‘They are just being lazy’ I took the no.7 shirt in 2009 and felt no pressure I don’t understand these kids anymore 

‘They are just being lazy’ I took the no.7 shirt in 2009 and felt no pressure I don’t understand these kids anymore 

Michael Owen replaced Cristiano Ronaldo as Manchester United’s no.7 in the summer of 2009, after the Portugal international made a then-world record move to Real Madrid

Manchester United’s Michael Owen celebrates after scoring during the UEFA Champions League group B football match Wolfsburg vs Manchester United in the northern German city of Wolfsburg on December 8, 2009.

Michael Owen felt ‘no pressure’ when joining United

Michael Owen said that he felt “no pressure” when taking over the iconic no. 7 shirt at Manchester United – despite it previously belonging to Cristiano Ronaldo.

 

Owen made the move to United from Newcastle on a free transfer, having started his career at Liverpool where he won the Ballon d’Or at just 22 years old. After stints at Real Madrid and the Magpies, he arrived at Old Trafford in the summer of 2009, coinciding with Ronaldo’s £79.2million transfer to Real.

 

Taking over the famous no. 7 shirt from Ronaldo, Owen insists he felt no pressure and stated that Sir Alex Ferguson chose him to “represent it well”.

 

Speaking to Genting Casino, the now-44-year-old said: “I think because I was at that stage of my career I didn’t feel any pressure in taking Cristiano Ronaldo’s shirt number and that’s what Sir Alex Ferguson said to me.”

 

“He said to me when he handed me the number because I had pretty much been there, seen it, done it and played for great teams under the biggest of pressures and won the biggest of trophies. It was probably in safe hands. I wasn’t going to go into a nightclub and do anything stupid or be disrespectful to the shirt in any way.

 

Michael Owen of Manchester United looks on during the FA Cup sponsored by E.ON 3rd round match between Manchester United and Liverpool at Old Trafford on January 9, 2011 in Manchester, England.

Owen became the new no.7 at United

“I was a pro and people knew my character and knew that it was in safe hands. There also wasn’t the expectation of matching his 40 goals because I was coming to the end of my career.”

 

As Owen was nearing the downturn of his career, Ronaldo was just beginning his stellar run in football. He went on to score an astonishing 450 goals for Real Madrid, winning four Champions Leagues, two league titles and multiple domestic cup honours.

 

Ruud van Nistelrooy of Manchester United celebrates scoring the second goal with Cristiano Ronaldo goal during the UEFA Champions League match between Manchester United and Sparta Prague at Old Trafford on November 3, 2004 in Manchester, England.

Ronaldo became a cult hero at United

The 44-year-old steered clear of any direct comparisons with the Portuguese maestro, adding that then-United boss Ferguson had placed trust in him to keep the number “safe”.

 

 

He added: “But I think from the manager’s point of view, he wanted it represented really well. When you look at the players that have worn it in the past, then he wanted it in safe hands and I would like to think I treated it with a lot of respect and that was probably the reason.”

 

“I’ve had a bad back since wearing that with the weight of it! But no, on a serious note, it was a huge honour at the time to be offered. And I was definitely not going to say no.”

 

With 52 games played and 17 goals to his name for United, Owen helped secure one Premier League title among other silverware. While he didn’t reach the same ceiling as other players who wore the no.7, Owen carved out significant moments in the clubs history before moving to Stoke City for the final chapter of his playing days.