Robbie Fowler Opens Up About His Experience Playing for England
Robbie Fowler, the former Liverpool and Leeds star, recently revealed that playing for England was often a demoralizing experience for him. Despite earning 26 caps and scoring seven goals for the Three Lions, Fowler found himself down the pecking order during his career.
Competing with Football Legends
Fowler had to compete with renowned strikers such as Alan Shearer, Teddy Sheringham, Ian Wright, and Michael Owen for a place in the national team. Although he was a clinical forward in the Premier League, scoring an impressive 163 goals, his prolific form did not translate into regular game time for England.
A Feeling of Being Overlooked
In a recent interview on William Hill’s podcast, “Up Front with Simon Jordan,” Fowler admitted that he often felt down about never getting a fair chance to prove himself. He stated, “I didn’t enjoy playing for England because I never played enough. When I did play, I loved it, but I always had the feeling that I was just a bit-part player.”
Fowler played for England 26 times but only started 11 of those matches and completed the full game in just four of those starts. He expressed his frustration, saying, “I don’t think I really got a decent chance. The managers at that time obviously believed that other players were better than me, but I didn’t agree then, and I still don’t now.”
Transition to Management
Since retiring from playing in 2012, Fowler has ventured into management. However, his most recent stint with Saudi outfit Al-Qadsiah came to an end earlier this year when he was sacked.
Despite his mixed experience with the national team, Fowler remains a respected figure in football and continues to make valuable contributions to the sport.