Michael Ballack ( german pronunciation : [ ˈmɪçaːʔeːl ˈbalak ] ; born 26 September 1976 ) is a german former professional football player. He is among the top goal scorers in the history of the german national team. Ballack wore the number 13 shirt for every team he has played for, except from 1. FC Kaiserslautern. He was selected by Pelé as one of FIFA ‘s 100 Greatest populate Players, and as the UEFA Club Midfielder of the year in 2002. He won the german Footballer of the Year award three times – in 2002, 2003 and 2005. Ballack was known for his passing range, powerful inject, physical potency and commanding presence in midfield. [ 3 ] [ 4 ] Ballack began his career as a young at Chemnitzer FC, his local team, and made his professional debut in 1995. [ 5 ] On 26 March 1996, Ballack made his debut for Germany ‘s under-21 side. Although the team were relegated in his first season, his performances in the Regionalliga the following season led to a transfer to 1. FC Kaiserslautern in 1997. He won the Bundesliga in his first base temper at the cabaret, his first major respect. He became a first team regular in 1998–99 season and besides earned his first aged home cap for Germany. He moved to Bayer Leverkusen for €4.1 million in 1999. The 2001–02 temper saw him win a murder of runner-up medals : Bayer Leverkusen finished second in the Bundesliga, DFB-Pokal, UEFA Champions League and Germany lost to Brazil in the 2002 World Cup Final.
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A €12.9 million travel to Bayern Munich led to further honours : the team won the Bundesliga and DFB-Pokal double in 2003, 2005 and 2006. Ballack had become a prolific goalscorer from midfield, scoring 58 goals for Bayern between 2002 and 2006. He joined Premier League club Chelsea in mid-2006 and won English honours in his first season at the clubhouse. Injury ruled him out of much of 2007, but he returned the following season to help Chelsea reach their first ever Champions League concluding. He besides went on to win the FA Cup again in 2009 and then once more as character of a league and cup bivalent in 2010. internationally, Ballack has played in the UEFA European Football Championship in 2000, 2004 and 2008, and the FIFA World Cup in 2002 and 2006. Jürgen Klinsmann appointed him captain of the national team in 2004. Ballack score consecutive game-winning goals in the quarter-final and semi-final to help his area to the 2002 World Cup final and led his team to the semi-finals of the 2006 World Cup and the Euro 2008 final .
early biography [edit ]
Ballack was born in Görlitz, [ 6 ] a township in Bezirk Dresden, East Germany ( now Saxony, Germany ), which straddles the polish margin. He is the only child of Stephan Ballack, an engineer, and his wife Karin, a repository. The syndicate moved to Chemnitz ( then called Karl-Marx-Stadt ) when Ballack was very young and it was there that he started to play football .
Club career [edit ]
Chemnitzer FC [edit ]
Ballack ‘s parents sent him to train with the side at old age seven. He belated moved on to FC Karl-Marx-Stadt ( renamed Chemnitzer FC in 1990 ). His forefather had played second-division football himself in Germany. Unusual for his early senesce was Ballack ‘s ability to use both feet with adequate authority. In 1995, Ballack earned his first professional contract, thanks to his performances in the role of central midfielder. He was dubbed the “ little Kaiser ”, in mention to Franz Beckenbauer, who was nicknamed “ Der Kaiser “. His professional debut came on 4 August 1995, on the first day of the raw 2. Bundesliga season. Chemnitz lost the game 2–1, against VfB Leipzig. [ 7 ] At the end of the season, during which Ballack made 15 appearances, Chemnitz were relegated to the multi-tiered, regional third gear division. [ 5 ] The watch temper, Ballack became a regular first-team player as Chemnitz missed out on an immediate return to the Bundesliga. He did not miss a game and scored ten goals for the “ Sky Blues ”. It was not adequate for Chemnitz to be promoted, but in the summer of 1997, coach Otto Rehhagel of just-promoted 1. FC Kaiserslautern signed Ballack at their return to top flight football. [ 6 ]
1. FC Kaiserslautern [edit ]
It was during the seventh match of the 1997–98 Bundesliga season, aside to Karlsruhe, that Rehhagel decided to give Ballack his first Bundesliga appearance, substituting him onto the field for the final examination five minutes of the meet. [ 8 ] On 28 March 1998, Ballack made his first-team debut-start against Bayer Leverkusen. [ 9 ] Ballack made 16 appearances for his new team during the temper as the club became the first-ever newly promoted team to lift the Bundesliga title. [ 6 ] In the stick to season, Ballack became both a regular penis of the team ( he made 30 appearances, scoring 4 goals in the league ) and one of the side ‘s lead players. Kaiserslautern reached the quarter finals of the Champions League, but were eliminated by Bayern Munich. [ 10 ] On 1 July 1999, Ballack moved to Bayer Leverkusen at historic period 22 for a transfer fee of €4.1 million .
Bayer Leverkusen [edit ]
It was at Bayer Leverkusen that Ballack made his discovery. Coaches Christoph Daum and Klaus Toppmöller granted him an attacking character in the midfield. Ballack was implemental to the success of Leverkusen, scoring 27 goals in the league [ 5 ] and nine in Europe over the course of his three seasons at the BayArena. In 2000, Bayer Leverkusen needed entirely a draw against minnows SpVgg Unterhaching to win the Bundesliga style, but an own finish by Ballack helped send the team to a crushing 0–2 get the better of, [ 11 ] while Bayern Munich clinched the style with a 3–1 victory over Werder Bremen. [ 12 ] The 2001–02 season was a disappointing one for Bayer Leverkusen. In the Bundesliga, the team surrendered a five-point lead at the acme of the board over the survive three games of the season to finish second behind Borussia Dortmund ; lost the UEFA Champions League final 2–1 to Real Madrid ; and lost the DFB-Pokal concluding 4–2 to Schalke 04. These three runner-up finishes were dubbed a “ soprano repugnance ” : Bayer Leverkusen was dubbed “ Bayer Neverkusen “ in English, while the german dub became Vizekusen. [ 6 ] Ballack and Leverkusen teammates Bernd Schneider, Carsten Ramelow and Oliver Neuville were besides beat finalists with Germany in the 2002 FIFA World Cup, although Ballack was suspended for the final itself. Ballack finished with 17 league goals and his performance over the temper led to him being voted into the UEFA.com users ‘ team of 2002 equally well as being named german Footballer of the year .
Bayern Munich [edit ]
Ballack play for Bayern Munich in April 2006 In hurt of Real Madrid ‘s interest, Ballack decided to sign with Bayern Munich in a €12.9 million deal in 2002 after his impressive performances in the World Cup. In his foremost season with the baseball club, Bayern won the Bundesliga with 75 points a well as the DFB-Pokal, with Ballack scoring doubly and defeating early club 1. FC Kaiserslautern in the latter ‘s final. [ 13 ] In his second season, however, Bayern lost both their Bundesliga and DFB-Pokal crowns to Werder Bremen. In his third base season with the Bavarians, Ballack enjoyed success in the 2004–05 season as Bayern Munich completed another double. New bus Felix Magath stated he was the only automatic newcomer in their midfield. [ 14 ] In four seasons at Bayern, Ballack won three Bundesliga and DFB-Pokal doubles, scoring 44 goals in 107 Bundesliga matches. [ 15 ] Between 1998 and 2005, Ballack scored 61 goals in sum in the domestic league. [ 5 ] Ballack ‘s critics, however, noted his patronize “ choking “ in important Champions League matches. This resulted in open public criticism from golf club general coach Uli Hoeneß, communications film director Karl-Heinz Rummenigge and club president Franz Beckenbauer, all former Bayern players. Beckenbauer by and by went equally far as to accuse Ballack of “ saving his intensity ” for prospective employers after Ballack turned in an average operation in the 2006 DFB-Pokal final against Eintracht Frankfurt. [ 16 ]
Chelsea [edit ]
Ballack agreed to join English Premier League club Chelsea on a complimentary transfer on 15 May 2006. [ 17 ] During his last season with Bayern, there were rumours of interest from Manchester United, Real Madrid, Internazionale and Milan, [ 18 ] but Ballack alternatively chose to go to Stamford Bridge. shortly after arriving at Chelsea, Ballack stated that he hoped to end his career at Chelsea. [ 19 ]
2006–07 season [edit ]
Ballack with Chelsea in 2008 Ballack ‘s debut for Chelsea came on 31 July 2006, during a exercise match at UCLA ‘s intramural football deliver. Chelsea presented him to the media the postdate day where the golf club besides gave him his favoured count 13 shirt, worn throughout his career. Upon doing thus, William Gallas, who previously wore the count 13 shirt for Chelsea, was given the number 3 shirt. This motivate created animosity between Gallas and the club as Gallas felt that he was underappreciated. [ 20 ] On 27 August 2006, Ballack made his Premier League debut for Chelsea against Blackburn Rovers. On 12 September, he scored his first finish for the club on his Champions League introduction against Werder Bremen. He received the foremost straight red wag of his career in Chelsea ‘s 1–0 succeed over Liverpool on 17 September 2006, after being judged to have stamped on Mohamed Sissoko ‘s peg. [ 21 ] Ballack scored his first Premier League goal on 21 October 2006 against Portsmouth at Stamford Bridge with a header. His first gear FA Cup goal came in the 109th moment in the semi-final against Blackburn on 15 April 2007. This goal resulted in Chelsea progressing into the FA Cup final. He scored eight goals in all competitions for the clubhouse in the 2006–07 season, including a free-kick against Everton at Goodison Park, a well as a half-volley against Porto which sent Chelsea through to the quarter-finals of the Champions League. Throughout his first gear season at Chelsea, Ballack was criticised for his lethargic performances – for playing as though he had “ a huge cigar in his mouth ”. [ 22 ] On 29 April 2007, Chelsea released a statement on their official web site, informing fans that Ballack had undergo ankle surgery in Munich. [ 23 ] As a resultant role, Ballack did not play in the FA Cup final against Manchester United, which Chelsea won 1–0 through Didier Drogba ‘s excess clock goal. This was Ballack ‘s second trophy this temper, his first being the League Cup, the final examination of which he started .
2007–08 season [edit ]
Despite persistent rumours in the summer 2007 transfer window, [ citation needed ] Ballack denied that he wanted to leave [ citation needed ] and no such be active materialised. Chelsea left Ballack out of their Champions League police squad for the 2007–08 group stage as they realised that his injury would prevent him from playing any useful separate and preferred to select the in full fit Steve Sidwell. The german international had an ankle operation in the summer and Chelsea could not take the risk of him not regaining full seaworthiness before the goal of the group stage. therefore, Ballack could not play in the Champions League before the hard stages began in February. [ 24 ] The club was only able to select 23 out of a possible 25 players for their Champions League police squad due to the new UEFA regulations on “ association-trained players ” and “ club-trained players ”. Due to this regulation, Chelsea were besides unable to select young musician Scott Sinclair and could only pick 23 players as their only “ club-trained musician ” was John Terry. For this reason, it was deemed unwise to gamble on Ballack being fit at some orient. [ 25 ] Ballack made his come back to the side in Chelsea ‘s 2–0 League Cup win over Liverpool on 19 December 2007. Ballack tallied an help former in the crippled to striker Andriy Shevchenko. On 26 December 2007, Ballack made his Premier League return in a thrilling game against Aston Villa which ended 4–4. He came on for Frank Lampard in the 26th minute after the latter had picked up a thigh wound. In first-half stop time, he won a penalty after being brought down in the box by Zat Knight, which Andriy Shevchenko converted. In the 88th hour, with the grudge tied at 3–3, Ballack stepped up to take a free-kick, which he buried into the penetrate left corner of the goal, but the match ended in a 4–4 reap .
Ballack in action against Fulham in December 2009 Ballack captained the Chelsea team in the absence of captain John Terry and vice-captain Frank Lampard in a 2–1 win over Newcastle United on 29 December 2007. Ballack then played his fiftieth game in a Chelsea shirt in a 2–1 win against Fulham in which he scored the winning finish for Chelsea. He besides scored the lone goal that won the equal for Chelsea against Reading to extend the blues ‘ winning streak to a commemorate of nine. And, on 5 March 2007, he scored again, this time against Olympiacos in the Champions League rung of 16 in a 3–0 gain. He scored the winning goal in the 2–0 gain in the second branch of the quarter-finals against Fenerbahçe, a victory that secured Chelsea a seat in the semi-finals. Ballack continued to score vital goals and, on 26 April 2008, he scored a header and a penalty to give Chelsea a 2–1 gain over Manchester United. He was named Man of The Match for his performance. It brought the two teams level in the raceway for the Premier League title merely two matchdays before the end of the season. The temper ended on a low note for Ballack as Chelsea finished runner-up in the League Cup, Premier League and Champions League. This completed another treble repugnance for Ballack and his golf club. On 29 June 2008, Germany, captained by Ballack, lost to Spain 1–0 in the concluding of UEFA Euro 2008. This became the second season in Ballack ‘s career after 2002 that he was runner-up for four major trophies .
2008–09 season [edit ]
The 2008–09 season started well for Ballack, as he set up Joe Cole to score the first base goal in a 4–0 succeed over Portsmouth in the first game of the season. Ballack was injured curtly after missing the games against Manchester United, Liverpool and Arsenal. Ballack ‘s return from wound has been a elevator for Chelsea as he set up Deco to score a scissor bang in a 2–0 gain against Bolton Wanderers. Ballack ‘s inaugural goal of the ’09 season came against Southend United in their FA Cup replay, a match which Chelsea went on to win 4–1. Ballack ‘s first base Premier League goal of the 2008–09 season came on 11 April 2009 in a match against Bolton, ending 4–3 for Chelsea. He came on as a second-half substitute as Chelsea won the 2009 FA Cup final. On 2 June 2009, Ballack signed a annual shrink extension with Chelsea. [ 26 ]
Ballack on the ground with the ankle injury in the 2010 FA Cup Final that eventually ruled him out of the World Cup after a tackle from Boateng (23)
2009–10 season
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[edit ]
In Chelsea ‘s second game of the season, off at Sunderland, Ballack scored his foremost goal of the 2009–10 campaign in their 3–1 gain. Ballack besides scored against Burnley in a 3–0 gain. Ballack made his first Champions League appearance for the season against Porto. On 20 September 2009, he scored his third league goal, against Tottenham. On 17 January 2010, he scored his fourthly league finish and third aid in a 7–2 winnings against Sunderland. In Chelsea ‘s one-fifth round FA Cup link against Cardiff City, Ballack scored the goal which put the Blues back in front ; Chelsea ultimately won 4–1. Ballack was sent off in Chelsea ‘s 4–2 kill against Manchester City on 27 February 2010. [ 27 ] Chelsea went on to win the 2009–10 Premier League, Ballack ‘s first league style in England. [ 28 ] He besides started as Chelsea were victorious against Portsmouth in the 2010 FA Cup final, however he would come off injured concisely before half-time after a tackle by Kevin-Prince Boateng. As a resultant role of the wound, Ballack was not able to participate in the 2010 World Cup. [ 6 ]
On 9 June 2010, it was announced that Ballack, along with teammates Joe Cole and Juliano Belletti, would leave Chelsea on a free transfer after his contract was not renewed. [ 30 ] It was reported that while coach Carlo Ancelotti wanted to retain Ballack, cabaret owner Roman Abramovich was only volition to offer a annual deal due to Ballack ‘s historic period. As of December 2012, Ballack had the lowest personnel casualty record of any player with more than 100 appearances in the Premier League, losing barely 10 of his 105 appearances. [ 31 ]
refund to Bayer Leverkusen [edit ]
On 25 June 2010, Ballack signed a biennial condense with early baseball club Bayer Leverkusen. [ 32 ] On 19 August 2010, he scored the first goal for Leverkusen in a 3–0 succeed against Tavriya Simferopol in the UEFA Europa League qualifiers. On 6 October 2010, it was announced that Ballack would not play again in 2010 at the club or external degree due to a shin injury sustained 11 September 2010 in a Bundesliga match against Hannover 96. On 20 February 2011, Ballack made his fall from injury, coming on as a substitute for Simon Rolfes against VfB Stuttgart ; Leverkusen won the peer 4–2. Ballack scored his moment Europa League goal against Metalist Kharkiv, a match Leverkusen won 2–0 and the two-legged bind 6–0 on sum to progress to the round off of 16. [ 33 ] Ballack played the full 90 minutes against Schalke 04, assisting Eren Derdiyok ‘s goal in an eventual 2–0 victory. [ 34 ]
retirement [edit ]
Ballack announced his retirement on 2 October 2012. [ 35 ] [ 36 ] He had been in talks with Major League Soccer ‘s Montreal Impact and A-League clubhouse Western Sydney Wanderers. [ 35 ] On 5 June 2013, Ballack played a farewell match at Leipzig ‘s Red Bull Arena. The match was won by a World XI 4–3 against the “ Friends of Ballack ”, with Ballack scoring his second hat-trick in his career. First he scored two goals with “ Friends of Ballack ” in the foremost half and scored his third gear goal and the winner in the second gear half for the World XI. Participants in the match included early teammates and friends Lothar Matthäus, Didier Drogba, Miroslav Klose, Andriy Shevchenko, Phillip Lahm, Hasan Salihamidžić, Dimitar Berbatov, Michael Essien, André Schürrle, Ricardo Carvalho, Dietmar Hamann, Florent Malouda, Carsten Jancker, Torsten Frings, Jens Lehmann, Christian Wörns, Mehdi Mahdavikia and Per Mertesacker, adenine well as Formula 1 racing driver Michael Schumacher. The teams were coached by Ballack ‘s former Chelsea bus José Mourinho and his early national team coach Rudi Völler. [ 37 ]
International career [edit ]
Ballack converting a penalty for Germany at the 2005 Confederations Cup in a match against Australia On 26 March 1996, Ballack debuted for the Germany national under-21 team against Denmark, curtly after signing for Chemnitzer FC. In all, he played 19 matches for this side, scoring four goals. then, following his move to 1. FC Kaiserslautern, senior team head bus Berti Vogts called him up to the police squad. Ballack ‘s first senior Germany appearance, however, did not come until 28 April 1999, when he came on as a substitute for Dietmar Hamann in a match against Scotland. [ 38 ] Ballack merely played 63 minutes at UEFA Euro 2000. In the 2002 FIFA World Cup, he scored in matches against the United States and South Korea during the smasher rounds as Germany reached the final examination. however, he was booked for a tactical cruddy during the semi-final equal against South Korea and was suspended for the final, which Germany went on to lose 2–0 to Brazil. He was included in the World Cup All Star Team. Ballack missing the final ultimately led to a persistent revision of the scandalmongering card amnesty rule in order “ to give the best players a gamble to play in the concluding ”. [ 39 ] Following Euro 2004, Jürgen Klinsmann replaced Rudi Völler at the helm of the national team and Ballack took over from Oliver Kahn as master. He scored three goals — all penalties — in the 2005 Confederations Cup, in which Germany were eliminated by Brazil in the semifinals. [ 40 ]
In the 2006 World Cup, he was ineffective to start in Germany ‘s first game against Costa Rica due to a calf striving, but appeared in the follow five matches. Germany were eliminated in the semi-finals, but they managed to clinch third gear place in a peer against Portugal. He was named Man of the Match in the games against Ecuador and Argentina, [ 41 ] and was included in FIFA ‘s World Cup All Star Team for a moment straight time. After the tournmanent, Klinsmann stood down as national team head passenger car and was succeeded by assistant Joachim Löw. Ballack started and captained Germany in their first game of Euro 2008 against Poland. [ 42 ] He proved to be an influential figure in the midfield as Germany came back from a shock frustration to Croatia to make it to the final, scoring a detached kick against Austria to secure Germany a 1–0 acquire and a place in the quarter-finals. [ 43 ] In the quarter-finals, he scored a header against Portugal to make the score 3–1 in their 3–2 win after an assist by Bastian Schweinsteiger ‘s sixtieth moment free-kick, helping Germany to advance to the semi-finals. Germany went on to beat Turkey 3–2 in the semifinals. Prior to the concluding, Ballack sustained a calf wound but finally overcame it in time. Germany, however, ended up losing 1–0 to Spain. however, he was named in the Squad of the Tournament. [ 44 ] Ballack scored four goals in the 2010 World Cup qualifiers, but missed the 2010 World Cup after suffering an ankle injury from a foul by Portsmouth ‘s Kevin-Prince Boateng in the 2009-10 FA Cup concluding. [ 45 ] Ballack did travel to South Africa to provide moral support for the national team but he departed after Philipp Lahm, who was appointed team captain due to Ballack ‘s injury, commented after the quarter-finals that he would not relinquish the captainship back to Ballack. Team coach Oliver Bierhoff criticized Lahm ‘s comments and clarified the position, saying, “ Philipp Lahm is the World Cup captain and Michael Ballack is distillery the captain. ” [ 46 ]
Ballack in 2009 Germany played strongly in the tournament despite Ballack ‘s absence, including a 4–1 succeed over England and a 4–0 win over Argentina en route to finishing third base, thanks to emerging midfield talents such as Sami Khedira, Thomas Müller, and Mesut Özil. [ 47 ] former German captain Lothar Matthäus suggested that Ballack ‘s absence had allowed these young players to blossom. [ 48 ] Since the 2010 World Cup qualifiers, Ballack had not been called up for any external matches. It was reported that Germany coach Joachim Löw was waiting for Ballack to retire from international football after the 2010 World Cup, however Ballack refused to give up despite a rash of injuries suffered in 2010–11 with Bayer Leverkusen. [ 49 ] On 16 June 2011, it was announced that Ballack would no long be a part of the national team. The german Football Association ( DFB ) offered him two friendlies to reach 100 matches for Germany, which he refused, accusing Löw of disrespecting him always since his injury dating second to March 2010 and calling the invitation to compete in another two games for Germany a “ farce ”. [ 50 ] [ 51 ]
dash of play [edit ]
Ballack is considered to be one of the best and versatile midfielders of his generation ; [ 52 ] he played in several midfield positions during his career, and was noted for his brawny shot with both feet. [ 3 ] Due to his tall frame, he was besides known for his ability in the tune, which made him a goal threat on adjust pieces. [ 53 ] On a technical level, he was a dominate, physically firm and aggressive player, with excellent communicate range, who moved the ball efficiently. [ 3 ] The technicality and intelligence of his game was extremely high. He started his football career as a sweeper, [ 54 ] but when he moved to Leverkusen in 1999, then-coach Christoph Daum moved him to midfield. He adapted to a deep character during his spell at Chelsea. In 2011, Ballack ‘s international passenger car at the clock, Joachim Löw, praised him, describing him as a player who “ exudes assurance and calm on the peddle ”. [ 55 ]
personal life [edit ]
Ballack ‘s surname is of sorbian lineage. [ 56 ] He was the merely child of father Stephan, an mastermind who played third-division football, and beget Karin, a secretary and swimmer. [ 57 ] On 14 July 2008, Ballack married his long-time girlfriend Simone Lambe. [ 58 ] The copulate had three children together : Louis ( have a bun in the oven 2001 ), Emilio ( 2002–2021 ), and Jordi ( bear 2005 ). [ 59 ] The couple divorced in 2012. He dated Natacha Tannous from 2015 to 2019. [ 60 ] During Euro 2012, the 2014 World Cup, and Euro 2016, Ballack worked as a studio apartment analyst for ESPN, often aboard Alexi Lalas. [ 61 ] His son, Emilio, died in a quad bicycle crash on 5 August 2021 at the senesce of 18. [ 62 ]
career statistics [edit ]
club [edit ]
International [edit ]
Appearances and goals by national team and year
National team
Year
Apps
Goals
Germany
1999
3
0
2000
9
0
2001
9
6
2002
11
6
2003
5
2
2004
13
8
2005
11
7
2006
14
6
2007
2
0
2008
12
4
2009
8
3
2010
1
0
Total
98
42
- Scores and results list Germany’s goal tally first, score column indicates score after each Ballack goal.
Honours [edit ]
Kaiserslautern [ 81 ]
Bayer Leverkusen
Bayern Munich [ 81 ]
Chelsea [ 81 ]
Germany [ 81 ] [ 5 ]
Individual
References [edit ]
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