The First Team’s football star Owen announces retirement

The First Group’s sporting ambassador Michael Owen reveals he’ll step down from professional football at the end of the season Dubai, UAE: English footballing hero and First Team member, Michael Owen, has recently announced he is to retire from professional football. The 33 year old former Liverpool, Manchester United and Real Madrid striker who currently plays for Stoke City, will hang up his football boots at the end of this season. “It is with an immense amount of pride that I am announcing my intention to retire from Professional Football at the end of this season,” said Owen in a statement. “Having progressed through the ranks at Liverpool to make my first team debut at 17, before embarking upon spells at Real Madrid, Newcastle United, Manchester United and Stoke City, not to mention representing my country on 89 occasions, I now feel it is the right time to bring the curtain down on my career.” BBC Sports Personality and European footballer of the year, Owen first played for the senior England team in 1998, becoming England’s youngest player and goalscorer at that time. He is also the only player to have scored in four major tournaments for England and is the country’s tenth most-capped player and fourth leading goalscorer behind Sir Bobby Charlton, Gary Lineker and Jimmy Greaves. “Michael has had an outstanding career and we wish him every success for his future,” commented Danny Lubert, co-founder and joint chairman of The First Group. “It is a real honour to have such a sporting legend on board with us and we are delighted to confirm that he will continue to be a part of The First Team.” As well as being a brand ambassador for The First Group, Owen is a property owner at The Diamond and The Bridge in Dubai Sports City. He is part of a host of sporting celebrities on The First Team; including fellow footballers Nwankwo Kanu and Andriy Shevchenko, Russian Tennis star, Svetlana Kutznetsova and a Rugby player, Bryan Habana.