Michael Ballack
Ballack captaining Germany in October 2009
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| Personal information | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Full name | Michael Ballack | ||
| Date of birth | 26 September 1976 | ||
| Place of birth | Görlitz, East Germany | ||
| Height | 1.88 m (6 ft 2 in) | ||
| Playing position | Midfielder | ||
| Youth career | |||
| 1983–1995 | Chemnitzer FC | ||
| Senior career* | |||
| Years | Team | Apps | (Gls) |
| 1995–1997 | Chemnitzer FC II | 18 | (5) |
| 1995–1997 | Chemnitzer FC | 49 | (10) |
| 1997–1998 | 1. FC Kaiserslautern II | 17 | (8) |
| 1997–1999 | 1. FC Kaiserslautern | 46 | (4) |
| 1999–2002 | Bayer Leverkusen | 79 | (27) |
| 2002–2006 | Bayern Munich | 107 | (44) |
| 2006–2010 | Chelsea | 105 | (17) |
| 2010–2012 | Bayer Leverkusen | 35 | (2) |
| Total | 456 | (117) | |
| National team | |||
| 1996–1998 | Germany U21 | 19 | (7) |
| 1999–2010 | Germany | 98 | (42) |
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* Senior club appearances and goals counted for the domestic league only. |
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* Senior club appearances and goals counted for the domestic league only.
Michael Ballack (German pronunciation: [ˈmɪçaʔel ˈbaːlak]; born 26 September 1976) is a retired German footballer. 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 for Kaiserslautern. He was selected by Pelé as one of FIFA's 125 Greatest Living 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 shot, physical strength and commanding presence in midfield.
Ballack began his career as a youth at Chemnitz, his local team, and made his professional debut in 1995. 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 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 2001–02 season saw him win a slew of runners-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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