The withdrawal of Michael Ballack

I recognize that it was one of my favorite players and many reviews point out that her figure was inflated too, or at least could have given more, but I think that the withdrawal was announced today by German Michael Ballack at 36 lines worth a about a player who came to hoard covers, being the target of criticism, losing finals and win titles. The latter came mostly in two cruise as Chelsea and Bayern Munich, but mostly I'm interested in the first Michael Ballack, who will lead a team like Bayer Leverkusen or a German team who lived transition times.

Because it is easier to review the history of the greatest, who won it all as his compatriot Franz Beckenbauer, who later became president and one of the critical voices with Ballack, but football is also written with the ink of those who also suffered defeat. And is that Michael's career is full of bittersweet that brings best and worst moments reminded though possibly more the less fortunate.

In any event, his first big break came when he joined the club Kaiserslautern and the Rhine rose against forecast fourth league history. Then would lead from midfield that Bayer Leverkusen Butt, Lucio, Placente, Ramelow, Schneider, Basturk, Neuville or Berbatov. The 2002 might have gone down in history of the Bay Arena club as a glorious year, however, all trained by Klaus Toppmöller runner became champion of everything and nothing. When he was the league to reach three rounds remaining trace was left by Borussia Dortmund, lost the Cup final against Schalke and the final of the Champions League against Real Madrid, with one goal to the memory of Zidane and who witnessed the exception .

That season would end with the World Cup in Korea and Japan. A Ballack he lived a period of the German team in which he had left behind the great generation of Matthäus, Klinsmann or Möller .'s Mannschaft was not as strong as ever but once again proved its competitiveness planting himself in the final against Brazil Kahn and Ballack led. However, after becoming one of the best players in the tournament, the disappointment was put back on the side of Michael and yellow semifinals prevented him play the final against the canarinha of Ronaldo, who was proclaimed winner final.

That year was the best in Ballack's career, becoming one of the best midfielders in Europe and leading two teams that were not in the pools as top seeds (if it ever be ruled to Germany), but the titles not renewed their performance. After three years in Leverkusen seemed that it was time to make the leap to a top-level club. Real Madrid was one of the most interested, but it was the Teutonic giant, Bayern, who took their services.

In the Allianz Arena titles came at last, raising three leagues and three cups, but the importance of Ballack in the Bavarian club was not the same as in the Ruhr Basin. The major unresolved issue was the Champions League, and some authoritative voices criticized Ballack Bayern their limited background in the most significant matches. Michael was still a great player, a todocampista defending, attacking and marking, but it was said that it was not all that pointed after that magnificent 2002.

After finishing his contract in Munich large raffled it again, and it was the Almighty Abramovich and Mourinho's Chelsea who took the German water. It seemed that with Essien or Lampard would form a formidable midfield that would sweep in England and finally addressed the conquest of the Champions League dream by Russian tycoon, but only the first was completed. Ballack was not a bad signing, but was in London the significance it had in the Bundesliga. Injuries did not help either. At Chelsea also lost their second Champions League final against Manchester United and with Germany the final of Euro 2008 against Spain, thereby increasing the unfortunate myth player in the finals.

His last two years have been spent back in Leverkusen, and after finishing contract and not finding new destination has decided to terminate his career. The views are contradictory: some say it was great, other overrated, even mediocre. But not a bad midfield mark 42 goals in 98 games for Germany. Maybe not confirm anything that pointed in that year 2002 or was a decent player and Golden Ball was an artist to the gallery, but it is unfair to be remembered only for the finals was lost when one of the midfielders more complete than has European football over the last decade.