Michael Ballack (born September 26, 1976 in Görlitz, Saxony) is a German football player. A midfielder, he is the current captain of the German national team, and plays club football for Chelsea F.C. in the Barclays Premier League.
Ballack first gained attention at Bayer Leverkusen where he operated as the central midfielder, taking on both defensive and attacking responsibilities. Later in his career, at FC Bayern Munich, under the guidance of Ottmar Hitzfeld and Felix Magath, Ballack played in a deeper role, where he went forward less often and instead concentrated on protecting the back four and distributing the ball. However, he remained a box-to-box midfielder for the German national team. Ballack is one of the most versatile soccer players in the world: he can easily play defensively as well as offensively.
He is capable with both his left and right foot, as well as in the air. These attributes earned him the German player of the year award on three occasions (2002, 2003, 2005). He is one of Germany's leading sports icons of recent times. Pelé named Ballack among the world's greatest 125 living footballers in FIFA's 2004 FIFA 100
Then, in 2004, the national team coach Jürgen Klinsmann elected Ballack as captain. Following Germany's third place finish in the World Cup in summer 2006, the new Germany head coach Joachim Löw chose to keep Ballack as his national team captain. Ballack has worn the number 13 shirt for every club that he has played for, as well as the German national team.
Ballack and his partner Simone Lambe have three children: Louis (born August 16, 2001), Emilio (September 19, 2002), and Jordi (born March 17, 2005).[1]
No Armband For Van Bommel, Please Goal.com, Switzerland - 14 hours ago In the summer of 2006, Bayern manager Uli Hoeneß was in the market for a strong presence in central midfield to replace Michael Ballack. ...
England - Jolly: Chelsea's middle all of a muddle - ESPN
08/24/2008 11:00
England - Jolly: Chelsea's middle all of a muddle ESPN - 24 Aug 2008 How do Deco, Frank Lampard, Michael Ballack, Michael Essien and Joe Cole co-exist in the same team? With difficulty, it would appear. ...
Lee Dixon's tactical view BBC Sport, UK - 26 Aug 2008 Steve will have watched the Portsmouth game and he came up with a plan to stop the likes of Frank Lampard, Deco and Michael Ballack playing. ...
FIERY CHELSEA Electric New Paper, Singapore - 24 Aug 2008 With Frank Lampard and Michael Ballack partnering Deco, they form a formidable triangle in the middle. Nicolas Anelka was enjoying himself so much because ...
Wigan + 1.5 AH vs. Chelsea -1.5 AH - Sports betting previews
08/24/2008 05:08
Wigan + 1.5 AH vs. Chelsea -1.5 AH Sports betting previews, UK - 24 Aug 2008 Unfortunately for Steve Bruce, Chelsea might look even stronger as Michael Ballack,Salomon Kalou, Jose Bosingwa and Michael Essien could all be recovered ...
Deco brilliance shades Wigan resolve Telegraph.co.uk, United Kingdom - 24 Aug 2008 Chelsea?s character was embodied in Michael Ballack?s willingness to start despite a slight niggle. Frank Lampard, also feeling a small injury, ...
SCOLARI IS LEFT ALL STAR STRUCK Daily Star, UK - 21 Aug 2008 He has the luxury of picking a midfield from a star-studded pool of Frank Lampard, Michael Ballack, Joe Cole, John Obi Mikel, Michael Essien and summer ...
