The Curious Case of Owen Hargreaves - Balancing Identity & Injuries During an Incredible, Ephemeral Career
Manchester United signed Owen Hargreaves in 2007 with one clear goal in mind; to win the Champions League for the first time in almost a decade. Just 12 months later, Sir Alex Ferguson was able to get his hands on Europe's most prestigious trophy for what would prove to be one final time. Hargreaves was vital in United's success that season, but little did he know it would be the penultimate time he'd ever complete a full game of football. Hargreaves' journey to the winners' podium in Moscow wasn't easy. In fact, from an early age, it was almost impossible to imagine he'd ever become a professional footballer, let alone win the Champions League with both Bayern Munich and Manchester United . His upbringing was as English as it gets. Roast dinners on Sunday and cups of tea were as common for Hargreaves as they were for most families in Old Blighty, only his came 4,000 miles away in western Canada. Like almost everyone else growing up in North America, Harg...