Michael Owen on his fallout with Alan Shearer and why they are no longer ‘big mates’

When we were friends | Owen and Shearer were involved in a spat on Twitter earlier this week
Getty Images/Graham Chadwick /Allsport

Michael Owen has opened up on the breakdown of his relationship with Alan Shearer after their spectacular public row this week.

Owen insists he knew nothing of their fallout until after he left Newcastle, having previously been close friends and golf partners.

But the tension between them has now been laid bare.

In Reboot: My Life, My Time, Owen reveals his regret over his move from Real Madrid to Newcastle.

It prompted Shearer to hit out at his former teammate - questioning his £120,000-a-week wages at St James’ Park.

Owen responded by claiming the Geordie legend had at one time been desperate to quit Tyneside for Liverpool.

Despite the breakdown in their relationship, Shearer’s actions this week still came as a shock to Owen, who claims his comments were taken out of context.

“We were big, big mates,” he said. “We used to play golf every week, strikers vs ‘keepers at Newcastle, me and Shearer v (Steve) Harper and (Shay) Given. We would fly off to Loch Lomond occasionally, really good courses.

“I stayed in his house, we were big mates.

“He’s changed to me. I’ve got nothing against him. This is the ironic thing.

“A year after I left Newcastle, I was talking to a mate who is both of our friends, and said I should give Alan call about that. He said ‘I wouldn’t if I would you mate’.

Shearer and Owen during England training at Bisham Abbey in 2000 Photo: Getty Images/Graham Chadwick/ALLSPORT
Getty Images/Graham Chadwick/ALLSPORT

“I said: What?!!! I didn’t know. That’s how I found out.

“There was nothing, I don’t dislike him, I’ve got nothing against him, and unless I can’t read people, I had no idea for like a year or two after Newcastle got relegated, that he had a gripe with me.

“I hadn’t any clue, so that was the first time I knew, and I was like “oh, you are joking’. And then it all came out.

“I’ve got no problem, with him - it’s just he has an issue with what he thinks I did wrong.”

On Shearer’s reaction on Twitter, Owen added: “Something like what Alan Shearer did on Twitter, is an example of what can happen.

“I can be saying in a sentence that I didn’t enjoy the last six years of my career. And if you cut it off there, then it sounds bad.

I stayed in his house, we were big mates."

Michael Owen

“But there’s more to it, when you listen in context where I say ‘because I wasn’t the same player, I wasn’t quick any more, that’s why I didn’t enjoy it’.

“I didn’t enjoy it as much because I wasn’t as good. Things like that are then debated when it’s not really a fair representation of mine.

“We have all been in the industry a long time. As soon as you agree to do it (a book), you understand what comes with it - and serialising the book as well, they have to generate headlines…and it did.

“As a person, the people who know me, I’m shy, I was born that way. My job has brought it out of me a little bit, but it’s not the most comfortable thing, when I’m waking up wondering what people are going to be saying that day.

“Of course, when you also feel some of it has been maybe taken out of context in a way - or the full context hasn’t been given - and then people start discussing it even though you know it’s wrong, and say on radio they’re having a big debate on something that isn’t even accurate, that’s the most annoying thing in a way.”

Owen was speaking at the official launch of his book with Linghams booksellers.

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