On today’s episode we are joined by one of the greats of German Football. Born in East Germany at a time of upheaval and division, Michael Ballack went on to become a legend for his country, making 98 appearances and scoring 42 goals.
Through playing street football at an early age, Ballack found his love for the game and knew he wanted to become a pro. He came to prominence at Kaiserslautern and was part of the side that did the unthinkable by winning the Bundesliga in 1997. His impressive performances earned him a move to Bayer Leverkusen and individually he continued to excel, as well as his stock amongst Europe’s elite. Collectively however, they failed to win any silverware following two consecutive years of falling at the last hurdle. Ballack would rectify this though, by joining the Bundesliga giants Bayern Munich and win multiple titles and cups.
Still eager for more success and new challenges, he swapped Munich for London, joining Abrahmovic’s revolution at Chelsea in 2006, to play under Jose Mourinho. He’d go on to win the premier league and a series of cups before heading back to Leverkusen in 2010, where he’d finish his career.
Michael joins the show and talks about his football journey, opening up on his time at Leverkusen, the exceptionally high standards at Bayern Munich and playing under Jose Mourinho. He also talks about how Xabi Alonso has brought a winning mentality to Leverkusen and how he’s transformed the club, whilst giving his honest opinion on the German National Side and their realistic prospects for the Euros.
#upfront #ballack #bayernmunich
00:00 Introduction to Michael Ballack
00:50 Podcast starts
01:14 Ballack’s background
05:53 Street football vs organised football
10:33 FC Kaiserslautern
13:06 Bayer Leverkusen
22:15 Bayer Leverkusen in 2024
25:21 The 50+1 Rule
30:00 Xabi Alonso
34:11 Bayern Munich
41:33 Chelsea & José Mourinho
54:20 German National Team
01:00:38 Another English golden generation?
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The interviewer is trying to bury Ballack. He is one of the greatest German footballers of all time. He was also one of the few talented German players of his era with Oliver Kahn.
Fantastic player for Chelsea for sure !
Simply great player 💯👈
I have to disagree with both about the ownership advantages of the premiere league. The premiere league is in big trouble, whilst being more economically profitable the ownership model is removing a fair opportunity for other clubs to break into the league and also giving fans better and fairer access to games. Now days man city still can’t sell out 100% of their season whilst Düsseldorf have a higher crowd attendance. Adding to that clubs are manipulating the entire system so that billionaire owners can use football as their playground is completely against the morality of what football stands for. How is that fair to the fans other football clubs robbing them of an opportunity? Club owners in the uk will never vote for a system like in Germany because they would loose power.
Leverkausen
Ballack played in the German team that got knocked out of the group stage in Euro 2004. Was he too woke?
I wish Jordan will learn as a media interviewer to STOP INTERRUPTING AND CUTTING HIS GUESTS Off. This is interviewing a sportsman, not a slippery eel of a politician who is trying to avoid answering the question. It was a cringe listen and such a shame because I would have liked to have listened to Michael answer properly
One of my Favourite Chelsea players. Strong player, powerful player, and a great leader also.
I'm not even German and I'm pissed at Simon's shocking pronunciation of Leverkusen.
Great player interviewed by a moron.
This is great for Leverkusen and bundesliga but not good for German national team; just look at how few of the team are German players.
The financial rule does not hold it back one bit. Or why do you think Bayern, Dortmund and Leverkusen are all in the semifinal of the european competitions? Unless ALL leagues just buy their way to victory, like the english league does, there is no issue. Only when all countries start pouring all that outside investor money into it, then it might get to a point where you HAVE to go the same route. But thus far, germany still usually is between 2-4 in terms of success of their teams in the european leagues, so it cannot be all about that money.
Micheal please become the manager of FC Chemnitz, Chemz are dieing out there. Pleasesssssss
This man, Jose Mourinho! 🔥 🔥
Levah-cow-san
Most unluckiest player ever. Went to all the major finals but lost all
This mfkr keeps saying Leverchaussen
Absolutely nobody:
This English buffoon: Lever-🐮-sen
I love Simon Jordan, but I don’t think listening is his main strength, Balack kept correcting him , but he was hearing LiverCOWson
Watched nearly all of these…a change if tact me thinks
I rather go to work on a Saturday than watch this boring German League never liked it anyway
Simon. East Germany also includes Silesia, Ostpreußen, Westpreußen, Posen, Pomerania, and parts of Brandenburg. Also it's Leverkusen.
Watching this a day after Bayern and Dortmund just qualified for CL semi final.
German football teams according to Simon Jordan
Moainz
Shaoulka
Dartmound
Kalan
Hembaourg
Haufonheim
He doesn't look a day older!
Love Ballack.
Rivalry aside the Germans and us are very similar, I loved it there at the 2006 WC
Thank you for doing this interview! Love Ballack
Am i the only one who gets pissed when he mentions leverkusen as levercalson
Best quote from Ballack while doing punditry for ESPN for the 2014 World Cup.
“John Terry stills owes me a champions league title 🏅” 😂
Who are Leverkausen?
I thought this was a close fight.
The interviewer makes a bit of a fool of himself in regard of being interested enough to pronounce words in other languages properly. Michael is a great player and communicator.
“Lever-kausen” made my ears bleed. Even worse than his wedding ring.
Just to be clear: Ballack is saying that Germany’s problem is being way too Woke. And for Qatar WC the country was more preoccupied with Rainbows than results on the pitch last
He's getting the words Leverkusen and Lederhausen get jumbled up in his head
Impressed by Michael Ballack, enjoyed him in Forest Gump
Education, societal practices… have never heard an English player (ex or current) talk about these factors
I love Michael Ballack he's one of my all time favorite players and impressed with how articulate and well-spoken he is. But I guess that's not surprising considering he's german
Hey peeps its pronced "grow up" in ya first or second language… Being emotional. 😊
What’s Lever cow sen ?
Simon, you’re a LeverCOWsen
Unfortunately this does not cut through the nonsense
The pig headed ignorance of Jordan on full display as he continuously calls Leverkusen, ‘Levvercowsun’, absolutely astonishing and actually quite disrespectful
Whiskey nose Simon
The arrogance of this jordan guy and so many english fans is the reason that all of Europe supported Italy in the euro final. What a disgusting person.