German former professional footballer Michael Ballack is widely regarded as one of the greatest midfielders of his generation.
His impressive career achievements and accolades are testament to his exceptional ability on the field.
Ballack’s inclusion in FIFA Pelé’s list of the 100 greatest living players is a clear indication of the immense respect he commands in the football world.
This recognition, along with his selection as the 2002 UEFA Club Midfielder of the Year, further cemented his status as a true midfield maestro.
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- Full name: Michael Barrack
- Stage name: Michael Ballack
- Date of birth: September 26, 1976
- Age: 48 years old
- Birthplace: Görlitz, Germany
- Nationality: Germany
- Occupation: Former German football player
- Height: 1.88m
- Parents: Stephen and Karin Barak
- Siblings: unknown
- Spouse: Simon Maki-Barak (m. 2008–2012)
- Girlfriends: Sofia Schneiderhan, Natasha Tanos
- Children: Emilio Ballack, Jody Ballack, Louis Ballack
- Relationship: Dating
- Net worth: $30 million
early life and education
Michael Ballack, legendary German football player, was born on September 26, 1976 in Görlitz, East Germany. He is the only son of engineer Stephen Barak and secretary Karin Barak.
At an early age, Ballack moved with his family to Chemnitz (formerly Karl Marx City), where he began his football journey. Ballack’s extraordinary talent led him to the elite sports school for children and youth (KSJ) “Emil Wollner” in Karl-Marx-Stadt, where he improved his skills.
While specific details about his formal academic education are limited, it is clear that football was his primary focus from an early age. Barak is German. Although his religious beliefs are not known to the public.
Profession
Michael Ballack’s football career began at a young age. At just seven years old, his parents enrolled him in the BSG Motor “Fritz Heckert” Karl-Marx-Stadt sports community.
Head coach Stefan Harnisch saw great potential in the young Ballack, especially his advanced skills and deft shooting. This led him to the famous sports school for children and youth in Karl-Marx-Stadt.
In 1995, Ballack’s talents as a midfielder earned him his first professional contract. Ballack, known as “Little Caesar” after the legendary Franz Beckenbauer, had an unstoppable rise. His Bundesliga debut came in the 1997-98 season for Kaiserslautern FC, where he even played alongside a young Miroslav Klose.
Ballack truly blossomed at Bayer Leverkusen (1999-2002). Coaches Daum and Topmoeller used his attacking prowess to score 27 league goals and played a vital role in the team’s success. His outstanding performance earned him the 2002 German Footballer of the Year Award and was selected into the UEFA Team of the Year.
Despite Real Madrid’s interest in Ballack, Ballack chose Bayern Munich in 2002. There, he lifted the Bundesliga and German Cup trophies in his first season. However, Bayern dropped two titles in his second season, drawing criticism from Beckenbauer.
In 2006, Ballack unexpectedly moved to Chelsea on a free transfer. He aimed to finish his career there and enjoyed a successful spell, recording what was then the lowest losing record for a player with over 100 appearances in the Premier League. A return to Bayer Leverkusen in 2010 marked his final chapter. Injuries hampered his time there and he eventually announced his retirement in 2012.
Michael Ballack’s international career has been as impressive as his club career. After a brief spell with the Germany U-21 team, he made his debut in 1999 under Berti Vogts. His breakthrough came during the 2002 World Cup. Ballack played a crucial role in Germany’s progression to the final, scoring vital goals against the United States and South Korea.
The 2006 home World Cup was another highlight for Ballack. Despite missing the first game due to injury, he served as captain in the subsequent games, demonstrating his leadership and skills. In the 2008 European Cup, Ballack led the German team to the final and scored a key free kick against Austria in the quarter-finals.
Unfortunately, he was injured in the 2010 FA Cup final and missed the 2010 World Cup, which was a major blow to him and the German team. Ballack’s international career has been marked by his leadership, technical ability and goal-scoring prowess. He is considered one of the greatest German midfielders of his generation.
Awards and nominations
Former German footballer Michael Ballack received an impressive list of awards and titles during his career:
- German Footballer of the Year: 2002, 2003, 2005.
- UEFA Midfielder of the Year: 2002
- FIFA World Cup runner-up: 2002
- European Cup runner-up: 2008
- Bundesliga titles: 4 (with Bayern Munich and Kaiserslautern)
- Premier League titles: 1 (with Chelsea)
- DFB-Pokal (German Cup): 3 (vs. Bayern Munich)
- FA Cup: 3 (with Chelsea)
- Champions League runners-up: 2 times (with Bayer Leverkusen and Chelsea)
social media
- Instagram account: @michaelballackofficial
- Facebook account: Michael Barak
- Twitter account: @Ballack
personal life
Michael Ballack has had several high-profile relationships. Barak was married to Simone Lambe from 2008 to 2012. They had three sons: Luis, Emilio (who sadly passed away in 2021) and Jody.
After his divorce from Simone Lambe, Barak dated French journalist Natasha Tannous. Most recently, Barack was in a relationship with German model Sophia Schneiderhan. Their relationship began after the tragic death of Barak’s son Emilio.
net worth
Michael Barrack’s net worth is estimated to be around $30 million. This wealth mainly comes from his successful professional football career, during which he played for top clubs such as Bayer Leverkusen, Bayern Munich and Chelsea. His huge earnings from contracts, endorsements, and bonuses contribute to his net worth.
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