Gary Owen (footballer)

From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

Personal information
Gary Owen
Date of birth	July 7, 1958 (age 48)
Place of birth	St Helens, Merseyside, UK
Height	5 ft 9 in (1.75 m)
Playing position	Midfielder
Senior clubs¹
Years	Club	App (Gls)*
1975-1979 1979-1986 1986-1987 1987-1988 1988 1988-1989	Manchester City West Bromwich Albion Panionios Sheffield Wednesday Hammarby IF Apoel Nicosia	103 (19) 187 (11) 023 (5) 014 (0) 002 (0) 00? (?)
National team
1976-1979	England U-21	022 (4)
¹ Senior club appearances and goals counted for the domestic league only. * Appearances (Goals)

Gary Owen (born 7 July 1958 in St Helens, Merseyside) is a retired English football midfielder. With 22 caps, he is one of the most capped players for England Under-21s, but never made it into the senior team.

Owen started his career with Manchester City, with whom he turned professional in 1975 and made his debut aged 17, against Wolves in March 1976. After winning the League Cup earlier in the year, in October 1976 Owen scored his first goal, against West Ham.

In 1979 Owen was sold, as part of City manager Malcolm Allison's clear-out, to West Bromwich Albion for £450,000*, despite being a strong fans' favourite. At WBA, he was a regular, and although a midfielder, was awarded the number 10 shirt usually reserved for a striker, and he was also the club's first choice penalty-taker.

He suffered two broken ankles and meningitis in the 1984-85 season, and the following year, 1985-86, lost his place in the side due to his injuries. West Bromwich were relegated, and Owen joined Panionios in Greece for 1986-87. For the 1987-88 season he returned to England for year with Sheffield Wednesday. He ended his career in season 1988-89 with APOEL Nicosia, Cyprus. Before going to Cyprus, he also played two games for Hammarby IF, Sweden in 1988.

Currently, Owen works as a journalist in Manchester, providing opinion on his beloved Manchester City in the Manchester Evening News and on local radio station, Century FM. He also has an art dealership, "Gary Owen Fine Art".

(*) According to some sources, the fee was £550,000.