Robbie Fowler

Robert Bernard Bennedict 'Robbie' Fowler, (born 9 April 1975 in Liverpool, Merseyside) is an English footballer who currently plays for Championship side Cardiff City.

Fowler's career began with Liverpool. He signed as a youth team player on leaving school in the summer of 1991, and signed professional on 9 April 1992 - his 17th birthday. He made his first-team debut the following season and was soon established as a regular first-team player. Fowler scored 120 premiership goals for Liverpool in an eight year period. He subsequently played for Leeds United and Manchester City, before returning to Liverpool in January 2006. As of December 2007, Fowler is the fourth highest goals corer in Premier League history.

He has been capped for England twenty-six times, scoring seven goals. The most recent of these appearances came in the 2002 World Cup.

Early life

Fowler was born in Liverpool and brought up in the Toxteth area where he was known as Robert Ryder. He was present in the area at the age of 6 during the Toxteth riots. As a youngster he was an ardent Everton supporter, regularly travelling to Goodison Park. He played regularly for schoolboy team Thorvald, and once scored 16 times in a 26–0 rout.^[1] He was selected for Liverpool Schoolboys from the age of 11 and was spotted by Liverpool scout Jim Aspinall. He began training with Liverpool once a week and signed schoolboy forms with the club. Two years later he signed as a YTS trainee, and turned professional on his seventeenth birthday.^[2]

Career

Liverpool

Fowler's first involvement with the Liverpool first team came on January 13, 1993, when he was an unused substitute in an FA Cup tie against Bolton Wanderers. In the following close season, Fowler helped the England Under-18 team to win the 1993 European Championship,^[3] before making a scoring first-team debut in Liverpool's 3–1 win in a first round Coca Cola Cup tie at Fulham on September 22.^[4] Fowler scored all five goals in the second leg at Anfield two weeks later, making him the fourth player in Liverpool's history to score five in a senior fixture.^[2] He scored his first league hat-trick against Southampton in only his fifth league game. His first thirteen games for the club yielded twelve goals, and he was rewarded with an England Under-21 debut against San Marino in November 1993, in which he scored England's opening goal in the third minute. Fowler was unable to sustain his goal-a-game ratio throughout the season, but finished his first season as the club's leading scorer with eighteen goals in all competitions.^[2]

In the 1994–95 season, Fowler was an ever-present for Liverpool, playing in all of their 57 matches, including the victory in the 1995 League Cup final, and a match against Arsenal in which he scored a hat-trick in four minutes and thirty-three seconds,^[5] a Premiership record. Fowler was voted the PFA Young Player of the Year in two consecutive years in 1995 and 1996,^[6] a feat equalled only by Ryan Giggs and Wayne Rooney.^[7]

Throughout the mid and late 1990s, Fowler was widely considered to be the most natural finisher playing in England.^[8] Fowler sealed this reputation as he scored more than thirty goals for three consecutive seasons, up to 1997. Stan Collymore, Fowler's old strike partner, said in his autobiography that Fowler was the best player he has ever played with. Fowler and Collymore were among the most lethal strike partnership in England during the 1995–96 season. In the same season he scored twice in a 4–3 victory over Newcastle United, a match voted the best of the decade in a Premier League poll.^[9]

Fowler received a call-up to the full England squad for the first time in 1996, winning his first cap on March 27 against Bulgaria as a substitute,^[6] and making his first start at international level in England's next match, against Croatia. Fowler was part of the England squad for Euro 96, making two appearances in the tournament.^[10] On 14 December 1996, he scored four against Middlesbrough, including his hundredth for the club. This meant he reached a century of goals one game quicker than his mentor, Ian Rush.

That year, he also won a UEFA Fair Play award for admitting that he had not been fouled by David Seaman at Highbury after a penalty had been given.^[11] After unsuccessfully trying to convince the referee to change his decision about the penalty Fowler took it tamely and Seaman saved, the ball rebounded however and Jason McAteer scored.^[12]

Fowler was part of a group of Liverpool players from the mid-1990s who were nicknamed "The Spice Boys" by the press following a series of off-field controversies. The term was coined by the Daily Mail, and arose due to misplaced rumours that Fowler was dating Spice Girl Emma Bunton.^[13] The term was subsequently used in a derogatory manner, implying Fowler and colleagues such as Jamie Redknapp, Stan Collymore, David James and Steve McManaman were underachieving playboys.

A downturn in Fowler's fortunes began in 1998, after a knee ligament injury kept him out of action for half the season and caused him to miss the 1998 World Cup.^[14] This injury coincided with the rise of Michael Owen, whose debut came in 1997. Owen established himself in the Liverpool team in Fowler's absence.

In 1999, Fowler was fined £60,000 by his club for bringing the game into disrepute after he had mimed snorting cocaine off the white line of the penalty area while celebrating his goal against Everton.^[6] Defending himself, he said that he was getting back at Everton fans who had insulted him with false accusations of drug abuse. Fowler received a four match suspension from the FA for this incident. At the same FA disciplinary hearing, Fowler received a further two match suspension due to a separate incident in which he had homophobically taunted Chelsea defender Graeme Le Saux by waving his backside at him. The FA imposed a £32,000 fine for the two incidents.^[15]

Treble season

The 2000–01 season was Fowler’s most successful season. He appeared in three finals, scoring 17 goals and lifting three trophies in a unique Cup Treble.^[16] In the absence of Jamie Redknapp, who was sidelined by injury, Fowler was named Liverpool captain when starting.^[2] However he found himself the third choice Liverpool striker, with Houllier favouring a forward partnership of Michael Owen and Emile Heskey.^[2]

He did take part in a fourth round League Cup hammering of Stoke City scoring a hat trick in an 8–0 victory en route to Liverpool’s first of three finals.^[17] In the final against Birmingham, the club's first cup final since 1996, he captained the side, scoring on thirty minutes. Liverpool went on to win the trophy on penalties. Fowler picked up the Alan Hardaker Man of the Match award and lifted the trophy.

Fowler’s season picked up from there as he scored several important goals including a goal against Manchester United and a free kick in the FA Cup semi-final against Wycombe Wanderers. According to Steven Gerrard's autobiography, Gary McAllister was supposed to take the free-kick, but Fowler, knowing this, pulled one of his infamous cheeky antics and struck it before McAllister could get there. McAllister was seen chasing Fowler around, and, according to the book, "People thought he [Gary Mac] was trying to congratulate Robbie. Bollocks! He was chasing him because he was going to throttle him!" He featured as a substitute 2001 FA Cup Final coming on as a 77th minute replacement for Vladimír Šmicer. Liverpool, who were 1–0 down at that point, eventually won the game 2–1 with two goals from Michael Owen. Fowler raised the trophy along with Sami Hyypiä and Jamie Redknap.

Four days later he was a substitute again in Liverpool’s third final, the 2001 UEFA Cup Final against Alavés. He came on in the 64th minute for Emilie Heskey with the score at 3–3. He scored seven minutes later but Alavés equalised before full time and Liverpool eventually won with a golden goal, an own goal, in the 116th minute.^[18] Fowler and Hyypia then raised Liverpool’s third trophy of the season together. Liverpool’s next and final game of the season was against Charlton Athletic. Fowler scored twice in a 4–0 victory that assured them Champions League qualification for next season.

End of first Liverpool run

Fowler began the 2001–02 season amidst controversy with then Liverpool manager Gérard Houllier when he was dropped from the entire squad for Liverpool's 2–1 victory in the 2001 Community Shield match against rivals Manchester United.^[19] He made an appearance in Liverpool's 3–2 victory over European Champions Bayern Munich,^[20] but starts were intermittent. In October 2001, he scored his first league hat-trick for three years, helping Liverpool beat Leicester City 4–1, but was dropped for the following league game. Speculation over Fowler's future persisted for most of Houllier's tenure and became an issue that divided Liverpool fans.^[21][22]

His last appearance before leaving the club was against Sunderland, in which he was substituted at half-time.^[23]

Leeds United

Despite his popularity with Liverpool fans, who referred to Fowler as "God",^[24] a combination of off-field controversy, disputes with Gérard Houllier and training ground arguments with then Assistant Manager Phil Thompson,^[25] led to Fowler's departure to Leeds United. Fowler maintains that Houllier forced him out of Liverpool, and accused Houllier of pressuring the Liverpool Echo newspaper to use its influence to turn opinion against him.^[26]

The transfer went ahead just one month after his hat-trick at Leicester with a fee of £11 million. He made his Leeds debut in an away game against Fulham,^[27] the same venue as his Liverpool debut. Fowler scored 12 goals in the remainder of the season, helping Leeds to a UEFA Cup qualifying place. Fowler was included in the England squad for the 2002 World Cup, but only made one appearance, coming on as substitute in a second round win over Denmark.

Fowler suffered an aggravation of a pre-existing hip injury in the 2002–03 pre-season, and did not recover until December.^[25] Struggling to gain fitness, and seeing team-mates sold off due to a financial crisis, Fowler's form and market value diminished. However, in total he scored 15 goals in 31 appearances for Leeds; a goal every two games.

Manchester City

In the 2002–03 season, Fowler was transferred to Manchester City following a protracted transfer saga. Fowler initially turned down the move, and a dispute between Manchester City manager Kevin Keegan and chairman David Bernstein over whether the transfer should take place due to medical concerns resulted in Bernstein leaving the club.^[28] Following encouragement from Keegan, Fowler finally signed for Manchester City on 16 January 2003 for an initial fee of £3 million and a further £3 million dependent upon appearances.^[6] Bizarre transfer conditions meant Leeds United still paid a significant proportion of Fowler's wages.^[29] Fowler made his Manchester City debut against West Bromwich Albion on 1 February 2003,^[30] but made a poor start to his Manchester City career, scoring just two goals in the remainder of the season.

Fowler continued to struggle with fitness problems in the 2003–04 season, completing the full 90 minutes only nine times, however he did score against his old club Liverpool in a 2-2 home fixture with virtually the last kick of the game. The arrival of close friend Steve McManaman from Real Madrid gave hope, but the pair failed to rekindle their prolific partnership of yesteryear, and received criticism from the fans and tabloids for their salaries and alleged excesses.^[31] In 2004 Fowler, depressed by his lack of form and fitness, considered retiring, but was persuaded to carry on by Keegan and Stuart Pearce.^[32] He then showed a marked improvement in the second half of the 2004–2005 season, scoring his 150th Premiership goal in the 3–2 win over Norwich City on 28 February 2005. However, his failure to convert a 90th minute penalty kick against Middlesbrough in the final game of the season prevented Manchester City from gaining a place in the UEFA Cup.^[33] Fowler ended the season as the club's joint top goal scorer,^[34] and gained the approval of the fans, finishing in the top three in the fans' Player of the Year poll, described by Fowler as "one of the proudest achievements of my career".^[35]

Fowler had injury problems at the start of the 2005–06 season, and rarely featured when fit, making just two substitute appearances in the first four months of the season. His first start of the season came against Scunthorpe United in the FA Cup on 7 January 2006, in which he scored a hat-trick.^[36] The following week he scored Manchester City's third goal in their 3–1 win against local rivals Manchester United after coming on as substitute. After scoring, he ran to the United supporters, holding up five fingers in reference to Liverpool's five European Cup wins, in comparison to United's two. His goal celebration against United would prove to have added significance in the following weeks. However, Fowler made only one more appearance for Manchester City before returning to Liverpool on a free transfer.^[37]

Return to Liverpool

On 27 January 2006, Fowler rejoined Liverpool from Manchester City on a free transfer, signing a contract until the end of the season. Fowler had remained a Liverpool fan after he left the club; he was in the Istanbul crowd when Liverpool won the Champions League in 2005.

Fowler's return against Birmingham City in February 2006 was labelled by the tabloid press as the stuff of fairytales,^[38] and he himself said he felt like "a kid waking up on Christmas morning every day".^[39] Fowler's first appearance back at Anfield was as a substitute against Birmingham, receiving a standing ovation upon his introduction.^[40] After his return, he had three goals ruled out for offside, before finally getting off the mark on 15 March 2006 in a home game against Fulham, the same opponents against which he scored his first ever goal for Liverpool 13 years earlier.

Fowler's next Liverpool goal, against West Bromwich Albion, meant he overtook Kenny Dalglish in the club's all time top scorers, while he marked his 31st birthday with a goal against Bolton Wanderers. He made it four goals in five games when he scored the only goal in a 1–0 victory over Blackburn Rovers on April 16, 2006. However, Fowler's fitness remained a concern. In March 2006, manager Rafael Benitez commented on Fowler's work and progress by saying, "to buy a Robbie Fowler who is fit and scoring goals would cost a lot, maybe £10m or more". Despite concerns about his fitness, Fowler finished the 2005–6 season scoring on a more consistent basis than Liverpool's other strikers. In May 2006 he was offered a new one year contract with the club,^[41] and celebrated by scoring the first goal in Liverpool's last league game of the season in a 3–1 away win at Portsmouth. It was his final game of the 2005–6 season, as he was unable to take part in the club's FA Cup Final success due to being cup-tied.

Fowler featured rarely in his final Liverpool season, making only six league starts. Bizarrely, all three of his League goals were penalties against Sheffield United. Appearances in other competitions were more common due to Rafael Benitez's squad rotation policy. On the 25 October 2006 Fowler was named as Liverpool's captain for the first time since his return in a League Cup tie against Reading, scoring just before half-time in a 4–3 win.

On 5 December, Fowler scored his first two goals in the UEFA Champions League competition proper against Galatasaray (he had previously scored during a qualifying tie some 6 years prior against FC Haka),^[42][43] though Liverpool lost 3–2.

On the 1 May 2007 he was a substitute in the Champions League Semi-Final against Chelsea, brought on in the last few minutes of extra-time. He set up an attack for Dirk Kuyt but the shot went straight at the Chelsea goalkeeper. The match went into a penalty shoot-out that Liverpool won. Fowler was due to take the fifth and final spot-kick, but the game had already ended when Kuyt slotted home his winning penalty.^[44]

In what transpired to be his last appearance for the club, against Charlton Athletic on 13 May 2007, Fowler was given the captain's armband one final time. He was substituted two minutes from the final whistle and given a standing ovation. The crowd still chanted his name as the match finished and applauded him for his years of service. He finished his second run as a Liverpool player with a UEFA Champions League runners up medal, however, he was not named in either the starting eleven or the seven substitutes. He became a free agent on 1 July 2007 having scored 183 goals in 369 appearances during his two spells at the club.^[45]

Cardiff City

On 21 July 2007 Fowler signed a two-year contract to play for Cardiff City.^[46] He missed the season's opening fixtures due to a lack of fitness,^[47] making his debut in a League Cup tie on 28 August.^[48] He scored his first two Cardiff goals on 22 September 2007 against Preston North End, scoring with two headers.^[49] He then scored twice in his next game, a third round Carling Cup tie against West Brom, Cardiff won 4-2 ^[50] and were then drew Fowler's former Club Liverpool, at Anfield, for the fourth round of the competition but were knocked out in a 2-1 defeat on 31 October.^[51]

In November Fowler travelled to Germany to see Dr. Hans-Wilhelm Müller-Wohlfarth, a specialist sports injuries doctor, to try and resolve a recurring hip problem that has left him lacking fitness so far for the Bluebirds.^[52] The treatment involved taking around twenty-eight injections into his hip. He returned to full training in late November.^[53]

Outside football

In association with Steve McManaman, Fowler has invested in several racehorses through a company named The Macca and Growler Partnership, most notably 2003 Queen Elizabeth the Queen Mother Celebration Chase winner Seebald.^[54] In 2005, Fowler was listed as one of the 1,000 wealthiest Britons by the Sunday Times Rich List. Business interests including a large property portfolio have resulted in Fowler becoming the third wealthiest footballer,^[55] in Britain, and leading to the affectionate, Manchester City chant We all live in a Robbie Fowler house, sung to the tune of Yellow Submarine.^[26]

On 2 September 2005 he released 'Fowler: My Autobiography', about his time as a footballer and the issues surrounding him. Since his transfer to Liverpool he has updated it and included a section about his return to Anfield. Excerpts published in newspapers included criticism of the England management.

Fowler married wife Kerrie on 9 June 2001, in the town of Duns in the Scottish Borders, and has three daughters and a son.^[56]

Honours

Liverpool

• Winner
  • League Cup: 1994–95, 2000–01 (Also winning the Alan Hardaker Trophy for man of the match)
  • 2000–01 FA Cup
  • 2000–01 UEFA Cup
  • 2001 European Super Cup

• Runner Up
  • 1995–96 FA Cup
  • 2006–07 UEFA Champions League

England

• 1993 UEFA Under-18 Championship

Personal

• PFA Young Player of the Year: 1995, 1996