@FearTheIndoorHorseRancher]

@@manbearpiglett-4110no clue about football 😂

[@FearTheIndoorHorseRancher]

@@manbearpiglett-4110😂😂 please stop pretending you know football

[@oliverrichards5009]

Didn't play much...good scoring record and cost just 8m.if anything a bargain

[@tabb5818]

Who said he was a flop? First I’ve heard of it was this random KZbin creator saying it

[@flashbackfootball1367]

Plenty of the papers painted him as a flop mate, the Sun still does to this day in fact.

[@adammac4960]

He scored 13 goals from the bench. He was competing with Ronaldo and Raul and I don’t think he fit into the type of system they were playing so he was used as an impact player which he did a good job at but for michaels ego he was used to being the star and that’s what he wanted.

[@ahmadburhanhabibi]

Ironically the price Madrid paid for him was too low for him to be given the chance

[@ahmadburhanhabibi]

If Madrid paid the beckham-like figures to liverpool, he would be more appreciated more.

[@stephenmaher8527]

When you are you doing a larsson or lubo video ?

[@leehambleton9919]

I don't think he was a flop Michael was a brilliant striker he suffered with injuries but he was definitely world class

[@pauljohnston2483]

Did he also suffer from winning the Ballon d'Or in 2001. The Spanish press were incensed that Owen and not Raul won. I remember him at Madrid. He did well but don't forget Madrid didn't suit Owen. Far from his horses, only a couple of golf partners. If him and Bale were their together they'd have both been kings

[@beejj6190]

Owen's issue was one of perception amongst the Madrid higher ups and the press., They didn't care he was a speed demon and scoring prodigy... they wanted a fantasy player [technically] which wasn't Owen's particular genius. Great vids btw but sort those endings out, lol! ; ) x

[@flashbackfootball1367]

Endings of my words, sentences or endings of the videos?

[@beejj6190]

@ackfootball1367 No the narration is excellent. The abrupt ' Oh, it's ended..?!' is too harsh for such a well -put together production. Good luck (and I've $ubbed, btw : )

[@flashbackfootball1367]

This is a fair critique, I have a tendency to rush the outros! I try to get better every video and it's something to work on. Thanks for the sub!

[@beejj6190]

@@flashbackfootball1367 - My man you have some great stuff... just utilise a short catchy outro (simply use it as your signature endings ; ) All the best, champ and thank you for the vids : )

[@PhantomPanda1992]

toxic league, toxic media and fans, worse than the prem

[@dannysstart2218]

he was 2nd top scorer... of team behind ronaldo... (he was a flop after leaving real)

[@godsstreetmessenger2839]

He was excellent at Madrid. The last time he was injury free also..im pretty sure he won the ballon d'or in spain..but couldve been at liverpool.

[@songkok7hitam]

The only English players ever won Ballon d'Or. Nuff said

[@L1am21]

The 1st 2 ballon d'or's was given to English player Stanley Matthew's 😂

[@jordangriffiths5137]

Bobby Charlton

[@myluresstuckinatree2111]

Many players do not flourish at Real Madrid. Despite great performances. It’s the way it is at such a huge club.

[@myluresstuckinatree2111]

James Rodrigues is one example.

[@tlst9999]

7:59 43 goals from a 3 striker rotation. 9:03 We need more firepower.

[@dannysstart2218]

it was 8mil plus 2m nunez (10 total which was under market value)

[@KeinanNFFC]

17 year old MO would have definitely been a galactico

[@natmol1595]

Did Michael Owen play for Everton as a youth?

[@litttlewing]

Which is why the Premiere League is the best. Fans actually appreciate and respect their clubs players. Look at PSG now calling out Messi and Neymar lmao

[@davzinzan]

As with Gareth Bale, a world class player who was treated far too harshly by some clowns in the media

[@jelliscorpio]

Yeah, imagine if they didn't have those scummy 'sports journalists' whipping up the Ultras to get on those two players' backs.

[@josdav07]

Gareth Bale did some really good seasons at Real Madrid, he just lost interest in football.

[@MamaMia84oo7]

It’s insane how Real Madrid had R9 + all the others. They were stacked. Too much.

[@wolfeflambe]

Raul was a petulant little man. Sad really that a club allowed a player to run the dressing room. As for AS, look at the state of La Liga now. Toxic reporting is a strange way of attracting the top players to the league.

[@JohnnyMaverik]

Many clubs do unfortunately.

[@josephh4999]

If bale can’t please them no British player could! Wouldn’t surprise me if they turn in Bellingham after a few months

[@djelalniyazi4090]

it was just injuries that blighted his career

[@ryancottle1563]

Should have stayed at LFC. Torres/Owen with Gerrard behind would have been special.

[@raf7305]

They had Ronaldo, Raul and Owen. Bloody heck talk about options 😂

[@geraltoffuckingrivia1157]

The best player ever to have every fan base dislike him of all time.

[@Zoup009]

*The tragedy of Michael Owen is, he only knew one way to play: Race at defenders with supersonic speed, completely leave them flat footed or lying in the dust; the goalkeeper mesmerized, while he rounds them all and slots the ball into the net.* The crowds went wild and his Liverpool, Real Madrid (initially at least) and England managers loved it too. They kept encouraging him to play that way and unfortunately they never developed him in other aspects such as, one-two passes, crossing, heading, fake runs etc, nor did he learn himself. Speed running was the main way he knew. Unfortunately, doing this day in and day out blew his hamstrings and he was never the same and could not regain that speed. He therefore slowly devolved to mediocrity since he mastered no other way to play, unlike other speed demons in their prime like Arjen Robben and Cristiano Ronaldo. Other speedy players knew other styles besides racing at defenders and leaving them in the dust and scoring, while poor Michael Owen only knew that one way. Poor guy even hired speed trainers, but his legs never allowed it again. I blame Liverpool and also Real Madrid for not fully developing him and overusing him in his youth and completely blowing his legs out. He could have been a legend and a world-class player, talked about for generations to come, if only he had better managers, in his formative phase. 😪

[@Zoup009]

P.S. Of course he knew a few things else , otherwise he will not be a football player, or yes, Usain Bolt would have been the King of football. Yes he knew other areas but was not developed in them by his managers, as they thought his one trick pony with his speed was enough. He became rusty in other aspects, which harmed his career prospects, when his hamstrings never recovered.

[@dazzaMusic]

He was very good at RM just not at the level he was when he played at Liverpool

[@paulearl8203]

Why is this even a title? Didnt he have the best goals per minutes in the squad?

[@stevestryker]

Owen was arguably a victim of Perez's galactico policy. Instead of allowing a manager to sign who he needed instead of signing another "superstar" to sell more shirts and generate more buzz from the British media.

[@javierrodriguez1626]

Owen wasnt a flop , he was great and fun to watch, problem was the team had too many players

[@keithdeakin1860]

He didn't do Madrid any harm, he scored goals and they made a good profit when they sold him.

[@garybriers690]

If him and Jonathan Woodgate had been signed at the same time, they could have learned Spanish in the treatment room only🤣

[@jack8988]

Was he actually considered a flop at Madrid? His goal record was decent

[@svlagonda7417]

100% spot on

[@miguelrosado6348]

Yes, he did flop because he couldn't impose himself on the team and to the fans. The treatment that he has received from the Spanish press is basically the same that every player and manager receives if there is the slightest suspicion about him. That's why Real Madrid is Real Madrid! It has the most demanding fans and press in the world. You have to prove yourself and it doesn't matter where you come from. Real Madrid is royalty in football: it doesn't matter what you have achieved before because you are just a peasent who needs to prove yourself to be worthy. A season where they win La Liga but don't win the Champions is considered a failure. Just look at Mourinho who managed to break Barcelona's consecutive la liga wins, but "only" reached the semi-finals in the Champions. He was kicked out and considered by many as failure in Real Madrid.

[@dv3386]

Why is anyone asking now?

[@sugs1191]

He was Madrids best player that season except Figo. And Madrid did the snart thing and released them both at the end of the season what a joke.

[@WELLBRAN]

I think he had an injury when transferred

[@jasonchatto]

Many thanks Bale was a flop. But he was not bad when he played. Just didn't play enough.

[@realnesx]

Real Madrid do this to certain players and it back fires. If Madrid showed him love he would destroyed it. Funny how Madrid want Haaland Haaland no Henry or Suarez but Haaland still scores. 🤔

[@jarvismarvis8900]

Raul a snake 🐍

[@jonisilk]

Should never have left Liverpool. They'd have built a statue of him. But then he always was a turncoat.

[@originalnutzie4409]

He's pace off the spot was insane he definitely should have stayed at real madrid plusif your playing next the GOAT Ronaldo I wouldn't leave 😂

[@alejandrorodriguezdomingue174]

Raúl was and is the best spaniard footballer in history and much better than Owen as second 9. Raúl deserved the ballon d or of Owen. That is why Owen failed his career in Madrid

[@dodi1986]

I have never heard he was a flop

[@theginka]

last Englishman to succeed at Madrid was Meckmanaman all other where busts Beckham was just moving commercial stand noting els more

[@KmT81]

Three English in Madrid McManaman,Owen and Beckham

[@spike7038]

Good video…joined Madrid under a poor manager

[@melanineyedoc]

He was too quick for his own knees.

[@Clem_Fandango11]

Liverpool broke him....playing him so young, even when he wasn't fit meant long-term he was never going to be playing at the standard he set. For me possibly for a while he was the greatest England striker I've seen.

[@neilnewman6426]

I said this he had a decent goal scoring record

[@mattheendpod2659]

No one ever said he was a flop. Pointless video.

[@flashbackfootball1367]

Yeah that's right mate, not a single British newspaper has ever labeled him as "Real Madrid Flop". Idiot

[@prophetascending9021]

So, he outscored Raul, the Spaniard, at a Spanish club? Seems like Michael gave a good account of himself.

[@mambaman9363]

Real Madrid has a lot of flops to play with. They even flop themselves sometimes.

[@dazeng4633]

HE never gave the club a chance

[@stevesoldwedel]

Now do his time at Newcastle. 😂

[@cjp8155]

How could anyone flop in that Mickey Mouse league.

[@67lionsoflisbon37]

Too much football too young. Curtailed his later career. But a brilliant forward on his day.