The former Bayer Leverkusen, Bayern Munich and http://www.senore.com/Football-soccer/Chelsea-c38786 player retires from football and ends his association with the game after coming on to the scene in 1995 with Chemnitzer FC.
Former http://www.senore.com/Football-soccer/Michael-Ballack-c25270 has confirmed his retirement from professional football at the age of 36. The central midfielder is set to end his career after he was no longer required by Bayer Leverkusen
at the end of last season.
The attacker has played for four different clubs in the UEFA Champions League and represented his country 98 times. He was offered two friendly matches to get to 100 caps, but declined the generous offer stating that the team coach
Joachim Low mistreated him following the injury he suffered prior to the 2010 FIFA World Cup.
The star player announced the decision through his lawyer. He said thanks to all the people who helped him get by in his footballing career spanning almost two decades. He claimed that after so many years he can look back on a
successful time in the game he loves.
The playmaker conceded that he never even thought about achieving so much when he was a boy. He further added that it was a pleasure for him to work under top managers and play with world-class players. Moreover, the midfielder
is set to look for a new opportunity in life.
"At 36 years old I can look back on a long and wonderful time in professional football, which I could never have dreamed of as a child," he was quoted as saying in an interview.
"It was a privilege to work with world-class coaches and fantastic players. Now I am looking forward to a new chapter in my life," he added.
"It's been a privilege to work with excellent coaches and players. I will surely miss to play in front of 80.000 fans or score a goal. The last months without active football did reveal that it's about time to quit," he concluded.
Ballack revealed that he will miss the glory of entertaining thousands of fans week in week out and said this was the perfect time for him to stop playing.
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