Owen Beck (footballer)

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Owen Beck
Personal information
Full name Owen Michael Beck[1]
Date of birth (2002-08-09) 9 August 2002 (age 21)
Place of birth Wrexham, Wales[2]
Height 1.77 m (5 ft 10 in)[2]
Position(s) Left-back
Team information
Current team
Dundee
(on loan from Liverpool)
Number 63
Youth career
Flint Town United
Tranmere Rovers
Stoke City
2015–2021 Liverpool
Senior career*
Years Team Apps (Gls)
2021– Liverpool 1 (0)
2022Famalicão (loan) 0 (0)
2022–2023Bolton Wanderers (loan) 5 (0)
2023–2024Dundee (loan) 17 (2)
2024–Dundee (loan) 8 (0)
International career
2018 Wales U17 1 (0)
2021– Wales U21 14 (1)
*Club domestic league appearances and goals, correct as of 17:00, 2 March 2024 (UTC)
‡ National team caps and goals, correct as of 22:00, 20 November 2023 (UTC)

Owen Michael Beck (born 9 August 2002) is a Welsh professional footballer who plays as a left-back for Scottish Premiership club Dundee, on loan from Premier League club Liverpool, and the Wales under-21 national team.

Club career[edit]

Youth[edit]

Beck first played for the junior teams of his hometown club, Flint Town United as a striker. At the age of 10 he was awarded with a Flintshire Footballer of the Year award by Ian Rush.[3] He then joined the youth set-up at Tranmere Rovers[4] before moving to Stoke City, switching to playing in the full-back position.

He then joined Liverpool's Academy from Stoke as an under-13 player.[5] He broke into the under-18 team in the 2019–20 season and was also a part of their Under-19 UEFA Youth League squad. He moved up to the under-23 squad for the 2020–21 season becoming a playing regular.

Liverpool[edit]

In June 2020 he signed his first professional contract with the club,[6] improved his terms in November 2020[7][8] and in July 2021 he signed a new long-term contract with the club.[9]

He made two appearances for the first team in the 2021–22 pre-season, playing friendlies against Athletic Club and CA Osasuna.[10] On 27 October 2021, he made his competitive debut for the first team in an EFL Cup game against Preston North End.[11]

2022–23: Loans at Famalicão and Bolton[edit]

On 11 July 2022 Beck joined Portuguese club Famalicão on loan for the duration of the 2022–23 season.[12] Having made no appearances he was recalled on 31 August and sent on loan to Bolton Wanderers instead.[13] His best friend, Conor Bradley, was also on loan at Bolton.[14] Beck made his league debut for Bolton in November 2022, coming on as a substitute in a 0–0 draw with Cambridge United.[15] The loan was terminated by mutual agreement on 26 January 2023.[16]

2023–24: Loans at Dundee[edit]

On 3 July 2023, Beck joined Scottish Premiership club Dundee on a season-long loan.[17] He made his competitive debut in a 1–0 Scottish League Cup group stage win away to Bonnyrigg Rose.[18] He impressed during the early part of the season, and picked up the club's man of the match award during a home draw with Kilmarnock.[19][20] Beck scored his first Dundee goal (as well as his first professional goal) in the league against Hibernian.[21]

After excelling and becoming a fan favourite at Dens Park, Liverpool activated their recall clause on 1 January 2024 to terminate Beck's loan deal with Dundee due to an injury crisis at the left-back position.[22][23] On 21 January, Beck made his Premier League debut with Liverpool as a substitute in a victory away to Bournemouth, ruling out a potential move to a third club this season due to having played for the maximum number of two clubs in one season.[24][25]

On 30 January, Beck rejoined Dundee on loan until the end of the season.[26][27][28] He made his return that same day, starting and assisting the only Dundee goal in an away draw against Aberdeen.[29] In mid-March, Beck would return to Liverpool to get treatment for persistent groin injuries which would keep him out of action for the remainder of the season.[30][31] In April 2024, Beck was named in the PFA Scotland Team of the Year.[32]

International career[edit]

Beck played for Wales as a schoolboy.[33]

In October 2018 he featured in the Wales under-17 team in a match against Kazakhstan, playing 72 minutes of a UEFA European Under-17 Championship qualification match.[34]

In March 2021 he was called up for the Wales under-21 team for a friendly match against the Republic of Ireland but was an unused substitute on matchday.

In August he was again called up[35] and made his debut on 7 September as a 79th minute substitute in a 4–0 victory over Bulgaria in a Euro 2023 qualifying game.[36][37] He scored his first goal for the Welsh under-21 team on 12 November 2021 with the opening goal in a 7–0 victory over Gibraltar.

In October 2023, Beck was called up to the Wales senior national team for the first time.[38] He would also get called up to the Wales U21 side the following day, with the clarification that Beck would be joining the senior squad for their match against Gibraltar, before joining the U21 side for the rest of the international window.[39][40]

Personal life[edit]

Beck was born to parents Shaun Beck and Sara James. He has an older brother, Leon, and a younger brother, Theo. Beck is the great-nephew of former Liverpool striker Ian Rush, whose sister Carol is Beck's grandmother.[41]

Career statistics[edit]

As of matches played 2 March 2024
Appearances and goals by club, season and competition
Club Season League National Cup League Cup Other Total
Division Apps Goals Apps Goals Apps Goals Apps Goals Apps Goals
Liverpool U21 2019–20[42] 1[a] 0 1 0
2020–21[43] 3[a] 0 3 0
Total 0 0 0 0 0 0 4 0 4 0
Liverpool 2021–22[44] Premier League 0 0 0 0 2 0 0 0 2 0
2022–23[45] Premier League 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0
2023–24[46] Premier League 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 1 0
Total 1 0 0 0 2 0 0 0 3 0
Famalicão (loan) 2022–23[47] Primeira Liga 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0
Bolton Wanderers (loan) 2022–23[45] EFL League One 5 0 1 0 0 0 3[a] 0 9 0
Dundee (loan) 2023–24[46] Scottish Premiership 25 2 0 0 3 0 0 0 28 2
Career total 31 2 1 0 5 0 7 0 44 2
  1. ^ a b c Appearances in EFL Trophy

Honours[edit]

Liverpool Academy

Dundee

References[edit]

  1. ^ "2023/24 Premier League squad lists". Premier League. 13 September 2023. Retrieved 14 September 2023.
  2. ^ a b "Owen Beck: Profile". worldfootball.net. HEIM:SPIEL. Retrieved 13 September 2023.
  3. ^ Pritchard, Tom (10 June 2021). "Owen Beck: Youngster signs first pro deal with Liverpool". Y Clwb Pel-Droed. Retrieved 29 October 2021.
  4. ^ Feringa, Megan (18 October 2021). "Next-gen Dragons: Owen Beck". Welsh Football Fans. Retrieved 29 October 2021.
  5. ^ "Owen Beck". Liverpool FC.
  6. ^ "Owen Beck signs first professional contract with Liverpool FC". Liverpool FC. Retrieved 29 October 2021.
  7. ^ "Owen Beck signs new contract with Liverpool FC". Liverpool FC. 11 November 2020. Retrieved 29 October 2021.
  8. ^ Williams, Glen. "Who is Owen Beck, Liverpool's rising talent with a famous uncle impressing first-team stars and being compared to Andy Robertson". Wales Online. Retrieved 29 October 2021.
  9. ^ "Owen Beck: Welsh youngster signs long term Liverpool deal". BBC Sport. Retrieved 29 October 2021.
  10. ^ Hunter, Steve (15 August 2021). "'Owen has performed really well when given the opportunity'". Liverpool FC. Retrieved 29 October 2021.
  11. ^ "Liverpool reach Carabao Cup last eight". BBC Sport. 27 October 2021.
  12. ^ "Liverpool's Beck in Portuguese loan move" – via www.bbc.co.uk.
  13. ^ "Wanderers land Liverpool youngster Owen Beck on loan". The Bolton News. 31 August 2022.
  14. ^ "Friends Re-United | Bolton Wanderers FC". www.bwfc.co.uk.
  15. ^ "Liverpool loanee keeps 11th clean sheet in 22 as left-back makes league debut". This is Anfield. Retrieved 16 November 2022.
  16. ^ "Beck Ends Loan Spell". bwfc.co.uk. Retrieved 26 January 2023.
  17. ^ "Beck signs". Dundee Football Club - Official Website. 3 July 2023. Retrieved 3 July 2023.
  18. ^ "Bonnyrigg Rose v Dundee". BBC Sport. Retrieved 18 July 2023.
  19. ^ "10-man Dundee stun Kilmarnock with late leveller". BBC Sport. Retrieved 2 October 2023.
  20. ^ "Kilmarnock". Dundee Football Club - Official Website. Retrieved 2 October 2023.
  21. ^ "Ten-man Hibs hang on for victory at Dundee". BBC Sport. Retrieved 25 November 2023.
  22. ^ "Liverpool FC recall Beck". Dundee Football Club - Official Website. 1 January 2024. Retrieved 1 January 2024.
  23. ^ "Beck leaves Dundee as Liverpool cut short loan". BBC Sport.
  24. ^ "Liverpool beat Bournemouth to go five points clear". BBC Sport. Retrieved 21 January 2024.
  25. ^ "Owen Beck features for Liverpool, ruling out move to Celtic". BBC Sport. 21 January 2024. Retrieved 21 January 2024.
  26. ^ "Beck is back". Dundee Football Club - Official Website. 30 January 2024. Retrieved 30 January 2024.
  27. ^ "Liverpool: Owen Beck rejoins Dundee on loan". BBC Sport. 30 January 2024.
  28. ^ "Beck is back". BBC Sport. 30 January 2024.
  29. ^ "'No panic' from Robson as Aberdeen and Dundee draw". BBC Sport. Retrieved 31 January 2024.
  30. ^ Cran, George (18 March 2024). "Dundee dealt major Owen Beck injury blow as loan star heads back to Liverpool". The Courier. Retrieved 21 March 2024.
  31. ^ Cran, George (24 April 2024). "Dundee loan star Owen Beck ruled out for Premiership run-in". The Courier. Retrieved 25 April 2024.
  32. ^ a b "Beck in PFA Scotland Premiership Team of the year". Dundee Football Club - Official Website. 20 April 2024. Retrieved 20 April 2024.
  33. ^ "Young guns". Dragon Soccer. Retrieved 29 October 2021.
  34. ^ "Wales 0-1 Kazakhstan". UEFA. 13 October 2018. Retrieved 29 October 2021.
  35. ^ "Wales call up Liverpool's Owen Beck for UEFA U21 Euro 2023 qualifier in Bulgaria". BBC Sport. Retrieved 29 October 2021.
  36. ^ "Bulgaria U21 0-4 Wales U21". BBC Sport. 7 September 2021. Retrieved 29 October 2021.
  37. ^ "Cymru Under-21s shine in Sofia". Football Association of Wales. Retrieved 29 October 2021.
  38. ^ Ellis, Callum (6 October 2023). "Senior call-ups another proud moment for Matty Jones". FAW. Retrieved 7 October 2023.
  39. ^ "Senior call-ups Beck and Savage in Wales U21 squad". BBC Sport. Retrieved 7 October 2023.
  40. ^ Cran, George (5 October 2023). "Dundee loan star Owen Beck called up by Wales under-21s - 24 hours after being named in senior squad". The Courier. Retrieved 7 October 2023.
  41. ^ Williams, Glen (13 July 2021). "Who is Owen Beck, Liverpool's rising star who's being compared to Andy Robertson". WalesOnline.
  42. ^ "Games played by Owen Beck in 2019/2020". Soccerbase. Centurycomm. Retrieved 31 August 2022.
  43. ^ "Games played by Owen Beck in 2020/2021". Soccerbase. Centurycomm. Retrieved 31 August 2022.
  44. ^ "Games played by Owen Beck in 2021/2022". Soccerbase. Centurycomm. Retrieved 31 August 2022.
  45. ^ a b "Games played by Owen Beck in 2022/2023". Soccerbase. Centurycomm. Retrieved 31 August 2022.
  46. ^ a b "Games played by Owen Beck in 2023/2024". Soccerbase. Centurycomm. Retrieved 18 July 2023.
  47. ^ "Wales - O. Beck - Profile with news, career statistics and history - Soccerway". uk.soccerway.com.
  48. ^ "LFC U23s beat Burnley to lift Lancashire FA Senior Cup". Liverpool F.C. Retrieved 5 May 2022.

External links[edit]