DateofBirth:
September26th,1976
PlaceofBirth:
Görlitz
Height:1,89m
Weight:80kg
MaritalStatus:
Unwed;threechildren:Louis(bornAugust16th,2001),Emilio(bornSeptember19th,2002)andJordi(bornMarch17th,2005).
HighestEducation:
Abitur,GermanA-Levels(1995)
Hobbies:
Travelling,Tennis,Golf,Movies,Music
PreviousTeams:
BSGMotorKarl-Marx-Stadt(until1995)
ChemnitzerFC(1995-1997)
1.FCKaiserslautern(1997-1999)
BayerLeverkusen(1999-2002)
FCBayernMunich(2002-2006)
Chelsea(since2006)
Milestones:
Runner-upFIFAWorldCup2002
GermanLeagueChampion1998(1.FCKaiserslautern)
GermanLeagueChampion2003(FCBayernMunich)
GermanFACupWinner2003(FCBayernMunich)
GermanLeagueChampion2005(FCBayernMunich)
GermanFACupWinner2005(FCBayernMunich)
MichaelBallackBio
MichaelBallackisaverysmartmidfieldertooimportantforeverycoachhe'severhad.Excellenttouchontheball.Criticizedforbeing'lazy'onthepitch,Michaelprovedthathisseeminglyslowgaitinmidfieldwasmerelyacaseofthelionwaitingtopounce.Ownerofpowerfulshotsfromoutsidethearea.Instrumentaltobothclubandcountry,managerRudiVöllerwillbecountingontheattackingmidfieldertosetthetoneforhissideatFIFAWorldCupin2006.
BorninEastGermany,MichealBallackbrokeintotheBundesligaatage20withKaiserslautern.ClasheswiththencoachOttoRehhagelprompteda1999transfertoBayer04Leverkusen.BallackflourishedundersuccessiveLeverkusencoachesChristophDaumandKlausToppmoeller.The2001/2002seasonsawBallackathisbestashetookhissidetotheChampionsLeaguefinalsbeforelosingouttoRealMadrid.WithLeverkusenfinishingsecondintheBundesliga,Ballack's17clubgoalsearnedhimtheGermanPlayeroftheYeartitle.HisfirstseasonwithFCBayernMünchenwasasuccessasthesquadtooktheleaguetitleandBallackonceagainwonGermanPlayeroftheYear.
At27Ballackisalreadyaveteranontheinternationalstage.FinishingsecondbehindEnglandinthe2002FIFAWorldCupqualifications,Ballack'sthreegoalsovertwolegsagainsttheUkrainewerethesavinggraceforGermany.BallackcontinuedhisqualityplayinJapan/SouthKorea,scoringthreegoalsincludingthecrucialsemi-finalstrikeagainstSouthKorea.HisleadershipandfourgoalscarriedGermanythroughthe2004Eurocupqualifications,withhissidefinishingfirstintheirgroup.