Michael Owen says father was driving force and reveals son's blindness

Former European player of the year Michael Owen says he owes his success to his father, who insisted he was given steak for dinner as a child while his four siblings made do with baked beans on toast.

The 39-year-old former Liverpool and England striker told The Times he even climbed into the boxing ring because his father Terry said he needed to "toughen up".

Despite this Owen, who won both his bouts, tweeted on Wednesday on his father's 70th birthday he was "the kindest man I ever met".

"I was the only one allowed a steak on a Tuesday," said Owen.

"My dad said, 'You're all having beans on toast, Michael's got to have steak because we need to build him up for when he's going to be a footballer.'
"I'd prefer to die than my dad to think I'm second best."
- 'Clinically he's blind' -
===========================