Date of Birth: 
Place of Birth: Görlitz, Saxony, Germany
About Michael Ballack
- Michael Ballack (German pronunciation: ['m?ça??e?l 'balak]; born 26 September 1976) is a German retired 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, save for 1.
- FC 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 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 Chemnitzer FC, 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. A €12.9 million move 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 club.
- Injury ruled him out of much of 2007, but he returned the following season to help 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 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 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.
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