Michael Owen is hoping to play his part in developing the next generation of world-class English talent by passing on the secrets which helped him score 40 goals in 89 England internationals.
The former Liverpool, Real Madrid and Newcastle United striker has been speaking to youth coaches from across the game on The FA’s latest youth coaching courses held at St.George’s Park, and the 34 year-old believes understanding how creative players work is key to helping develop future England internationals.
“When you are coaching players I think there is also a real skill to put on a session whereby a player can go and use their own initiative, because that is what happens when you are out on the pitch.
“Anyone can destroy, anyone can defend, but not many can create something that is really pleasing on the eye”
Michael Owen
“Coaches can improve that by purely putting on sessions to encourage that creative thinking. I think great players have got great minds and they can almost think what the other person is thinking and that is when the magic comes.
“When you are actually building a session it can get too methodical and these creative players can get suppressed and condensed a little bit.”
Designing and delivering creative coaching practices which challenge and develop young players technically, physically, psychologically and socially is a core aim of The FA Advanced Youth Award course where Owen spoke with academy coaches from a variety of professional clubs today.
The FA’s Advanced Youth Award is just one of a number of new FA courses which help youth coaches understand the intricacies involved in young player development – an area of much debate following the ongoing FA Commission.
Earlier in the year England’s former number 10 attended one of The FA’s new positional specific courses which focuses solely on developing forward players.
With only the names of Charlton, Lineker and Greaves above Owen in the list of Three Lions’ all-time top goal-scorers, there are few better to provide an insight into the goal-scoring craft.
Owen stressed the importance of developing creative partnerships between players, citing his own understanding with Steven Gerrard, as one of the key elements to creating and scoring goals.
Michael Owen celebrates scoring against Germany in 2001
“Anyone can destroy, anyone can defend, anyone can knock a house down but not many can build one and actually create something that is really pleasing on the eye and damaging to the opponent.”
“Having that telepathic understanding - me and Stevie played together from when we were tots really and it was always the same - he knew what I was thinking and I knew what he was thinking.”
“I think you find that when you have got good players, world-class players on the pitch you can just see them and the understanding between them.
“They think in a different way, almost talk in a different language to other players. And they are the players you pay to go and watch. They are the geniuses, they are the players you want to give licence to go and create something out of nothing.
“When you give people responsibility to be creative, when you don’t fill their minds with roles, responsibilities, places they are supposed to be when you lose the ball then you can get the best out of people.”
Watch our interview with Michael Owen from the FA Developing Forwards Course in the video player above.
