Kevin Keegan was the last Englishman to win the prestigious European award way back in 1979, and Owen, still only 22, says the recognition only makes him more determined to star alongside the best in the world this summer.

I can hardly put into words what it feels like," said Owen.

"People keep asking what I can do next after winning this at such an early age, but there are plenty of targets for me, like the title for a start and then the World Cup.

"You don't know how much it means to me to be mentioned in the same breath as the greatest names in English football."

Liverpool won five trophies in 2001 but it was also Owen's hat-trick for England in Germany that swayed a lot of voters.