• See more Daily Mail on Google - save us as a Preferred Source

Michael Owen's son has opened up about the heartbreaking moment he had to abandon his dreams of becoming a footballer.

James Owen, 20, had hoped to follow in his father's footsteps with a sporting career but at the age of eight he was diagnosed with Stargardt disease – a rare, inherited eye disorder that happens when fatty waste deposits build up on the central part of the retina.

As the condition progresses central vision is lost, with James now deemed to be clinically blind and only able to see in his peripheral vision.

Michael, 46, and James sat down separately to discuss the condition on their upcoming reality series Meet The Owens, which will be released on Prime Video next week.

James explained: 'Obviously it's been tough growing up. It makes it hard for me to look straight.

'People often think I'm rude for not keeping eye contact, I'm actually looking at them in the clearest way I possibly can.'

Michael Owen's son James, 20, has opened up about the heartbreaking moment he had to abandon his dreams of becoming a footballer after a rare eye condition left him clinically blind

Michael, 46, and James sat down separately to discuss the condition on their upcoming reality series Meet The Owens, which will be released on Prime Video next week

James's mother Louise revealed they first became aware of the issue when one of his primary school teachers flagged that she thought James was having trouble seeing the board in class.

Extensive testing then revealed it was Stargardt disease, which affects roughly one in every 10,000 people globally.

Michael recalled: 'When he first got diagnosed I remember stopping in the car about three or four times and just bursting out crying, thinking what's his life going to be like?

'I wanted him to not feel sorry for himself, have a positive outlook on life.

'James's ability to laugh at himself is the most endearing thing in my world, just the little things like that brings us incredibly close together.'

Michael then revealed that he wants James to work with him at Manor House Stables, a large racing and breeding yard he co-owns near Chester.

'I'd love that - I think he's got all the hallmarks of being an asset to this place,' Michael shared. 'But he's got to add to it, it's not a charity.'

James then confessed: 'It was my dream to follow my dad's footsteps and be a footballer and have a really great career.

'To have that realisation it's not possible, it kills you. It used to break my heart coming back every day from school, I just used to cry and think life was unfair.'

Michael added: 'Most people who play football probably have the dream of their son following in their footsteps, that's what my dad had with me.

'I wanted James to be a footballer but obviously that dream was dashed quite early...'

Meet The Owens follows a year in the life of Michael, wife Louise, and their children Gemma, James, Emily and Jessica, as they juggle a horse racing business and chaotic home life

Growing emotional, Michael continued: 'We made James and I don't think I'd be normal if I didn't look myself in the mirror and think, "it's down to us he's got this eye condition."

'So I did feel guilty for a little while, and I guess I still feel guilty now, but you look at the positives with him and your guilt evaporates...

'We obviously go to bed every night praying and hoping there will be a cure but how he deals with his condition is just a credit to him.

'He's the most of my worries in terms of his condition but he's the least of my worries in terms of how far he'll get in life.

'James is nice and kind and he's determined - despite the harsh cards he's been dealt. He's a bloody good lad, a proper son, I'm proud of [him].'

As producers told James what his father had been saying to him during their talking heads, James shared: 'I'm quite blown away that he would say that, he'd never say that stuff to your face - it's really thrown me through a loop.

'I'd hate for people to feel sorry for me, I've still got the stuff that matters, a loving family and such a good model for a dad, it makes me really happy.'

Throughout his career, Michael played for Liverpool, Real Madrid and Manchester United, scoring 150 premier league goals and winning the Ballon d'Or in 2001.

He also played 89 times for England, scoring 40 goals for his country.

Since retiring from football, Michael has thrown himself into the world of horse racing, and this venture takes centre stage in their series.

The six-part docuseries, which is being produced by Whisper, follows a year in the life of Michael, his wife Louise, and their four children Gemma, James, Emily and Jessica, as they juggle a horse racing business while contending with a chaotic home life.

At home, he and wife Louise are preparing for life as empty nesters: youngest Jessica dreams of becoming a showjumping Olympic champion, while Emily, 18, is trying to become the first Owen to go to university, and James is considering joining the family business.

All six episodes of Meet the Owens will be available to stream exclusively on Prime Video from August 28, 2026.