Michael Owen Opens Up on Distant Relationship with David Beckham
Former England football star Michael Owen has candidly discussed his relationship with legendary captain David Beckham, revealing that the two never forged a close friendship despite being teammates at both international level and Real Madrid. In his autobiography, Owen, now 46, explains that their vastly different lifestyles and social preferences kept them apart off the pitch.
Teammates but Not Friends in Madrid
Beckham, 50, and Owen were among England's most dynamic and marketable footballers during their prime. Beckham joined Real Madrid in 2003 after rising to stardom at Manchester United, while Owen made a high-profile move from Liverpool to the Spanish giants a year later. Despite playing for bitter rivals in the Premier League, they frequently met up for England duty, and expectations were high that they would become fast friends in Madrid.
However, Owen has clarified that this never materialised. "As much as we ended up living close to David and Victoria Beckham and were two English families living abroad in the same city, there wasn't much in the way of social life as far as them and us were concerned," Owen wrote. He noted that their wives, Louise and Victoria, occasionally saw each other while the players were training, but this was the extent of their interaction.
Contrasting Lifestyles and Social Circles
Owen emphasised that he and Beckham had little in common by the time they were in Madrid together. "I certainly didn't like wearing trendy gear or mingling among socialite company. David and Victoria, on the other hand, were both bona fide superstars in their own right," he stated. Owen described the Beckhams as operating on a completely different social stratosphere, adding that he never felt part of David's inner circle of friends.
This distance extended beyond their personal lives, with Owen preferring a more low-key existence in Spain compared to Beckham's high-profile lifestyle. The striker explained that their families rarely mingled, and they barely spoke outside of football-related matters.
Historical Resentment Over World Cup Incident
While Owen's remarks about their lack of friendship are contentious, they pale in comparison to his previous criticisms of Beckham. The 1998 Ballon d'Or winner has openly blamed Beckham for England's elimination at the 1998 World Cup, following Beckham's infamous red card for kicking out at Diego Simeone during a match against Argentina.
"While it was clearly premeditated, it was immature and petulant more than it was violent. But for me, that almost makes it worse," Owen penned in his book. He expressed lingering resentment, stating that Beckham's actions let down the entire England team, though he acknowledged that the subsequent abuse Beckham faced was unjustified.
Post-Madrid Careers and Legacy
Owen spent only one season at Real Madrid before returning to the Premier League for a stint at Newcastle, later playing for Manchester United and Stoke before retiring in 2013. Beckham, meanwhile, went on to kickstart the Major League Soccer revolution by joining LA Galaxy in 2007, with subsequent spells at AC Milan and Paris Saint-Germain before retiring in the same year as Owen.
Their careers, though intertwined at key moments, reflect the divergent paths that contributed to their lack of a close bond. Owen's revelations shed light on the complexities of teammate relationships in professional football, where shared success on the pitch does not always translate to personal connections off it.
