I was in Germany for one of the pivotal moments in the career of Michael Ballack, when his outstretched leg cost Bayer Leverkusen their first ever Bundesliga title.
Living as I was in Cologne at the time, I was one of tens of thousands in the city glued to a television screen as 1.FC Köln’s local rivals from across the Rhine did battle with Bavarian minnows Unterhaching on the outskirts of Munich.
Needing simply to avoid defeat to win the title, in the 20th minute Ballack stretched to cut out a harmless Danny Schwarz cross and instead deflected it past his own goalkeeper Adam Matysek to open the scoring in a 2-0 defeat.
Lest anyone assume schadenfreude doesn’t actually exist in Germany, those watching in the room with me rose as one to roar the ubiquitous “super!” you often hear bellowed by happy Germans.
Ballack, it seems, has never been especially popular in Germany.
His has been a strange career, starting as it did in East Germany, moving to upwardly mobile Kaiserslautern, blossoming at the largely unloved Leverkusen, featuring big-money moves to Bayern and Chelsea and bookended by a second unsuccessful stint in Leverkusen.
He may be remembered as one of Leverkusen’s best ever players but will always be singled out as the man whose catastrophic own-goal sent the Werkself down the path of collecting that unwanted ‘Neverkusen’ tag.
Yet it takes a special kind of mental strength to pick oneself up from such disappointment and star with clubs the calibre of Bayern and Chelsea, not to mention captain an international side as strong as Germany.
Paradoxically, for all his undoubted inner strength, Ballack has always been regarded as a divisive figure.
His stubborn refusal to retire from the national team when he was clearly past his best led to ugly fall-out with Germany coach Jogi Löw.
Meanwhile his poor form and subsequent benching by Leverkusen – which prompted chief executive Wolfgang Holzhäuser to label “Project Ballack” a dismal failure – led to the kind of wonderfully melodramatic soap opera only the Bundesliga can produce.
It’s against this backdrop Ballack will supposedly move to the A-League
But is he the right choice for Western Sydney Wanderers?
He ticks a few key boxes at least.
He may be as German as Schwarzwälder Kirschtorte but crucially Ballack has spent a fair chunk of his time in the English Premier League.
He is therefore likely to entice some of the stay-away fans obsessed with English football to A-League games, and boosting crowd figures is surely one of the key reasons to sign a marquee player.
He’s also a world-class talent, and it’s not every day a player of his calibre makes his way Down Under.
And if Ballack does happen to sign, as a natural leader and fluent English speaker he would surely take on the captain’s armband.
So there are some compelling reasons to sign one of German football’s biggest names, so much so it’s hard to believe Football Federation Australia officials felt that fans in western Sydney weren’t interested in a marquee signing.
But there is something about Ballack – and not to try and pander to national stereotypes – which invokes a sense of unease.
He’s like a riddle wrapped in a mystery wrapped in a battle-hardened Teutonic shell and it seems you never know what you’re going to get with this enigmatic talent.
At Leverkusen he cost his team the title before sulking his way through a second spell, at Bayern he was accused of choking in big matches, Chelsea let his contract expire and he called Germany’s attempt to offer him a farewell friendly “a farce.”
Yet it’s clear that, on his day, Ballack is a genuine match winner.
I hope the Wanderers roll the dice and sign him.
His presence would, if nothing else, add another layer of intrigue to what is shaping up as the most exciting A-League season yet.
nachos supreme
Guest
even the San Francisco news is covering this.....all be it via a feed..... http://www.sfgate.com/sports/article/Western-Sydney-still-hopes-to-sign-Michael-Ballack-3891114.php
Mato-Bateman
Guest
Wanderers would be crazy not to sign him. They need an experienced leader and midfielder. Ballack fits that role perfectly. The guy was the German national team captain and is capped 98 times. Won championships at Chelsea, Bayern Munich and Kaiserslautern. Was German footballer of the year 3 times, made the Fifa world cup all stars team twice and is in the Fifa 100. He might be almost 36 but he would be worth it.
Axelv
Guest
He definitely is in the same class, without a doubt 100%.
Minister for Information for the Democratic People's Republic of Football
Guest
DAMN YOU NORDSTER!! ..(shakes fist)
nordster
Guest
Its a nice slogan and the new member brochure they put out is great. Mark from Penrith! But its all within whats entirely "appropriate" of course, grandpa lyall's words at the press conference ...bring the nanna rugs kids!
nordster
Guest
Outside of east sydney as ever...transient global backpacker hostel that u are...keep holding out for james packer's china high rollers i guess. Will be a boon for the local pleasure parlours ;)
hoolifan
Guest
saw him play against Fulham at Craven Cottage. did not get a kick. Pass on this one.
simon
Guest
thats incredibly unfair to pinpoint a few low points in a mans storeyed career and try and pass it off as if the last 15 years were all the same. I feel sorry for you that your fondest memory was of him at chelsea in 2009. The man was polarising, but mainly on his personal attributes and not his ability. The man was brilliant at times and easily one of Germanys all time greats. He would be a wonderful signing for the A-league
Jim
Guest
Ballack is a great player BUT he is NOT in the same class as Del Piero! And NO I am NOT of Italian descent.
Midfielder
Guest
Fuss As that other famous Melbourne type says.... shame shame shame.... how dare you ... you capital city upstart.... """Can you believe this? Little CCM from the tiny regional town of Gosford,"""" You should have said .... Gods hidden paradise were only the best people live the regional jewel called the Central Coast ..... then you could have said the mighty Mariners coached by former Socceroo and Socceroo coach and boasting a squad full of talented etc etc etc...
BigAl
Guest
Kasey's understanding of, and sense of humour would appear to be on a par with an Islamic jihadist !
nachos supreme
Guest
He didn't seem to be all that positive about it the possibility of it working out. It sounds like there's a ways to go if it's going to happen.
pete4
Guest
Love the "Wanderland" idea for Parra stadium (sounds like it'll be an exceptional matchday experience)
Mike Tuckerman
Expert
"We haven't dismissed anything as yet. Everything is still on the table." - Lyall Gorman If it's going to happen, it's obviously not going to happen today.
Fussball ist unser leben
Roar Guru
When European football stars - nearing retirement - started heading to the MLS, people thought it wouldn't have a lasting impact. But, a recent study by Rich Luker, a 59-year-old baseball-loving social scientist, has found - for the first time ever - soccer is now "America's second-most popular sport for those age 12-24"!! Yes, for the 1st time ever, "soccer" is now more popular than NBA, MLB and college football amongst the age group that matters the most for future forecasting. Other findings of Luker's study - across all sports, include: * a larger proportion of Americans would rather watch sports on television than in person * The U.S. soccer audience is also unique - it's a true community. They embrace soccer as a communal lifestyle as opposed to a personal experience or a community that only exists on gameday." The only group that comes close are college sports fans (or followers of the Grateful Dead!!) * soccer fandom tends to be expressed on a 24/7 basis * for years soccer has "underperformed" in the USA due to rival sports actively trying to marginalise the sport (sound familiar?!!). But the US sporting landscape has altered dramatically. Cultural diversification, a globalised view of sport & widespread access to the Internet have benefitted soccer more than the other more traditional American sports. (Again ... sound familiar :) ) "In the last two years, Americans have been exposed to elite soccer on a very regular basis, which has allowed us to appreciate the sport and develop a savvy about it in a way we could not before," Luker said. Full story: http://soccernet.espn.go.com/blog/_/name/relegationzone/id/262?cc=3436 .... Remember the local elite AUS football scene is approximately 10yrs behind the elite USA football scene.
Dillan
Guest
http://www.foxsports.com.au/football/a-league/should-western-sydney-wanderers-try-sign-former-chelsea-and-bayer-leverkusen-star-michael-ballack/story-e6frf4gl-1226477987732
pete4
Guest
January move? "Though seemingly unlikely because of his wages, the midfielder has also been linked to MLS and the A-League in the past" Sahin: I know where Kaka is going http://soccernet.espn.go.com/news/story/_/id/1166009/nuri-sahin:-i-know-where-kaka-is-going-in-january?cc=3436
holly
Guest
a bit harsh to say Ballack's own goal cost Leverkusen the title - championships are decided over an entire season.
Nathan of Perth
Roar Rookie
You would have to suggest that they've heard something ...
apaway
Roar Guru
They DID have it in the bag. It'just that it wasn't the brown paper bag with bundles of cash in it.