Shoot! would like to wish Michael Owen many happy returns as the former England, Liverpool, Real Madrid and Manchester United forward celebrates his 37th birthday today.

Born in Chester on December 14; the Reds youth graduate flourished into one of the world’s finest strikers during his era, after being crowned BBC Sports Personality of the Year 1998, winning the 1998 FIFA World Cup Best Young Player Award, becoming the 2001 Ballon d’Or winner, named World Soccer Player of the Year (2001), winning multiple Premier League awards and being entered into England Football’s Hall of Fame (2014).

What a mouthful! And that isn’t even adding his Premier League title, three League Cups, two FA Community Shields, FA Cup and UEFA Cup triumph.

Having scored an impressive 40 goals in 89 international caps for the Three Lions, there have been so many memorable moments during Owen’s professional career – both for club and country.

But to honour the Liverpool legend’s latest milestone, Shoot! have picked out 10 defining moments of Owen’s career in pictures…

Liverpool Lad

From a very early age; Owen’s bright potential alerted the services of Liverpool, Arsenal, Manchester United and Chelsea, but a heart-warming letter from Steve Heighway, The Reds’ youth development officer, swung the striker’s decision to join the Anfield outfit.

After scoring prolifically for club and country during his youth career, Owen celebrated his seventeenth birthday by signing a professional contract with Liverpool in 1996.

Wimbledon Woes

Owen scored on his Liverpool debut against Wimbledon at Selhurst Park, although The Reds lost 2-1 thanks to goals from Jason Euell and Dean Holdsworth.

Now, scoring on your first appearance is supposed to be memorable, but unfortunately for the youngster, the defeat handed Manchester United the Premier League title after their failure to beat Wimbledon in their penultimate 1996-97 league fixture.

Record-Breaking Three Lion

Owen was fast tracked into the England senior squad following his prolific goalscoring rate in the youth teams.

The Liverpool forward made his Three Lions debut during a 2-0 defeat to the hands of Chile on February 11, 1998.

This made Owen the youngest player to represent his country at 18 years and 59 days old.

Nowadays, Arsenal winger Theo Walcott holds the record after making his England debut at 17 years and 75 days old back in May 2006.

World Cup Wonder

Later that year, Owen was included in Glenn Hoddle’s England squad to compete at the 1998 FIFA World Cup in France.

Having finished as runners-up in Group G, the Three Lions faced Argentina in the last-16, where England would eventually bow out on penalties… (Nothing changes!)

After the eventual victors had taken an early lead, Owen won a penalty, in which Alan Shearer scored and equalised within four minutes of the restart.

But, it was after 16 minutes that Owen pulled off one of the greatest goals of his entire career.

The Liverpool ace left Roberto Ayala and Jose Chamot for dust with a sensational run from just inside Argentina’s half, before beating goalkeeper Carlos Roa all ends up with a pinpoint finish from outside the 18-yard area.

Hat-Trick Hero

Owen stunned England’s rivals Germany with a sublime hat-trick in Munich on September 1, 2001, inspiring one of the Three Lions’ most historical results to date in a FIFA World Cup qualifier.

Having lost just one World Cup qualifier at home in their entire history, the hosts simply couldn’t handle the Liverpool legend as Owen’s treble, plus strikes from Steven Gerrard and Emile Heskey, sealed a remarkable night for Sven Goran Eriksson’s England, after Carsten Jancker had fired Germany in front after just six minutes.

Hala Madrid!

After netting 158 goals in 297 appearances in all competitions for Liverpool since 1996, Real Madrid were successful with a £8m bid for The Reds hero, with Owen joining the La Liga giants in August 2004.

Presented with the number 11 shirt, where he played alongside the legendary likes of Ronaldo, Raul, Luis Figo and Zinedine Zidane, Owen scored 18 goals in 50 games for Madrid.

Geordie Goalscorer

However, Owen lasted just one season at the Bernabeu, before returning to the Premier League with Newcastle United after sealing a club-record £16.8m switch in August 2005.

He scored 30 goals in 79 games for The Magpies, before running down the remainder of his contract in the summer of 2009 following Newcastle’s relegation to the Championship.

Curtain Call

During his spell at St James’ Park, Owen made what was to prove his final appearance in an England shirt.

Then 28-years-old; after the Three Lions had failed to qualify for Euro 2008 under Steve McClaren, Owen was handed his final international cap under new manager Fabio Capello, replacing Wayne Rooney in England’s 1-0 defeat to France in March 2008.

Red to Red Devil

After becoming a free agent after running down his deal at Newcastle United, Owen joined Liverpool’s rivals, Manchester United, on a free transfer in July 2009.

The forward scored 17 times in 52 games for the Red Devils, with his most memorable strike being his first at Old Trafford.

On September 20, 2009, Owen tucked away a dramatic injury time winner against arch-rivals Manchester City to seal a last-gasp 4-3 derby win inside the Theatre of Dreams.

Stoke Send-Off

After failing to earn a new deal at Manchester United in the summer of 2012, which brought an end to his three-year spell with the Red Devils, Owen joined fellow Premier League side Stoke City on a one-year deal in September.

Handed the illustrious number 10 shirt, his Potters spell was hampered by injury, before scoring his only goal for Tony Pulis’ side in Stoke’s 3-1 defeat to Swansea City in January 2013.

Fast-forward to March, Owen announced that he would be retiring from football come the end of the 2012-13 season.

His final game came at St Mary’s Stadium; with Owen replacing Jonathan Walters with 16 minutes remaining, as Stoke drew 1-1 at Southampton, with both sets of fans giving the former England striker a standing ovation.