Michael Ballack：The Biography

Equallycompetentwithbothhisrightandleftfeet,BallackbeganhiscareerwithBSGMotoragedjustseven.OnsigninghisfirstprofessionalcontractwithChemnitzerFC,heearnedthenickname'LittleKaiser'andsoonmovedontoKaiserslautern.Athree-timewinneroftheGermanplayeroftheyearaward,Ballack'sthreeseasonsatBayerLeverkusenandfouratBayernMunichcementedhisreputationastheattackingmidfielderwithaneyeforagoal.ButhisjourneyfromEastGermanwunderkindtooneofEuropeanfootball'smostversatileplayersandaStamfordBridgelinchpinhasbeenfarfromeasy,withasuspensionfromthe2002WorldCupFinal;losingthe2006semi-finalinthelastminutesofextratime;andtheankleinjurythatkepthimoutofChelsea'sChampionsLeaguebidinhisdebutseason.SportsjournalistandfootballreporterEuanReedieprovidesafascinatinginsightintoBallack'sreturntoformwiththisdefinitivestoryofoneofEurope'smosttalentedandentertainingfootballers.