Club career Robbie Fowler

1 club career

1.1 liverpool

1.1.1 success , fame
1.1.2 spice boys
1.1.3 winning cup treble
1.1.4 liverpool departure


1.2 leeds united
1.3 manchester city
1.4 return liverpool
1.5 cardiff city
1.6 blackburn rovers
1.7 north queensland fury
1.8 perth glory
1.9 muangthong united
1.10 return england , retirement
1.11 soccer aid

club career
liverpool

robbie fowler during steven gerrard s testimonial on 3 august 2013.

fowler s career began liverpool. signed youth team player on leaving school in middle of 1991, signing professional terms on 17th birthday, 9 april 1992.

fowler s first involvement liverpool first team came on 13 january 1993, when unused substitute in fa cup third round tie against bolton wanderers. in following close season, fowler helped england under-18 team win 1993 european championship, before making scoring first-team debut in liverpool s 3–1 win in first round league cup tie @ fulham on 22 september 1993. fowler scored 5 goals in second leg @ anfield 2 weeks later, making him fourth player in liverpool s history score 5 in senior fixture. scored first league hat-trick against southampton in fifth league game. first league goal reds had come on 16 october 1993, when 87th-minute equaliser @ home struggling oldham athletic saved reds have been 1 of biggest premier league shocks of season, last gasp own goal giving liverpool 2–1 win. scored twice in thrilling 3–3 draw @ tottenham hotspur on 18 december.

his first 13 games club yielded 12 goals, , rewarded england under-21 debut against san marino in november 1993, in scored england s opening goal in third minute. fowler unable sustain goal-a-game ratio throughout season, finished first season club s leading scorer 18 goals in competitions, although ian rush had scored more goals in league. was, however, disappointing season liverpool, finished eighth in premier league without making impact in of major competitions, though departure of graeme souness manager , appointment of roy evans successor built hope future.

success , fame

in 1994–95 season, fowler ever-present liverpool, playing in of 57 competitive matches, including victory in 1995 league cup final, , match against arsenal in scored premier league s second fastest hat-trick ever, in 4 minutes , 33 seconds.

his record stood twenty years until broken sadio mané on 16 may 2015 southampton against aston villa, scored 3 goals in 2 minutes , 56 seconds. scored braces against aston villa, ipswich town, chelsea , norwich city in league season.

fowler voted pfa young player of year in 2 consecutive years in 1995 , 1996, feat equalled ryan giggs, wayne rooney , dele alli.

throughout mid , late 1990s, fowler considered natural finisher playing in england.

fowler sealed reputation scored more 30 goals 3 consecutive seasons, 1997. remains player have scored 30 plus goals in first 3 full seasons in england scoring 98 goals total of 116 in 3 , half years, has yet beaten in la liga, seria , bundesliga too. fowler s partnership steve mcmanaman largely described reason why liverpool had become club known being potent attacking force in england @ time, , fowler renowned scoring goals of varieties, every angle , distance, mcmanaman describing him greatest goalscorer of time.

stan collymore, fowler s strike partner 1995–97, said in autobiography fowler best player has ever played alongside. fowler , collymore among prolific goal-scoring strike partnerships in england during 1995–96 season. in same season scored twice in 4–3 victory on newcastle united, match voted best of decade in premier league poll. match helped prevent newcastle winning league, not enough liverpool clinch title; finished third while manchester united crowned champions. fowler played in first fa cup final season, on losing side manchester united won 1–0.

fowler received call-up full england squad , won first cap on 27 march 1996 substitute in friendly against bulgaria. first start @ international level against croatia england game following substitute appearance. fowler part of england squad euro 1996, making 2 appearances in tournament. on 14 december 1996, scored 4 against middlesbrough, including hundredth liverpool. meant reached century of goals 1 game quicker first strike partner, ian rush, in 165 games.

that year, won uefa fair play award denying had been fouled arsenal goalkeeper david seaman @ highbury after penalty had been given.

after unsuccessfully trying persuade referee change decision penalty, fowler took tamely , seaman saved. however, seaman failed hold on ball , jason mcateer scored rebound. although many people believe deliberately took penalty kick poorly reasons of fair play, fowler said @ time: goalscorer s part of job take , wanted score it. tried score. never missed on purpose. happened, bad penalty.

spice boys

fowler part of group of liverpool players mid-1990s dubbed spice boys press following series of off-field controversies. term coined daily mail, , arose due misplaced rumours fowler dating spice girl emma bunton. term subsequently used in derogatory manner, implying fowler , colleagues such jamie redknapp, stan collymore, david james , steve mcmanaman underachieving playboys.

fowler s performance in 1997–98 football season marred anterior cruciate (knee) ligament injury kept him out of action half season , caused him miss 1998 world cup. during period of injury, fellow liverpool striker, michael owen rose prominence, making debut in 1997. owen established himself in liverpool team in fowler s absence.

in 1999, fowler fined £60,000 club bringing game disrepute. while celebrating goal against liverpool s merseyside rivals, everton, fowler used white line of penalty area simulate cocaine use. liverpool manager gérard houllier stated cameroonian grass-eating celebration, learnt teammate rigobert song. defending himself, fowler later said response everton fans had insulted him false accusations of drug abuse. fowler received four-match suspension fa incident. @ same fa disciplinary hearing, fowler received further 2 match suspension due separate incident in had homophobically taunted chelsea defender graeme le saux waving backside @ him le saux s wife , children watched stands. fowler later attempted justify actions suggesting taunts extension of gamesmanship. fa imposed £32,000 fine , six-match ban 2 incidents. fowler has since apologized le saux incident.

winning cup treble

the 2000–01 season fowler s successful season. appeared in 3 finals, scoring 17 goals , lifting 3 trophies in unique cup treble. in absence of jamie redknapp, sidelined injury, fowler named liverpool captain when started. found himself third-choice liverpool striker, houllier favouring forward partnership of michael owen , emile heskey.

he took part in fourth round league cup hammering of stoke city, scoring hat-trick in 8–0 victory, second club s biggest ever win in 1986 – 10–0 defeat of fulham. in league cup final against birmingham city, club s first cup final since 1996, captained side , scored in 30th minute. liverpool went on win trophy on penalties, fowler scoring liverpool s fifth in shootout. fowler picked alan hardaker man of match award , lifted trophy.

fowler s season picked there scored several important goals including 1 against runaway champions manchester united , free kick in fa cup semi-final against wycombe wanderers. fowler featured substitute in 2001 fa cup final coming on 77th-minute replacement vladimír Šmicer. liverpool, 1–0 down @ point, won game 2–1 2 goals owen. fowler raised trophy along sami hyypiä , jamie redknapp.

four days later substitute again in liverpool s third final, 2001 uefa cup final against deportivo alavés. came on in 64th minute heskey score @ 3–3. scored 7 minutes later alavés equalised before full-time , liverpool won golden goal, own goal, in 116th minute. fowler , hyypiä raised liverpool s third trophy of season together. liverpool s next , final game of season against charlton athletic , fowler scored twice in 4–0 victory @ valley assured them uefa champions league qualification next season.

liverpool departure

fowler began 2001–02 season controversially, after being dropped manager gérard houllier liverpool squad 2001 charity shield match following training ground confrontation assistant manager phil thompson. made appearance in liverpool s 3–2 european super cup victory on bayern munich, starts intermittent. in october 2001, scored first league hat-trick 3 years, helping liverpool beat leicester city 4–1, dropped following league match. though fowler had been on contract extension 1999 (unlike steve mcmanaman – exercised bosman entitlement same year), fowler linked lazio, arsenal , leeds, , liverpool s management fans , media reported happened mcmanaman (regarded huge financial loss) never repeated , club never rejected bids without consideration. meant coupled fowler s relationship houllier, speculation on fowler s future persisted of houllier s tenure , became issue divided liverpool fans. last appearance liverpool against sunderland, in substituted @ half-time.

leeds united

despite popularity liverpool fans, referred fowler god , michael owen , emile heskey had established liverpool s regular strike partnership, leaving fowler on fringes of first team. this, along difficult relationship houllier, made him seek regular first team football away anfield in form of £12 million move leeds united. fowler maintains houllier forced him out of liverpool, , accused houllier of pressuring liverpool echo newspaper use influence turn opinion against him.

the transfer went ahead 1 month after hat-trick @ leicester. made leeds debut in away game against fulham in december 2001, same ground had made liverpool debut 8 years earlier. fowler scored 12 goals in remainder of season, helping leeds uefa cup qualifying place. fowler included in england squad 2002 world cup, made 1 appearance, coming on substitute in second round win on denmark.

fowler suffered aggravation of pre-existing hip injury in 2002–03 pre-season, , did not recover until december. struggling gain fitness, , seeing teammates sold off due financial crisis, fowler s form , market value diminished. despite decrease in form still, in total, scored 15 goals in 31 appearances leeds; achieving impressive strike rate of less 1 goal every 2 games. in 2002–03, leeds finished 15th in premier league , severe financial crisis developing.

manchester city

in 2002–03 season, fowler transferred manchester city following protracted transfer saga. fowler turned down move, , dispute between manchester city manager kevin keegan , chairman david bernstein on whether transfer should take place due medical concerns resulted in bernstein leaving club. following encouragement keegan, fowler signed manchester city on 16 january 2003 initial fee of £3 million , further £3 million dependent upon appearances. bizarre transfer conditions meant leeds united still paid significant proportion of fowler s wages. fowler made manchester city debut against west bromwich albion on 1 february 2003, made poor start manchester city career, scoring 2 goals in remainder of season.

fowler continued struggle fitness problems in 2003–04 season, completing full 90 minutes 9 times, did score against old club liverpool in 2–2 draw @ home. arrival of close friend, steve mcmanaman, real madrid gave fowler hope, pair failed rekindle prolific partnership time @ liverpool, , received criticism fans , tabloids salaries, alleged excesses named , shamed in sex scandal covered news of world year.

despite slump, fowler rallied following campaign, , showed marked improvement in second half of 2004–05 season, scoring 150th premiership goal in 3–2 win on norwich city on 28 february 2005. however, failure convert 90th-minute penalty kick against middlesbrough s mark schwarzer in final game of season prevented manchester city gaining place in uefa cup. despite this, fowler ended season club s joint top goal scorer , gained approval of fans, finishing in top 3 in fans player of year poll. fowler later described 1 of proudest achievements of career .

fowler had injury problems @ start of 2005–06 season , featured when fit, making 2 substitute appearances in first 4 months of season. first start of season came against scunthorpe united in fa cup on 7 january 2006, in scored hat-trick. following week scored manchester city s third goal in 3–1 win against local rivals manchester united after coming on substitute. however, fowler made 1 more appearance manchester city before returning liverpool on free transfer.

return liverpool

fowler playing liverpool.

on 27 january 2006, fowler rejoined liverpool manchester city on free transfer, signing contract until end of season. fowler had remained liverpool fan after left club; in istanbul crowd when liverpool won champions league in 2005.

the fans overjoyed learn fowler had returned; there large banners in game against birmingham city read god – number eleven, welcome heaven , god being fowler s nickname while @ liverpool.

fowler s return against birmingham city in february 2006 labelled tabloid press stuff of fairytales, , himself said felt kid waking on christmas morning every day . fowler s first appearance @ anfield substitute against birmingham, receiving standing ovation upon introduction. after return, had 3 goals ruled out offside, before getting off mark on 15 march 2006 in home game against fulham, same opponents against scored first ever goal liverpool 13 years earlier.

fowler s next liverpool goal, against west bromwich albion, meant overtook kenny dalglish in club s all-time top scorers. resurgence continued marked 31st birthday goal against bolton wanderers. made 4 goals in 5 games when scored goal in 1–0 victory on blackburn rovers on 16 april 2006. however, fowler s fitness remained concern. in march 2006, manager rafael benítez commented on fowler s work , progress saying, buy robbie fowler fit , scoring goals cost lot, maybe £10m or more . despite concerns fitness, fowler finished 2005–06 season scoring on more consistent basis liverpool s other strikers. in may 2006 offered new one-year contract club, , celebrated scoring first goal in liverpool s last league game of season in 3–1 away win @ portsmouth. final game of season unable take part in club s fa cup final success due being cup-tied.

fowler featured in final liverpool season, making 6 league starts. bizarrely, 3 of league goals penalties against sheffield united. 1 of these in away game on opening day of season, , other 2 in reverse fixture @ anfield. appearances in other competitions more common due rafael benítez s squad rotation policy. on 25 october 2006 fowler named liverpool s captain first time since return in league cup tie against reading, scoring before half-time in 4–3 win.

on 5 december, fowler scored first 2 goals in uefa champions league competition proper against galatasaray (he had scored during qualifying tie 6 years prior against fc haka), though liverpool lost 3–2.

on 1 may 2007 substitute in champions league semi-final against chelsea, brought on in last few minutes of extra-time. set attack dirk kuyt shot went straight @ chelsea goalkeeper. match went penalty shoot-out liverpool won. fowler due take fifth , final spot-kick, game had ended when kuyt slotted home winning penalty.

in transpired last appearance club, against charlton athletic on 13 may, fowler given captain s armband 1 final time. substituted 2 minutes final whistle , given standing ovation. finished second run liverpool player uefa champions league runners-up medal, although not named in either starting eleven or 7 substitutes. became free agent on 1 july having scored 183 goals in 369 appearances during 2 spells @ club.

cardiff city

on 21 july 2007 fowler signed two-year contract play cardiff city. missed season s opening fixtures due lack of fitness, making debut in league cup tie on 28 august. scored first 2 cardiff goals on 22 september against preston north end, scoring 2 headers. fowler scored twice in next game, third round league cup tie against west brom, cardiff won 4–2. led fourth round tie against fowler s former club liverpool, @ anfield, liverpool faithful crowd urged fowler score seeing may last time play in anfield cardiff knocked out in 2–1 defeat.

in november, fowler travelled frankfurt, germany see dr. hans-wilhelm müller-wohlfahrt, specialist sports injuries doctor, try , resolve recurring hip problem had left him lacking fitness in season fixtures bluebirds. treatment involved taking around twenty-eight injections hip. returned full training in late november , made comeback on 15 december late substitute in 1–0 defeat against bristol city. went on suffer injury blow days later after mistimed tackle in training club captain darren purse left him damaged ankle ligaments. due new injury blow cardiff , fowler made plans him go colorado, united states undergo keyhole surgery on hip problem, had plagued him in recent seasons, in hope resolve problem.

on 17 january 2008, announced fowler miss rest of 2007–08 season cardiff after hip operation revealed injury worse thought. surgeons forced perform micro-fracture in order hip heal properly. despite this, attempted make comeback @ end of season play in fa cup final against portsmouth , included in 18-man match squad. did not feature in game in , did not receive runners-up medal having not made appearance in competition.

blackburn rovers

fowler offered new pay-as-you-play contract cardiff 2008–09 season in may 2008 , expected sign contract. however, pulled out of deal, preferring accept offer of trial @ blackburn rovers former liverpool colleague paul ince. move left cardiff manager dave jones , chairman peter ridsdale furious after club had assisted fowler s rehabilitation throughout summer. after training blackburn , appearing in handful of friendlies offered six-month deal club last until january, fowler turned down deal due being shorter offer previous 1 had rejected @ cardiff. after turning down offer, fowler made shock enquiry returning cardiff on deal had turned down, prompting anger supporters , swift no club.

fowler concluded trial period @ blackburn agreeing three-month pay-as-you-play deal. stated eager return premier league , pre-existing relationship ince not earn him preferential treatment. made first appearance against everton in 1–0 win in league cup on 24 september. month left on contract @ blackburn, fowler received interest league 2 side grimsby town. fowler, noted friend of grimsby manager mike newell had held talks @ blundell park on possible player/coach role club.

his three-month deal @ blackburn expired on 12 december 2008, , after not being offered new contract released club, entered talks new australian a-league club north queensland fury.

north queensland fury

fowler playing north queensland fury.

fowler signed north queensland fury on 4 february 2009 , became inaugural marquee player; family relocating townsville 2009–10 season of australian a-league. important signing new franchise struggled sign marquee player, while questioned whether fowler able cope heat , humidity of north queensland.

fowler made debut in july 2009 in 2–1 pre-season loss against wolverhampton wanderers in perth after recovering groin , hip complaints. fowler subsequently named north queensland fury s captain 2009–10 season , first in club s history. scored first a-league goal penalty kick in club s first competitive match against sydney fc on saturday 8 august 2009. in rounds four, five, , 6 fowler scored solo s hyundai a-league goal of week.

shortly after arrival in australia, reported in british media fowler making swift return homeland , sign league 1 side tranmere rovers, had appointed fowler s former liverpool teammate john barnes manager. however, fowler quick dismiss talk of quick return england. when barnes dismissed 3 months later, reported tranmere had approached fowler becoming player-manager, these reports dismissed.

controversy erupted around fowler after reportedly refused play against brisbane roar on 23 january after being named on interchange bench clash. returned starting line 2 of last 3 games of season. fowler ended season collecting hat-trick of awards @ clubs end-of-season awards night, awarded clubs player of year, players player of year , golden boot top goal scorer. on 15 june 2010, fowler confirmed taking legal action on ending of playing contract north queensland fury. suing fury , football federation australia, took on running of club.

perth glory

on 27 april 2010, announced fowler had agreed become part of glory s squad 2010–11 a-league season. fowler reportedly ignored offers middle east clubs sydney fc play in perth. joined glory pre-season training in mid-june, following world cup sponsorship commitments. fowler scored first goal perth on 29 august, penalty against melbourne heart. followed headed goal following week against wellington phoenix. in following match, fowler s hat-trick gave glory 3–1 victory against melbourne victory @ dairy famers stadium in townsville. fowler ended year top scorer club.

muangthong united

on 7 july 2011 fowler agreed play muangthong united, signing one-year contract. in press conference stated weather conditions of nonthaburi should not problem had played in townsville , perth. hit muangthong fans , thai public in general; attended thailand s world cup qualifier against oman wearing national team s shirt. has since played handful of scoreless games, both @ yamaha stadium , on road in afc cup, until twin qilins eliminated competition al-kuwait. after sacking of henrique calisto head coach, fowler made player/coach.

on 16 october 2011, after 250 minutes of play, fowler scored first goal mtu against chiangrai. scored 250th club career goal on 21 december 2011 against ttm phichit. on 28 february 2012 fowler announced had left club following slavisa jokanovic s appointment coach.

return england , retirement

on 1 march 2012, blackpool manager ian holloway confirmed fowler training seasiders , earn deal until end of season. however, not agree deal , fowler decided against signing when karl oyston offered striker £100 week £5,000 every first-team appearance.

on 22 september 2012 fowler announced retired professional football. said on television show soccer am. in interview in march 2013, said not officially retired , jump @ opportunity play again. fowler has stated in other interviews completing coaching licences. fowler on six-man shortlist , interviewed vacant manager s job @ conference side macclesfield town in may 2013, caretaker manager john askey appointed on full-time basis.

fowler featured in steven gerrard s testimonial match against olympiacos f.c. on 3 august 2013. came off bench in 73rd minute big reception liverpool fans, failed score goal.

on 21 april 2014, fowler featured in charity match commemorate lives of 96 liverpool fans died in hillsborough disaster. fowler scored both goals team in 2-2 draw.

on 2 january 2015, fowler tweeted gutted steven, unbelievable player... m officially hanging boots now...a sad day me , officially announced retirement.

soccer aid

in may 2016 revealed fowler return pitch play england in soccer aid, charity football match in aid of unicef, alongside jamie carragher.