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#3 Michael Owen
Michael Owen is the story of many achievements, yet fans hope what more the Premier League star could have achieved. He was the poster boy for success at Liverpool, where he began his career. He won individual and club honors for the Merseyside club and moved to Real Madrid, which kick-started his career's downfall.
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Spells at Newcastle United and Manchester United followed. Owen had signed for Manchester United as a free agent, but his performances were somewhat satisfactory. It was his spell at Stoke City, where he joined in 2012, that backfired massively.
Owen signed for Premier League side Stoke City in 2012 as a free agent on a one-year contract. He made his debut against Manchester City but soon ended up with a hamstring injury.
His one season at Stoke was filled with injuries as he could manage only eight Premier League appearances. Owen scored only once and announced his retirement after that season.
#2 Robert Pires
Robert Pires' free agent signing is a sorry story of age taking its toll on a world-class footballer. Pires has an incredible legacy at Arsenal, where he was one of the most important players and won many honors with the club. He then left the Premier League to join La Liga side Villareal.
Pires signed for Gerrard Houllier's Aston Villa as a free agent in 2010. He made his return to the Premier League as a second-half substitute against Blackburn Rovers.
His first goal for VIlla came in the FA Cup, and he had a couple of praiseworthy performances. Pires even informed his will to stay for another season, but it was evident that age had taken over him, and Villa released him after his six-month contract was over.
#1 Ian Rush
Ian Rush is considered among one of the greatest ever players in the Premier League, and his exploits for Liverpool are well documented. He won five first-division league titles on Merseyside along with the European Cup and FA Cup. However, his transition to the Premier League era was rough, with the first signs of age showing up.
In 1996, Rush signed as a free agent for Leeds United, who had just finished 13th in the previous campaign. Rush bid an emotional farewell at Anfield as he set his eyes on beginning his career at Elland Road.
Unlike the former names who battled injuries, Rush was a regular at Leeds and made 36 appearances in the Premier League. But Rush lost his scoring ability as he netted only three times and was released on a free transfer the following summer.
