Former England football star Michael Owen made an extraordinary purchase as a teenager, buying an entire street of houses for his family using his early career earnings.
The Remarkable Family Investment
During a recent appearance on Reece Mennie's podcast, the 45-year-old former striker revealed that at just 19 years old, he invested in multiple properties to house his nearest relatives. "I bought a lot of houses right at the outset when I first came into a bit of money for my family," Owen explained.
"I bought a street of new houses, which I bought when I was about 19. 26 years later, my mum and dad live in the first one, my brother in the next one, my brother in the next one, my sister in the next one. So we've got a full street in the village that we were brought up in, which was lovely to do."
The Financial Details
According to a 2001 Guardian report referenced in the original story, Owen spent approximately £750,000 to accommodate his family members side by side. This substantial sum represented roughly three months' wages for the young football sensation at the time.
Interestingly, Owen didn't choose to live on the same street himself, instead opting to settle just a mile down the road in a detached property. The houses are located in the area where Owen was raised, having been born in Chester and growing up in nearby Hawarden.
A Stellar Football Career
Owen's ability to make such a significant purchase so young stemmed from his rapid rise in professional football. He broke through the Liverpool academy ranks in 1996 and enjoyed an impressive eight-year tenure at Anfield.
During his time with Liverpool between 1996 and 2004, Owen achieved remarkable statistics: 158 goals and 51 assists across 297 appearances. His trophy cabinet from this period includes:
- FA Cup
- Two League Cups
- Community Shield
- UEFA Cup
- UEFA Super Cup
In 2004, Owen made a £8 million move to Real Madrid, though his time at the Bernabeu saw him make 45 appearances over just one year before returning to English football with Newcastle United.
After four years at St James' Park, Owen made a controversial transfer to Liverpool's rivals Manchester United, where he won the Premier League in 2009/10 and added another League Cup and Community Shield to his collection.
Owen concluded his professional career with Stoke City in 2012, spending one season with the Potters before retiring.
International Recognition and Recent Events
The former forward earned 89 caps for England as part of the nation's celebrated 'Golden Generation', though he never secured a major international honour with the Three Lions.
In a more recent family celebration, Owen made headlines earlier this month when he appeared in unrecognisable Hulk Hogan fancy dress attire at his youngest daughter's 18th birthday party. The costume featured inflated muscles with 'Hulkamania' across the chest, complemented by an oversized fake moustache, blonde wig and bandana.
The family gathering also featured his eldest daughter and former Love Island star Gemma Owen dressed as a flapper girl, while his wife Louise channeled Audrey Hepburn from Breakfast at Tiffany's. Their son James appeared as a jockey, and birthday girl Emily stole the show in a Marilyn Monroe costume.
Owen's early investment in property for his family stands as a testament to both his financial acumen and his commitment to those closest to him, demonstrating that his success on the pitch translated into meaningful support for his loved ones.
