Michael Owen reveals he didn't know what Ballon d'Or was when he won it and had to ask manager about it
MICHAEL OWEN has admitted he had no idea what the Ballon d'Or was - even after winning it.
The former
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Michael Owen has claimed he had no idea what the Ballon d'Or was
Credit: News Group Newspapers Ltd
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The former Liverpool striker won the annual gong in 2001
Credit: Getty
Owen played 297 times for the Reds over an eight-year stint, scoring 158 goals.
He later moved to
The 45-year-old's electric pace and lethal finishing made him one of the world's most feared strikers.
Owen bagged 24 goals in 46 Premier League games in 2001, catching the eye of the Ballon d'Or panel.
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The award is handed out annually to Europe's best player.
But after beating greats including
Owen told talkSPORT: "When Gerard Houllier phoned me and said 'You've won the Ballon d'Or', I'm like 'What's that gaffer'?
"I didn't know what the award was. I never did because I never even knew what it was.
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"Back in those days it was never in our press."
Owen was just the fourth English player to win the Ballon d'Or, following Stanley Matthews,
People don't know this' - Michael Owen breaks silence on 'well done he's 13' meme 27 years on from humiliating teenager
But it wasn't until he became a Galactico with Madrid in 2004 that he truly understood its significance.
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Owen continued: "When I played for Real Madrid, it's like an MBE, it follows you.
"Whenever they mention your name it's Ballon d'Or winner.
"Abroad it is so big and it's only just cottoned on here for the last five or ten years.
"It's so much bigger in other countries, in foreign countries.
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"It quickly sunk in how big it was."
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