The red half of Merseyside simply call him "God."
He did enough at Anfield to be mentioned in the same breath as the likes of Kenny Daglish, Roger Hunt, Kevin Keegan, and Ian Rush. And now Robbie Fowler has seen his career, which looked like it was dwindling down into nothingness, receive a new breath of life.
The man who has given him this chance is the new Blackburn manager and Fowler's former teammate at Liverpool—Paul Ince. Ince has taken Fowler on board for preseason training, and if he can prove his fitness and quality, he has a chance to earn a contract.
If he pushes himself hard enough then I see no reason why he can't be the force he was for Liverpool in the 90's. He is only 33 after all, and while that may mean his career is nearing it's end, plenty of players have played at the top level at an older age than that, so why can't he?
But why does he find himself in this position? He should, by all rights, be a legend of the English game. Where did it all go wrong for Fowler?
- B/R Ticket Guide
In 1993 he burst onto the scene for Liverpool, scoring a phenomenal five goals in only his second competitive game for the first team. He scored his first league hat-trick in only his fifth game for the club.
His first 13 games in first-team competitive football yielded 12 goals. Not bad for a fresh faced 18-year-old being thrown into the big time. He finished his first season as Liverpool's top scorer.
The very next season he scored a hat-trick in four minutes, 33 seconds against Arsenal—a record that still remains to this day, and probably will for a long time.
He won the PFA Young Player of the Year award twice in a row, a feat only Ryan Giggs and Wayne Rooney have equalled.
He didn't get a call-up to the full England squad until 1996, despite being perhaps the best natural finisher in England at the time.
He scored four in a match in the same year, including his 100th goal for Liverpool.
He was captain for Liverpool's treble-winning campaign in 2000-2001, scoring in the UEFA Cup final. After that, however, his career started to go downhill.
A bust-up with then assistant manager Phil Thompson forced Fowler out of Liverpool, and the man hailed as "God" by his club's fans found himself at Elland Road as a Leeds player.
He later went on to Man City and then back to Anfield, and on to Cardiff, but he was never the same deadly finisher again.
However, Ince will be looking to get the Robbie Fowler he remembers from the 90's. And if he can, then that free transfer could be one of the best signings he will ever make.
Good luck to you "God!"
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4 months ago
Good luck Robbie!!!
Will always be a legend to Reds fans
4 months ago
god...lol..took all he could from cardiff and what did he give us back.. "xxxx all"
got paid handsomely to sit on the sidelines..i honestly thought he would feel he owed us something but there you are aye....what can i say without insulting...
4 months ago
yeah Mike, coz its really his fault that he was injured, I'm sure he was really happy to miss the FA Cup final.
4 months ago
Im a Man U Fan and Even i Think Robbie Fowler Is One of the best strikers The Premier league has witnessed . Admittedly he pulled a stupid stunt when he " Snorted The White Line" , But It wasnt the worst thing ive seen in Football .
I Used to fear United vs Liverpool In the 90's , Coz of Owen ?? No , Gerrard ?? No , it was because Fowler was a ruthless striker at such a young age , its a shame he hasnt Won more in his career , he deserves One last shot at the big time , Hes still young by teddy sherringham standards so if he can get fit i see another 7 years of robbie , good luck to him .
Hey mike at least he did something at cardiff , he got you some goals , could of been worse , you could of signed Massimo Taibi Like united did !!!!! Now thats a guy who done f**k All .
4 months ago
Taibi? He's a fellow who had slipped from my memory but thanks very much Mark for pushing him to the forefront of my mind :)
Robbie was a legend for the reds and as Gary stated, one of the most natural finishers the game has ever seen in my opinion. This Kristian Nemeth reminds of him slightly as he comes so alive in the box...only faster than Robbie was :)
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