Owen Hargreaves: The Indomitable Force Behind Manchester United's Success

Legendary Manchester United manager, Sir Alex Ferguson, was a long-time admirer of the player. He liked his tenacity, his work rate, and his ability to do simple things at a very high level - much like his previous midfield general Roy Keane.

The signing itself was a labour of love. Man Utd had initially inquired about a transfer the season before he joined, but Bayern were not prepared to let him go. A disappointing club season (the Bavarian giants finished fourth and relinquished the Bundesliga title) and a severe leg break to Hargreaves during the campaign had also thrown the transfer in doubt, with United cautious about any long-term contract for a player suffering such a serious injury issue.

But Ferguson was determined to get his man, and when Hargreaves began pushing for the move, it was only a matter of time before the Red Devils tied him to a contract.

After a year of lengthy negotiation, a £17 million fee, and a bit of player pressure, Hargeaves signed on the dotted line.

A tough tackling workhorse, Hargreaves was seen as the natural replacement for Roy Keane, who had left a few years earlier. Stepping into the Irishman's shoes would never be easy - especially given the reverence with which United fans hold him.

While less technically proficient than the former captain and talisman, Hargreaves did have relentless energy, tactical intelligence, and a disciplined approach to his defensive duties.

He had a knack for breaking up play, often intercepting passes and disrupting the opposition's rhythm with his aggressive yet clean tackling.

Offensively, he provided an additional threat with his accurate passing, often initiating forward moves and occasionally chipping in with crucial goals.

As a tough tackling, technical midfielder, Hargreaves was a popular choice for football-based video games, with his fitness and running stats especially beneficial.

While his stats were good, artistic reimaginings of his appearance left much to be desired. Technology has moved on since 2006, but his likeness to the game character has prompted some hilarity among national newspapers in the UK.

Can you see the likeness?

The team at CasinoCanada only recommends games that pass the gameplay and graphics test - we're wondering whether we could give this the green light!