Michael Ballack
Michael Ballack (born 26 September 1976) is a German professional
footballer, who is currently playing for Bundesliga club Bayer
Leverkusen.He is among the top goal scorers in the history of his
international team. Ballack has worn the number 13 shirt for every team
he has played for except for Kaiserslautern. He was selected by Pelé as
one of FIFA's 100 Greatest Living Players, and as the UEFA Club
Midfielder of the Year in 2002. He has won the German Footballer of the
Year award three times – in 2002, 2003 and 2005.
Ballack began his career as a youth at Chemnitz, his local team, and made
his professional debut in 1995.Although the team were relegated in his
first season, his performances in the Regionalliga the following season
led to a transfer to Kaiserslautern in 1997. He won the Bundesliga in his
first season at the club; his first major honour. He became a first team
regular in 1998–99 season and also earned his first senior national cap
for Germany. He moved to Bayer Leverkusen for €4.1 million in 1999. The
2002 season saw him win a slew of runners-up medals: Bayer Leverkusen
finished second in the Bundesliga, German Cup, UEFA Champions League and
Germany lost to Brazil in the 2002 World Cup Final.
A €12.9 million move to Bayern Munich led to further honours: the team
won the Bundesliga and German Cup double in 2003, 2005 and 2006. Ballack
had become a prolific goalscorer from midfield, scoring 58 goals for
Bayern Munich between 2002 and 2006. He joined Premier League club
Chelsea in mid-2006 and won his first English honours, the FA Cup and
League Cup, in his first season at the club. Injury ruled out much of
2007 but he returned the following season, helping Chelsea reach their
first ever Champions League Final. He also went on to win the FA cup
again in 2009 and then once more as part of a league and cup double in
2010.
Internationally, Ballack has played in the European Championships 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
scored consecutive game-winning goals in the quarter-final and semi-final
to help his country to the 2002 World Cup Final, and led his team to the
semi-finals of the 2006 World Cup and the Euro 2008 Final.