MICHAEL OWEN says he is “not soft enough” to tell his kids he loves them – and prefers dishing out “tough love”.
The former Liverpool and England striker, 46, and his wife Louise are the proud parents of four children.
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Gemma, 23, is an international dressage rider and former Love Island contestant.
James, 20, was a promising youth footballer before a rare eye condition curtailed his career.
Emily, 18, has won regional titles in track and field, while 16-year-old Jessica is mad about horses just like the rest of the family.
Owen says his kids are “the dearest thing in the world” to him – but insists lovey-dovey parenting is not in his nature.
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He told former Made in Chelsea star Jamie Laing on the Great Company podcast: “I never ever tell my kids I love them. I don’t say anything like that.
“I just assume my actions would show them that I love them. It’s a bad thing. I think most of us are like that.”
Laing then jumped in with: “It’s not a good thing. It’s not healthy.”
But Owen continued: “But if you say it all the time, does it mean anything?
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“Kissing your kid, sending them to school, no matter what they do you just keep saying well done, and if they do rubbish, [saying] ‘Oh, you’re trying awfully hard’. No, I like tough love.
“I’m not trying to condone it, because I would love to be a bit soft.
“I think it comes with age as well, you get better when you’re old, you’ve got time to think a bit more and you realise the true meaning of things.
“I’m definitely getting softer, but still not soft enough to say something like that.”
Owen retired from football in 2013 and now runs the Manor House Stables with his family in Cheshire.
A recent fly-on-the-wall documentary called ‘Meet the Owens‘ offered fans a glimpse into their family life as they strive for more sporting success.