Banned for Luck

Liverpool legend Michael Owen has recently opened up about a surprising superstition that affected his footwear choices during the 2001 FA Cup final. Despite having a contract with Umbro and being asked to wear their new boots for the final, Owen was banned from doing so by manager Gerard Houllier. Instead, he had to wear a specific pair of old boots for luck.

The Winning Moment

Owen's revelation came during an interview with Danny Murphy for the Daily Mail. He recalled the tension and excitement leading up to the final, where Liverpool faced off against Arsenal at the Millennium Stadium. Despite Arsenal dominating the game and taking the lead, Owen equalized in the 83rd minute and then went on to score the winning goal in the final seconds of the match.

Unwavering Confidence

Owen reflected on the mindset he had during the game, saying that he had no fear of the opposition, even though Arsenal was considered a stronger team at the time. He described the moment when he scored the winning goal as a complete shift in momentum, going from feeling like all was lost to absolute certainty that they would win. Owen's determination and confidence ultimately paid off, securing the FA Cup trophy for Liverpool.

A Season of Success

The FA Cup victory was one of three trophies won by Liverpool in 2001. In addition to the FA Cup, they also clinched the League Cup and the UEFA Cup, making it a truly successful season for the club.