The Local Germany

Ballack attracts 50,000 to farewell match

Thu, 06 Jun 2013 09:16:00 +0200

Germany and Chelsea legend Michael Ballack bowed out of professional football on Wednesday night with a testimonial match. Newly-reappointed Chelsea manager Jose Mourinho was among the 50,000-strong crowd.

Ballack confirms June goodbye game

Fri, 08 Mar 2013 07:52:00 +0100

Ex-Germany captain Michael Ballack has confirmed he will hold a farewell game in Leipzig on June 5th, with a host of stars set to attend including Bastian Schweinsteiger and Jose Mourinho.

The Local's top ten sports stories of 2012

Thu, 27 Dec 2012 09:25:00 +0100

It was a bumper year for European sports fans, with the London Olympics and the Euro 2012 football championship - but it wasn't always a shining trail of glory for Germany's athletes. The Local looks back at the year's sporting highs and lows.

Ballack fires 'I'm too poor for fine' lawyer

Fri, 02 Nov 2012 12:38:00 +0100

Former national football team captain Michael Ballack has fired his lawyer for an embarrassing plea that the soccer star should be let off a Spanish speeding fine - or at least pay a drastically reduced amount because he has no job.

Ballack: I'm too poor to pay speeding fine

Thu, 01 Nov 2012 11:14:00 +0100

Former German national team football captain Michael Ballack has pleaded poverty when faced with a sizeable fine for speeding in Spain. His lawyer said he could only pay €1,080 because he is unemployed.

Captain Ballack yearns for swan song

Mon, 15 Oct 2012 10:13:00 +0200

Retired ex-Germany captain Michael Ballack has said he is hoping to have a farewell game organised for him and has revealed he plans to get his coaching licence.

Ballack ends a career 'beyond his dreams'

Tue, 02 Oct 2012 19:04:00 +0200

Former Germany captain Michael Ballack has retired from active sport, his lawyer announced on Tuesday afternoon, ending a career which saw him play football for his country 98 times.

Ballack enjoys golden autumn to his career

Sat, 19 Nov 2011 14:46:00 +0100

Former Germany football captain Michael Ballack is back on form, scoring for Bayer Leverkusen on Friday night and earning glittering praise from his trainer.

Ballack breaks nose after scoring for Leverkusen against Freiburg

Sat, 29 Oct 2011 16:40:00 +0200

Former Bayern Munich and Chelsea star Michael Ballack could miss his side’s Bayer Leverkusen’s Champions League game against Valencia on Tuesday after suffering a broken nose on Friday after scoring the winning goal against Freiburg.

Ballack's national team career finished

Thu, 16 Jun 2011 15:13:00 +0200

Michael Ballack, one of the best-known players in German football for the past decade, has played for the national side for the last time, the German Football Association (DFB) said Thursday.

Ballack fined €8,000 for anti-FC Köln chant

Fri, 01 Apr 2011 17:21:00 +0200

Germany captain Michael Ballack has been fined €8,000 for yelling “Scheiß FC Köln” – a chant his Bayer Leverkusen club supporters hurl at their traditional rivals – through a megaphone.

Ballack unlikely to play again in 2010

Wed, 06 Oct 2010 21:14:00 +0200

Germany captain Michael Ballack is not expected to play football again in 2010 after it was revealed on Wednesday his knee injury is worse than first thought.