Forward Friday: God, Robbie Fowler

Robbie Fowler is a name synonymous with Liverpool Football Club. Known as 'God' by adoring Kopites, his contribution to English football will live long in the memory.

Fowler, who recently signed for Thai side Muangthong United aged 36, has enjoyed one of football's more colourful careers.

At the tender age of 18, the kid from Toxteth announced his arrival on the scene in spectacular fashion. The Liverpool trainee made a scoring debut in a League Cup tie against Fulham in September 1993, and in the return leg at Anfield two weeks later he scored all five. He went on to score his first league hat-trick against Southampton in only his fifth league game. The Kop was witnessing the birth of a Liverpool legend.

A gifted goal-poacher with an unerring eye for goal, Fowler – a boyhood Everton fan who converted at the age of 11 - went on to finish that season as Liverpool's top scorer with 18 goals.

Forging a formidable partnership with Steve McManaman, Fowler surpassed the 30 goal mark in each of the three seasons that followed, winning PFA Young Player of the Year in 1995 and 1996, and earning his first England call-up in the process.

The Toxteth Terror has left a significant mark on English football. His four minute and 33 second hat-trick against Arsenal in 1995 remains the fastest ever in the Premier League. His remarkable record of 116 goals in his first three and a half seasons at Liverpool remains unbeaten, and with a total of 169, he is still the fourth highest goal-scorer in Premier League history.

Between 1993 and 2001, and not forgetting his return to Anfield for the 2006/07 season, Robbie Fowler scored a total of 183 goals in 369 games.

Throughout his career Fowler has certainly been no stranger to controversy. As well as the goals, it is the notorious line-sniffing goal celebration against Everton in April 1999, and the taunting of Graeme le Saux in a game at Chelsea for which he will be remembered.

Fowler left Liverpool in 2001, eight whirlwind years after making his bow. Finding himself sidelined due to manager Gerard Houllier's preference for pairing Michael Owen and Emile Heskey up front, the iconic number nine signed for Leeds United in a £12m deal.

After 33 appearances and 14 goals over the course of a season and a half, Fowler moved to Manchester City in the middle of the 2002/03 season. During his time at Elland Road, Fowler had struggled with injury and fitness, and by the time he was transferred to City, his market value had diminished significantly. Injury problems continued as Fowler struggled to recapture the electric form of his time at Liverpool.

Liverpool fans were overjoyed when Fowler re-signed for the club on a free transfer in 2006. Supporters marked his debut against Birmingham City with a banner reading 'God – number eleven, welcome back to heaven'.

After leaving Liverpool for the second time in 2007, Fowler endured unsuccessful stints at Cardiff City and then Blackburn before electing to leave British shores.

In February 2009, he signed for Australia A-League side North Queensland Fury, and later Perth Glory. After two years in the A-League, and not quite ready to hang up his boots, Fowler signed a one-year contract with Muangthong United in Thailand.

Where he ends up next is anyone's guess, but Robbie Fowler will always be God on Merseyside.

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Take a look at our awesome collection of signed Robbie Fowler memorabilia here.