Robert Bernard Fowler ( born 9 April 1975 ) is an english football coach and erstwhile player, who most recently managed East Bengal in the indian Super League. As a player he was a hitter, and is the seventh-highest goalscorer in the history of the Premier League. He is outdo known for his meter at Liverpool, initially from 1993 to 2001. He scored 183 goals in total for Liverpool, earning the dub “ God ” from the Anfield fans, and he remains Liverpool ‘s top scorer in the Premier League. [ 2 ] He subsequently played for Leeds United and Manchester City, before returning to Liverpool in January 2006. He moved to Cardiff City eighteen months late. He played there for a class before transferring to Blackburn Rovers on a short-run cope. In December 2008, he departed Blackburn and played in Australia with North Queensland Fury and Perth Glory. In 2011, he joined Thai side Muangthong United as a player, but late was appointed player-manager, which he remained until his retirement in 2012.
Reading: Robbie Fowler
He was capped for England 26 times, scoring 7 goals. Fowler was included in England ‘s squads for Euro 1996, Euro 2000 and the 2002 World Cup. Socially mindful, Fowler showed corroborate for the Liverpool dockers ‘ hit during a goal celebration in 1997 where he unveiled a jersey which incorporated the Calvin Klein “ CK ” into the password stevedore. [ 3 ]
early life [edit ]
Fowler was born in Toxteth, Liverpool, and brought up in the inside city area of Liverpool. At this time he was known as Robert Ryder, his beget ‘s surname. [ 4 ] He lived in Toxteth at the prison term of the 1981 Toxteth riots, when he was six years erstwhile. As a child he supported Everton F.C. . [ 5 ] He played regularly for schoolboy team Thorvald, and once scored 16 times in a 26–0 rout. [ 6 ]
Club career [edit ]
liverpool [edit ]
Fowler during Steven Gerrard ‘s testimony on 3 August 2013 Despite growing up as an Everton fan, Fowler ‘s career began with Liverpool. He signed as a youth team player on leaving educate in the summer of 1991, signing professional terms on his seventeenth birthday, 9 April 1992. Fowler ‘s first involvement with the Liverpool first team came on 13 January 1993, when he was an idle utility in an FA Cup third base round off tie against Bolton Wanderers. In the following close temper, Fowler helped the England under-18 team win the 1993 european Championship, [ 7 ] before making a scoring first-team introduction in Liverpool ‘s 3–1 win in a first beat League Cup bind at Fulham on 22 September 1993. [ 8 ] Fowler scored all five goals in the second leg at Anfield two weeks late, making him the one-fourth player in Liverpool ‘s history to score five in a aged fixture. [ 9 ] He scored his beginning league hat-trick against Southampton in only his fifth league crippled. His very first league goal for the Reds had come on 16 October 1993, when an 87th-minute equalizer at home to struggling Oldham Athletic saved the Reds from what would have been one of the biggest Premier League shocks of the season, with a last gasp own goal giving Liverpool a 2–1 gain. [ 10 ] He scored doubly in a thrilling 3–3 draw at Tottenham Hotspur on 18 December. [ 11 ] His first 13 games for the club yielded 12 goals, and he was rewarded with an England Under-21 debut against San Marino in November 1993, in which he scored England ‘s opening finish in the third minute. Fowler was ineffective to sustain his goal-a-game ratio throughout the season, but finished his first temper as the cabaret ‘s second crown scorer with 18 goals in all competitions, Ian Rush had scored 19. It was, however, a disappoint temper for Liverpool, as they finished eighth in the Premier League without making an impact in any of the major competitions, though the passing of Graeme Souness as coach and the appointment of Roy Evans as successor built up hope for a bright future at Anfield after the disappointment of the beginning two FA Premier League seasons. [ 9 ]
success and fame [edit ]
During the 1994–95 season Fowler was a constant member of the Liverpool side, playing in all of their 57 competitive matches, including the victory in the 1995 League Cup final, and a match against Arsenal in which he scored what was then the Premier League ‘s second-fastest hat-trick ever, in four minutes and 33 seconds. [ 12 ] His record stood for twenty years until broken by Sadio Mané on 16 May 2015 for Southampton against Aston Villa, who scored three goals in two minutes and 56 seconds. [ 13 ] He scored braces against Aston Villa, Ipswich Town, Chelsea and Norwich City in the league that season. Fowler was voted the PFA Young Player of the year in two back-to-back years in 1995 and 1996, [ 14 ] a feat besides achieved alone by Ryan Giggs, Wayne Rooney and Dele Alli. [ 15 ] [ 16 ] Throughout the mid and recently 1990s, Fowler was wide considered to be the most natural finisher playing in England. [ 17 ] Fowler sealed this reputation as he scored more than 30 goals for three straight seasons, up to 1997. He remains the only player to have scored 30 asset goals in his first three full seasons in England scoring 98 goals with a sum of 116 in fair over three years. Fowler ‘s partnership with Steve McManaman was largely described as the rationality why Liverpool had become the clubhouse known for being the most potent attacking wedge in England at the meter, [ 18 ] and Fowler was renowned for scoring goals of all varieties, from every fish and distance, with McManaman describing him as the “ greatest goalscorer of all time ”. [ 19 ] Stan Collymore, Fowler ‘s regular strike spouse for two seasons from 1995, said in his autobiography that Fowler was the best player he has ever played aboard. Fowler and Collymore were among the most fecund goal-scoring rap partnerships in England during the 1995–96 season, with £8.4million signing Collymore replacing the veteran Ian Rush as Fowler ‘s even spouse in attack after his arrival in June 1995. In the lapp season, he scored doubly in a 4–3 victory over Newcastle United, a catch voted the best of the decade in a Premier League poll. The equal helped prevent Newcastle from winning the league, but it was not enough for Liverpool to clinch the title ; they finished third base while Manchester United were crowned champions. Fowler besides played in his first FA Cup final that temper, but was on the misplace side as Manchester United won 1–0. He had scored four goals against United in the league that season, scoring twice in a 2–2 describe at Old Trafford on 1 October 1995, and doubly in a 2–0 gain at Anfield on 16 December. [ 20 ] Fowler received a call-up to the full moon England squad and won his first cap on 27 March 1996 as a substitute in a friendly against Bulgaria. [ 14 ] His first begin at international level was against Croatia which was the England game following his substitute appearance. Fowler was separate of the England squad for Euro 1996, making two appearances in the tournament. [ 21 ] On 14 December 1996, he scored four against Middlesbrough, including his hundredth for Liverpool. This mean he reached a century of goals one game quick than his first gear strike partner, Ian Rush, in just 165 games. [ citation needed ] That year, he besides won a UEFA Fair Play award for denying that he had been fouled by Arsenal goalkeeper David Seaman at Highbury after a punishment had been given. [ 22 ] After unsuccessfully trying to persuade the referee to change his decision about the penalty, Fowler took it tamely and Seaman saved. however, Seaman failed to hold on to the ball and Jason McAteer scored from the rebound. [ 23 ] Although many people believe that he intentionally took the penalty kick ill for reasons of fair act, Fowler said at the time : “ As a goalscorer it ‘s part of my speculate to take it and I wanted to score it. I tried to score. I never missed on aim. It just happened, it was a bad penalty. ” [ 24 ]
Spice Boys [edit ]
Fowler was part of a group of Liverpool players from the mid-1990s who were dubbed “ The Spice Boys “ by the press following a series of off-field controversies. The terminus was coined by the Daily Mail, and arise ascribable to misplaced rumours that Fowler was dating Spice Girl Emma Bunton. [ 25 ] The term was subsequently used in a derogative manner, implying Fowler and colleagues such as Jamie Redknapp, Stan Collymore, David James and Steve McManaman were underachieve playboys. silent, Liverpool were top of the Premier League by Christmas 1996. By the end of January, however, they had been leapfrogged by Manchester United, who remained top for the respite of the season. Fowler ‘s performance in the 1997–98 football temper was marred by an front tooth cruciate ( stifle ) ligament wound that kept him out of action for half of the season and caused him to miss the 1998 World Cup. [ 26 ] During this time period of injury, boyfriend Liverpool striker, Michael Owen rose to prominence, making his debut in 1997. Owen established himself in the Liverpool team in Fowler ‘s absence and played aboard him when Fowler regained his fitness. In 1999, Fowler was fined £60,000 by his clubhouse for bringing the game into disrepute. While celebrating his goal against Liverpool ‘s Merseyside rivals, Everton, Fowler used the white line of the penalty sphere to simulate cocaine use. [ 14 ] [ 27 ] Liverpool director Gérard Houllier stated that this was a cameroonian grass-eating celebration, learn from teammate Rigobert Song. [ 28 ] Defending himself, Fowler later said this was a reception to Everton fans who had insulted him with faithlessly accusations of drug abuse. Fowler received a four-match suspension from the FA for this incidental. At the same FA disciplinary hearing, Fowler received a further two-match suspension due to a separate incident in which he had homophobically taunted the Chelsea defender Graeme Le Saux by waving his buttocks at him as Le Saux ‘s wife and children watched from the stands. Fowler late attempted to justify his actions by suggesting his taunts were simply an extension of gamesmanship. The FA imposed a £32,000 finely and a six-match prohibition for the two incidents. [ 29 ] While Fowler sent a “ letter of apology “ to Le Saux for the incidental, Le Saux retained that it was “ not an apology ”. [ 30 ]
Winning the cup ternary [edit ]
The 2000–01 season was Fowler ‘s most successful season. He scored 17 goals, appeared in three finals, and lifted three trophies in a alone cup ternary. [ 31 ] In the absence of Jamie Redknapp, who was sidelined by injury, Fowler was named as Liverpool captain when he started. [ 9 ] however he found himself the third-choice Liverpool striker, with Houllier favouring a forward partnership of Michael Owen and Emile Heskey. [ 9 ] He took part in a fourth-round League Cup hammer of Stoke City, scoring a hat-trick in an 8–0 victory, which was irregular only to the golf club ‘s biggest ever win in 1986 – a 10–0 frustration of Fulham. [ 32 ] In the League Cup final against Birmingham City, the club ‘s beginning cup final since 1996, he captained the english and scored in the thirtieth minute. Liverpool went on to win the trophy on penalties, with Fowler scoring Liverpool ‘s fifth in the gunfight. 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 one against fugitive champions Manchester United and a exempt kick in the FA Cup semi-final against Wycombe Wanderers. Fowler featured as a ersatz in the 2001 FA Cup Final coming on as a 77th-minute substitute for Vladimír Šmicer. Liverpool, who were 1–0 down at that distributor point, finally won the game 2–1 with two goals from Owen. Fowler raised the trophy along with Sami Hyypiä and Jamie Redknapp. Four days late he was a ersatz again in Liverpool ‘s third gear concluding, the 2001 UEFA Cup Final against Deportivo Alavés. He came on in the 64th minute for Heskey with the score at 3–3. He scored seven minutes late but Alavés equalised before full-time and Liverpool finally won with a golden finish, an own finish, in the 116th minute. [ 33 ] Fowler and Hyypiä then raised Liverpool ‘s third base trophy of the season together. Liverpool ‘s following and final game of the season was against Charlton Athletic and Fowler scored twice in a 4–0 victory at The Valley that assured them UEFA Champions League qualification for the next season. [ 34 ]
Liverpool departure [edit ]
Fowler began the 2001–02 season controversially, after being dropped by the then coach Gérard Houllier from the Liverpool police squad for the 2001 Charity Shield equal, following a coach background confrontation with adjunct coach Phil Thompson. [ 35 ] He made an appearance in Liverpool ‘s 3–2 european Super Cup victory over Bayern Munich, [ 36 ] but starts were intermittent. In October 2001, he scored his foremost league hat-trick for three years, helping Liverpool beat Leicester City 4–1, but was dropped for the follow league equal. Though Fowler had been on a condense reference from 1999 ( unlike Steve McManaman – who exercised his Bosman entitlement the identical same class ), Fowler was linked to Lazio, Arsenal and Leeds United, and Liverpool ‘s management vitamin a well as fans and the media constantly reported that what happened with McManaman ( regarded as a huge fiscal loss ) would never be repeated and therefore the golf club never rejected those bids without consideration. [ 37 ] This mean that coupled with Fowler ‘s kinship with Houllier, speculation over Fowler ‘s future persisted for most of Houllier ‘s tenure and became an write out that divided Liverpool fans. [ 38 ] [ 39 ] His survive appearance for Liverpool was against Sunderland, in which he was substituted at half-time. [ 40 ] [ 41 ]
Leeds United [edit ]
Despite his popularity with Liverpool fans, who referred to Fowler as “ God ”, [ 42 ] Michael Owen and Emile Heskey had established themselves as Liverpool ‘s regular hit partnership, leaving Fowler on the fringes of the inaugural team. This, along with his difficult relationship with Houllier, made him seek unconstipated first team football aside from Anfield in the form of a £12 million move to Leeds United. [ 43 ] 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. [ 44 ] The transfer went ahead just one calendar month after his hat-trick at Leicester. He made his Leeds debut in an away crippled against Fulham in December 2001, [ 45 ] the lapp grind where he had made his Liverpool introduction eight years earlier. Fowler scored 12 goals in the end of the season, helping Leeds to a UEFA Cup qualifying place. Fowler was included in the England team for the 2002 World Cup, but merely made one appearance, coming on as a ersatz in a second-round gain over Denmark. Fowler suffered an aggravation of a preexistent hip injury in the 2002–03 pre-season, and did not recover until December. [ 43 ] Struggling to gain fitness, and seeing teammates sold off due to a fiscal crisis, Fowler ‘s form and commercialize value diminished. It was despite this decrease in form that he calm, in full, scored 15 goals in 31 appearances for Leeds ; achieving an impressive strike pace of just less than one goal every two games. In 2002–03, Leeds finished 15th in the Premier League and a hard fiscal crisis was developing .
Manchester City [edit ]
In the 2002–03 temper, Fowler was transferred to Manchester City following a drawn-out transplant saga. Fowler initially turned down the motion and a dispute between Manchester City director Kevin Keegan and chair David Bernstein over whether the transfer should take place ascribable to aesculapian concerns resulted in Bernstein leaving the golf club. [ 46 ] Following encouragement from Keegan, Fowler last signed for Manchester City on 16 January 2003 for an initial fee of £3 million and a foster £3 million dependent upon appearances. [ 14 ] Bizarre remove conditions meant Leeds United still paid a meaning proportion of Fowler ‘s wages. [ 47 ] Fowler made his Manchester City debut against West Bromwich Albion on 1 February 2003, [ 48 ] 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 seaworthiness problems in the 2003–04 temper, completing the full 90 minutes lone nine times, however, he did score against his old golf club, Liverpool, in a 2–2 tie at dwelling. The arrival of airless supporter Steve McManaman from Real Madrid gave Fowler hope, but the pair failed to rekindle their prolific partnership from their time at Liverpool, and received criticism from the fans and tabloids for their salaries and alleged excesses ; [ 49 ] they were named and shamed in a sexual activity scandal covered by the News of the World [ 50 ] that year. Despite the slump, Fowler rallied for the follow crusade, and showed a score improvement in the second half of the 2004–05 season, scoring his 150th Premiership goal in the 3–2 winnings over Norwich City on 28 February 2005. however, his failure to convert a 90th-minute punishment kick against Middlesbrough ‘s Mark Schwarzer in the final game of the season prevented Manchester City from gaining a locate in the UEFA Cup. [ 51 ] Despite this, Fowler ended the season as the baseball club ‘s joint top goal scorekeeper and gained the approval of the fans, finishing in the top three in the fans ‘ Player of the Year pate. [ 52 ] Fowler later described this as “ one of the proudest achievements of my career ”. [ 53 ] 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 temper. His first startle of the season came against Scunthorpe United in the FA Cup on 7 January 2006, in which he scored a hat-trick. [ 54 ] The following workweek he scored Manchester City ‘s third goal in their 3–1 winnings against local anesthetic rivals Manchester United after coming on as a substitute. however, Fowler made entirely one more appearance for Manchester City before returning to Liverpool on a free transfer. [ 55 ]
return to Liverpool [edit ]
Fowler act for Liverpool in 2007 On 27 January 2006, Fowler rejoined Liverpool from Manchester City on a loose transfer, signing a contract until the end of the temper. Fowler had remained a Liverpool fan after he left the baseball club ; he was in the Istanbul crowd when Liverpool won the Champions League in 2005. liverpool fans were delighted to learn that Fowler had returned ; there were large banners in the game against Birmingham City which read ‘God – number eleven, welcome back to eden ‘, with ‘God ‘ being Fowler ‘s nickname while he was previously at Liverpool. Fowler ‘s hark back against Birmingham City in February 2006 was labelled by the tabloid press as the stuff of fairytales, [ citation needed ] and he said he felt like “ a kid waking up on Christmas dawn every day ”. [ 42 ] Fowler ‘s first appearance back at Anfield was as a alternate against Birmingham, receiving a standing ovation upon his introduction. [ 56 ] After his restitution, he had three goals ruled out for offside, before finally getting off the scar 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 following Liverpool finish, against West Bromwich Albion, meant he overtook Kenny Dalglish in the club ‘s all-time top scorers. His revival continued as he marked his thirty-first birthday with a goal against Bolton Wanderers. He made it four goals in five games when he scored the lone goal in a 1–0 victory over Blackburn Rovers on 16 April 2006. however, Fowler ‘s fitness remained a business. In March 2006, coach Rafael Benítez commented on Fowler ‘s work and advance by saying, “ to buy a Robbie Fowler who is meet and seduce goals would cost a distribute, possibly £10m or more ”. Despite concerns about his seaworthiness, Fowler finished the 2005–06 season scoring on a more consistent basis than Liverpool ‘s other strikers. In May 2006 he was offered a modern annual contract with the club, [ 57 ] and celebrated by scoring the first goal in Liverpool ‘s end league game of the season in a 3–1 away win at Portsmouth. It was his final bet on of the season as he was unable to take character in the club ‘s FA Cup Final success due to being cup-tied. Fowler featured rarely in his final examination Liverpool season, making merely six league starts. Bizarrely, all three of his League goals were penalties against Sheffield United. One of these was in the off game on the open day of the season, and the other two in the inverse fixture at Anfield. Appearances in other competitions were more common due to Rafael Benítez ‘s team rotation policy. On 25 October 2006 Fowler was named as Liverpool ‘s captain for the first time since his revert in a League Cup tie against Reading, scoring good before half-time in a 4–3 succeed. On 5 December, Fowler scored his inaugural two goals in the UEFA Champions League rival proper against Galatasaray ( he had previously scored during a qualifying tie some six years anterior against FC Haka ), [ 58 ] [ 59 ] though Liverpool lost 3–2. On 1 May 2007, he was a stand-in 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 shooting 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 examination spot-kick, but the game had already ended when Kuyt slotted home his winning penalty. [ 60 ] In what transpired to be his last appearance for the golf club, against Charlton Athletic on 13 May, Fowler was given the captain ‘s armband one final time. He was substituted two minutes from the concluding whistle and given a standing ovation. He finished his irregular hunt as a Liverpool actor with a UEFA Champions League runner-up decoration, although he was not named in either the starting football team or the seven substitutes. He became a loose agent on 1 July having scored 183 goals in 369 appearances during his two spells at the club. [ 8 ]
Cardiff City [edit ]
On 21 July 2007 Fowler signed a biennial compress to play for Cardiff City. [ 61 ] He missed the season ‘s open fixtures due to a miss of fitness, [ 62 ] making his debut in a League Cup tie on 28 August. [ 63 ] He scored his first base two Cardiff goals on 22 September against Preston North End, scoring with two headers. [ 64 ] Fowler scored doubly in his adjacent game, a third base orotund League Cup tie against West Brom, which Cardiff won 4–2. [ 65 ] This led to a one-fourth turn tie against Fowler ‘s early clubhouse Liverpool, at Anfield, to which even the Liverpool close crowd urged Fowler to score seeing that it may be the last time he would play in Anfield but Cardiff were knocked out in a 2–1 defeat. [ 66 ] In November, Fowler travelled to Frankfurt, Germany to see Dr. Hans-Wilhelm Müller-Wohlfahrt, a specialist sports injuries doctor, to try and resolve a recurring hip trouble that had left him lacking fitness in early season fixtures for the Bluebirds. [ 67 ] The treatment involved taking around twenty-eight injections into his hip. He returned to full aim in late November and made his rejoinder on 15 December as a belated ersatz in a 1–0 get the better of against Bristol City. [ 68 ] however he went on to suffer another injury shock just days later after a mistime fishing gear in prepare from baseball club captain Darren Purse left him with damaged ankle ligaments. [ 69 ] [ 70 ] due to the new injury blow out Cardiff and Fowler made plans for him to go to Colorado, United States to undergo keyhole surgery on the hip problem, which had plagued him in late seasons, in the hope that it would finally resolve the problem. [ 71 ] On 17 January 2008, it was announced that Fowler could miss the rest of the 2007–08 season for Cardiff after his hip operation revealed that the injury was worse than previously thought. Surgeons were forced to perform a micro-fracture for the hip to heal properly. [ 72 ] Despite this, he attempted to make a rejoinder at the end of the season to play in the FA Cup final against Portsmouth and was included in the 18-man pit team. [ 73 ] He did not feature in the game in and therefore did not receive a runner-up decoration having not made an appearance in the competition. [ 74 ]
Blackburn Rovers [edit ]
Fowler was offered a new pay-as-you-play contract with Cardiff for the 2008–09 season in May 2008 and was expected to sign the sign. however, he pulled away of the bargain, preferring to accept an offer of a trial at Blackburn Rovers from former Liverpool colleague Paul Ince. The move left Cardiff director Dave Jones and president Peter Ridsdale angered after the club had assisted Fowler ‘s reclamation throughout the summer. After training with Blackburn and appearing in a handful of friendlies he was offered a six-month consider by the club to last until January, but Fowler turned down the cope due to it being a short offer than the previous one he had rejected at Cardiff. After turning down the offer, Fowler made a shock question about returning to Cardiff on the deal he had originally turned down, prompting wrath from supporters and a swift “ no thanks ” from the club. [ 75 ] Fowler concluded the trial period at Blackburn by agreeing to a three-month pay-as-you-play deal. [ 76 ] [ 77 ] He stated that he was eager to return to the Premier League and that his preexistent relationship with Ince would not earn him any discriminatory discussion. [ 76 ] He made his beginning appearance against Everton in a 1–0 win in the League Cup on 24 September. [ 78 ] With a month left on his contract at Blackburn, Fowler received interest from League Two side Grimsby Town. Fowler, a friend of then Grimsby director Mike Newell had held talks at Blundell Park over a possible Player/Coach role with the club. [ 79 ] His three-month distribute at Blackburn expired on 12 December 2008, [ 80 ] and after not being offered a new contract was released by the cabaret, [ 81 ] he entered talks with modern australian A-League club North Queensland Fury. [ 82 ]
North Queensland Fury [edit ]
Fowler signed with the North Queensland Fury on 4 February 2009 and became their inaugural pavilion player ; with his family relocating to Townsville for the 2009–10 season of the australian A-League. [ 83 ] It was an authoritative sign for the new franchise who struggled to sign a marquee player, while some questioned whether Fowler would be able to cope with the heat and humidity of North Queensland. [ 84 ] Fowler made his debut in July 2009 in a 2–1 pre-season personnel casualty against Wolverhampton Wanderers in Perth after recovering from groin and hip complaints. [ 85 ] Fowler was subsequently named North Queensland Fury ‘s master for the 2009–10 season and the foremost [ citation needed ] in the cabaret ‘s history. He scored his inaugural A-League goal from a punishment recoil in his club ‘s inaugural competitive couple against Sydney FC on Saturday 8 August 2009. In rounds four, five, and six Fowler scored Solo’s Hyundai A-League Goal of the Week. concisely after his arrival in Australia, it was reported in the british media that Fowler would be making a swift render to his fatherland and sign for League One side Tranmere Rovers, who had just appointed Fowler ‘s early Liverpool teammate John Barnes as coach. however, Fowler was promptly to dismiss talk of a quick return to England. [ 86 ] When Barnes was dismissed three months later, it was reported that Tranmere had approached Fowler about becoming player-manager, but these reports besides were dismissed. [ 87 ] controversy erupted around Fowler after he reportedly refused to play against the Brisbane Roar on 23 January after being named on the interchange terrace for the clang. [ 88 ] He, however, returned to the start line up for two of the last three games of the season. Fowler ended the season collecting a hat-trick of awards at the golf club ‘s end-of-season awards night, he was awarded the baseball club ‘s Player of the year, Players ‘ Player of the year and the Golden Boot as top goal scorer. [ 89 ] On 15 June 2010, Fowler confirmed that he was taking legal action over the ending of his playing contract with North Queensland Fury. He was suing the Fury and Football Federation Australia, which took over the run of the club. [ 90 ]
Perth Glory [edit ]
On 27 April 2010, it was announced that Fowler had agreed to become separate of Glory ‘s squad for the 2010–11 A-League season. [ 91 ] [ 92 ] Fowler reportedly ignored offers from Middle East clubs a well as Sydney FC to play in Perth. He joined the Glory for pre-season training in mid-june, postdate World Cup sponsorship commitments. Fowler scored his first goal for Perth on 29 August, a penalty against Melbourne Heart. He followed this up with a headed goal the following workweek against the Wellington Phoenix. In the postdate match, Fowler ‘s hat-trick gave the Glory a 3–1 victory against Melbourne Victory at the Dairy Farmers Stadium in Townsville. Fowler ended the year as circus tent scorer for the club .
late career [edit ]
On returning to England, Fowler concisely worked with League One side Milton Keynes Dons on an ad hoc basis to assist the club ‘s coaching staff. On 7 April 2011, Bury confirmed that Fowler would join their coach staff for a week to assist Richie Barker. [ 93 ] Fowler then briefly coached Liverpool ‘s strikers in April 2011. On 7 July 2011, Fowler agreed to play with Muangthong United, signing a annual abridge. In a press conference he stated that the weather conditions of Nonthaburi should not be a problem as he had played in Townsville and Perth. He was quickly a hit with Muangthong fans and the Thai public in general ; he attended Thailand ‘s World Cup Qualifier against Oman wearing the national team ‘s shirt. He has since played a handful of scoreless games, both at the Yamaha Stadium and on the road in the AFC Cup, until the Twin Qilins were eliminated from the contest by Al-Kuwait. After the sacking of Henrique Calisto as fountainhead coach, Fowler was made player/coach. [ 94 ] [ 95 ] [ 96 ] [ 97 ] [ 98 ] On 16 October 2011, after 250 minutes of play, Fowler scored his first finish for MTU against Chiangrai. He scored his 250th club career goal on 21 December 2011 against TTM Phichit. On 28 February 2012, Fowler announced he had left the club following Slavisa Jokanovic ‘s appointment as coach. [ 99 ] On 1 March 2012, Blackpool coach Ian Holloway confirmed that Fowler was training with the Seasiders and that he could earn a deal until the goal of the temper. [ 100 ] however, they could not agree a deal and Fowler decided against signing when Karl Oyston offered the hitter £100 a workweek with £5,000 for every first-team appearance. [ 101 ] On 22 September 2012, Fowler announced that he is “ all but retired from professional football. ” He said this on the television display Soccer AM. In an interview in March 2013, he said that he was “ not officially retired ” and would “ jump at the opportunity to play again. ” Fowler has besides stated in other interviews that he is presently completing his coach licences. Fowler was on a six-man shortlist and interviewed for the vacant coach ‘s job at Conference side Macclesfield Town in May 2013, [ 102 ] but caretaker director John Askey was finally appointed on a full-time basis. [ 103 ] Fowler featured in Steven Gerrard ‘s recommendation meet against Olympiacos F.C. on 3 August 2013. He came off the bench in the 73rd moment to a quick reception [ 104 ] from Liverpool fans, but failed to score a goal. [ 105 ] On 21 April 2014, Fowler besides featured in a charity match to commemorate the lives of the 96 Liverpool fans who died in the Hillsborough Disaster. Fowler scored both goals for his team in a 2–2 draw. On 2 January 2015, Fowler tweeted “ Gutted about Steven, but what an incredible actor … I ‘m formally hanging my boots up as from immediately … A sad day for me ” [ 106 ] and then formally announced his retirement. In May 2016, it was revealed that Fowler would return to the pitch to play for England in Soccer Aid, a jacob’s ladder football match in care of UNICEF, aboard Jamie Carragher. [ 107 ]
International career [edit ]
Fowler earned his first crown for England on 27 March 1996, coming on as a 76th-minute substitute in the 1–0 friendly succeed against Bulgaria at Wembley Stadium. [ 108 ] On 24 April, he won his irregular capital and made his first start for England in the 0–0 attract with Croatia. [ 109 ] Despite only having 3 caps to his name, England director Terry Venables selected Fowler in his 22-man team for Euro 1996. [ 110 ] Fowler went on to make two substitute appearances in the tournament, featuring in the 4–1 winnings against the Netherlands in the final examination group plot, [ 111 ] and in the 0–0 draw against Spain in the quarter-finals, a game England won on penalties. [ 112 ]
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Fowler did not feature of speech during England ‘s qualifying campaign for the 1998 FIFA World Cup, chiefly due to a serious knee ligament injury deep in the 1997–98 season, [ 113 ] [ 114 ] and thus missed out on Glenn Hoddle ‘s 22-man squad for the tournament. [ 115 ] He did, however, do to score his first goal for his country on 29 March 1997, netting the second goal in a 2–0 friendly acquire against Mexico at Wembley Stadium. [ 116 ] A irregular goal followed in his next cap on 15 November, netting just before half-time in the 2–0 friendly acquire against Cameroon. [ 114 ] [ 117 ] On 9 June 1999, Fowler played in his foremost competitive game for England in about three years, [ 114 ] starting in the 1–1 draw with Bulgaria during Euro 2000 qualifying. [ 118 ] Kevin Keegan named Fowler in the preliminary team for Euro 2000, [ 119 ] and after featuring in the three warm-up games against Brazil, [ 120 ] Ukraine, [ 121 ] and Malta, [ 122 ] he was named in the final examination police squad on 1 June 2000. [ 123 ] Fowler did not play in the tournament as England were eliminated in the group stages. [ 114 ] [ 124 ] fowler scored his fourth goal for England on 25 May 2001, netting the second finish in the 4–0 friendly acquire against Mexico at Pride Park, Derby. [ 125 ] On 5 September, he scored his first competitive goal for England in the 2–0 gain against Albania at St James ‘ Park, Newcastle. [ 126 ] This was during qualifying for the 2002 FIFA World Cup. [ 126 ] England qualified for the World Cup, and after scoring in friendlies against Italy [ 127 ] and Cameroon, [ 128 ] Fowler was selected in Sven-Göran Eriksson ‘s 23-man squad for the tournament in South Korea and Japan. [ 129 ] He did n’t appear in any of England ‘s group matches, [ 114 ] but on 15 June 2002, he came on as a second-half utility in the 3–0 win against Denmark in the Round of 16. [ 130 ] This turned out to be Fowler ‘s last cap for his state. [ 114 ] He won a sum of 26 caps for England and scored 7 goals. [ 114 ]
Managerial career [edit ]
Muangthong United [edit ]
On 1 October 2011, Fowler was appointed as the coach of Muangthong United, where he was already an existing player. [ 94 ] [ 95 ] [ 96 ] [ 97 ] [ 98 ] Muangthong had taken military action and sacked Henrique Calisto ; a statement made by the club read, “ The dining table have appointed Robbie Fowler as the acting read/write head coach and have terminated the contract of Portuguese boss Henrique Calisto. The condense is until the end of the season and the team must adapt to long-run goals if it is to succeed in Asia ”, frankincense making Fowler player-manager. [ 94 ] [ 95 ] [ 96 ] [ 97 ] [ 98 ] In October 2013, it was announced that Fowler would be taking up a coach role with Liverpool ‘s academy. [ 131 ] On 9 September 2014, it was reported that Fowler had applied for the vacant managerial function at his former baseball club Leeds United. [ 132 ] [ 133 ]
Brisbane Roar [edit ]
On 23 April 2019, it was announced by australian Hyundai A-League club Brisbane Roar that Fowler had signed a biennial narrow to act as the club ‘s new head passenger car ahead of the forthcoming 2019–20 season. [ 134 ] [ 135 ] Upon his appointment, it was besides announced that Tony Grant and Darren Davies would be joining his coaching staff, with Davies having acted as caretaker director anterior to Fowler ‘s arrival. [ 136 ] To mark the managerial contrast, Brisbane announced a major clear-out during the off-season, where fourteen senior players were released, notably marquee actor Eric Bautheac. [ 137 ] [ 138 ] Fowler then made his first sign as a director in June, when Roy O’Donovan signed from Newcastle United Jets. [ 139 ] Fowler ‘s first competitive meet in charge came in a 2–0 thriller, which ended in Brisbane ‘s party favor against reigning A-League champions Sydney on 7 August in the FFA Cup. [ 140 ] Independently, Fowler won the league ‘s Coach of the Month award for January and February 2020. [ 141 ] [ 142 ] With play halted as a resultant role of the COVID-19 pandemic for the past three months, Fowler announced his decision to leave the club, stating that he was unwilling to be apart from his class ; he and Grant had returned to England in March. [ 143 ]
East Bengal [edit ]
On 9 October 2020, amerind Super League side SC East Bengal announced the bless of Fowler as their newly director. [ 144 ] Under him they collected seventeen points from beginning eighteen league fixtures and were placed one-ninth of eleven. All India Football Federation ‘s ( AIFF ) corrective committee issued a four-match banish and a solid fine of ₹5 hundred thousand ( US $ 6,600 ) against Fowler during the 2020–21 temper, for involvement in a verbal discrepancy with the match officials and league organizers after their equal with FC Goa .
style of act [edit ]
A fecund goal-scorer, Fowler was a quick and opportunist striker, with good technical foul ability. Although naturally left-footed, he possessed an accurate, mighty dart from both inside and outside the sphere with both feet ; he was besides effective in the air. [ 146 ] [ 147 ] Despite his reputation as a “ goal-poacher ”, he was besides a creative forward, able of linking up well with other players, and laying off the musket ball to other strikers. [ 148 ] [ 149 ] Despite his endowment, he was besides known to be injury-prone throughout his career. [ 150 ]
In his play career, Fowler was sponsored by the sportswear party Nike, and appeared in Nike commercials. [ 151 ] In 1997 he starred in Nike ‘s “ Park Life ” commercial ( set to the tune “ Parklife “ by Blur ) where a group of amateur public house league players playing football at Hackney Marshes in east London are suddenly joined by top Premier League footballers, including Fowler, Eric Cantona and Ian Wright. [ 151 ] In 2000, “ Park Life ” ranked phone number 15 in Channel 4 ‘s poll of the 100 Greatest television receiver Ads. [ 152 ]
personal life [edit ]
Fowler married wife Kerrie on 9 June 2001 in the town of Duns, scottish Borders in Scotland. together they have three daughters [ 153 ] and one son. Fowler is a supporter of Liverpool F.C. and regularly attends matches at Anfield. He does media work for Abu Dhabi Sports Channel, Sky Sports and ITV. In association with long-run ally Steve McManaman, Fowler has invested in respective racehorses through their company The Macca and Growler Partnership, most notably 2003 Queen Elizabeth the Queen Mother Celebration Chase runner-up Seebald. [ 154 ] In 2005, Fowler was listed as one of the 1,000 wealthiest Britons by the Sunday Times Rich List, with the paper estimating he has a place portfolio of more than 80, while his Robbie Fowler Sports Promotions party has been reported to have net assets of £1.58 million. [ 155 ] other occupation interests including a boastfully property portfolio have resulted in Fowler ‘s net wealth totaling £28 million. [ 156 ] This gave heighten to the affectionate Manchester City Football Club chant, “ We all live in a Robbie Fowler house ”, sung to the tune of “ Yellow Submarine “. [ 44 ] On 2 September 2005, Fowler released a book called Fowler: My Autobiography, about his clock as a football player and the issues surrounding him. Since his transfer to Liverpool, he has updated it and included a incision about his return to Anfield. Excerpts published in newspapers included criticism of the England management. In June 2008, Fowler participated aboard McManaman in Steve Nash and Claudio Reyna ‘s Showdown in Chinatown, an 8-on-8 charity football game at Sara D. Roosevelt Park in Manhattan with McManaman making five of the goals, including one for Fowler. [ 157 ] In 2011, Fowler and McManaman participated in a Select World XI against Chechen dictator Ramzan Kadyrov and his choice XI in a populace relations fundraiser in the war-torn nation ‘s capital of Grozny. [ 158 ] The match caused much wardrobe bewilderment in the western world, chiefly due to Kadyrov ‘s abysmal human rights criminal record and know practices of torture and rape as weapons of rule. [ 159 ] british press besides cited the practice of and payment of footballers to parade the event as particularly “ evil ”, with The Guardian labelling it “ Football ‘s here and now in Bed with Kadyrov ”. [ 160 ] Fowler is a cousin of boxer and 2014 Commonwealth Games aureate medalist Anthony Fowler. [ 161 ]
career statistics [edit ]
clubhouse [edit ]
Sources : [ 162 ] [ 163 ]
International [edit ]
Sources : [ 164 ]
Appearances and goals by national team and year
National team
Year
Apps
Goals
England
1996
5
0
1997
2
2
1998
1
0
1999
3
0
2000
4
1
2001
7
2
2002
4
2
Total
26
7
International goals
- England score listed first, score column indicates score after each Fowler’s goal.
managerial [edit ]
- As of 8 September 2021
Team
From
To
Record
Source
G
W
D
L
Win %
Muangthong United
1 October 2011
31 January 2012
13
4
4
5
0 30.77
[166]
Brisbane Roar
23 April 2019
29 June 2020
24
11
5
8
0 45.83
[167]
East Bengal
9 October 2020
8 September 2021
20
3
8
9
0 15.00
Total
57
18
17
22
0 31.58
—
Honours [edit ]
golf club [edit ]
Liverpool
International [edit ]
England U18
person [edit ]
References [edit ]
bibliography [edit ]
- Fowler, Robbie; Maddock, David (2005). Fowler: My Autobiography. London: Macmillan. ISBN 1-4050-5132-9.
- Fowler, Robbie (2019). Robbie Fowler: My Life In Football: Goals, Glory & The Lessons I’ve Learnt. London: Blink Publishing. ISBN 978-1788701105.