Michael Ballack

Michael Ballack (born 26 September 1976 in Görlitz, Germany) was a German football player and is the retired captain of the Germany national team. He last played for Chelsea, an English club.

Michael Ballack

Personal information
Full name	Michael Ballack
Date of birth	(1976-09-26) 26 September 1976
Place of birth	Görlitz, East Germany
Height	1.88 m (6 ft 2 in)
Position(s)	Midfielder
Youth career
1983–1988	BSG Motor "Fritz Heckert" Karl-Marx-Stadt
1988–1995	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)
Honours Men's football Representing  Germany FIFA World Cup Runner-up 2002 Korea/Japan 2006 Germany UEFA European Championship Runner-up 2008 Switzerland/Austria FIFA Confederations Cup 2005 Germany
* Senior club appearances and goals counted for the domestic league only

Ballack started his career in a small club in Eastern Germany. He later turned to several German clubs, including Bayern Munich. In 2006–07 he arrived England to join Chelsea.

Ballack attended the World Cup twice, in 2002 and 2006, but did not win it with the Germany national football team. He is considered as one of the strongest midfield players to ever play for the German national team.