Germany's Michael Ballack retires from active football

36 year old midfielder Michael Ballack yesterday called it quits on his playing career after the former Germany captain did not find a club to continue his career. Ballack left Bayer 04 Leverkusen in the summer and was said to have been in talks with clubs in the North American MLS and Australian A-League with offers also coming in from the Middle East, but no deal could be worked out.

In an official statement Ballack said:

At 36 years of age, I can look back on a long and wonderful time in professional football, which I could never have dreamed of as a child. It was a privilege to have worked with world-class coaches and fantastic players.

Of course, I will miss playing playing or scoring a goal in front of 80,000 fans, but the last few months without football have shown me that it is time to stop.

I am looking forward to a new chapter in my life and thank my family and all the awesome people who have helped and supported me. They are all a big part of my success.

The former Germany 'Capitano' as he was fondly called, played 98 times for Germany before a horrific injury playing for FC Chelsea by Kevin Pricne Boateng in the English FA Cup final in May 2010 forcefully ended his international career just before the 2010 FIFA World Cup.

Ballack who played for Chemnitzer FC, 1.Kaiserslautern, Bayer 04 Leverkusen, FC Bayern Munich, FC Chelsea London before returning to Leverkusen; is best known to have led Germany through a difficult decade without real stars expect him but also as someone who couldn't win an international title finishing runners-up at the 2002 FIFA World Cup and the 2008 European Championships for Germany, besides the 2002 and 2008 UEFA Champions League though he won the German Bundesliga and English Premier League titles for his club sides.

Bundesliga Column - Round 34: Cologne relegated, Hertha Berlin get relegation spot

As is usual in the last couple of German Bundesliga rounds all nine matches of Round 34, the final match day of the 2011/12 season were played simultaneously at 15.30 CET on Saturday. This is to ensure same chances for everyone fighting for the title, places in Europe and against relegation.

And what a match day it turned out to be though key decisions on champions, first team to be relegated and who gains places for Europe next season had already been taken. Champions Borussia Dortmund trashed an inform SC Freiburg 4-0 to finish with 81 points, a new record in the history of the Bundesliga.

The eyes were all on the relegation battle between 1.FC Köln and Hertha BSC Berlin, who would get relegated directly and who would get a second chance in the relegation playoff against the third-placed side in the 2.Bundesliga. FC Cologne that the difficult task of facing record champions FC Bayern Munich at home, while Hertha BSC Berlin faced 1899 Hoffenheim who had nothing to really play except that their coach Markus Babbel had been Hertha coach earlier on in the season.

As one would have expected Cologne suffered a 1-4 defeat at the hands of Bayern Munich, but Hertha Berlin won 3-1 against Hoffenheim to push Cologne into Division 2 while they face Fortuna Düsseldorf in the relegation playoff in the coming days to decide to play Bundesliga and 2.Bundesliga next season.

The last Europa League spot was grabbed by Hannover 96 who beat relegated 1.FC Kaiserslautern 2-1 while VfL Wolfsburg, Werder Bremen and 1.FC Nürnberg all lost in their quest for European football next season.


Round 34 Results

Borussia Dortmund 4-0 SC Freiburg
Hertha BSC Berlin 3-1 1899 Hoffenheim
FC Augsburg 1-0 Hamburger SV
1.FC Nürnberg 1-4 Bayer 04 Leverkusen
SV Werder Bremen 2-3 FC Schalke 04
VfB Stuttgart 3-2 VfL Wolfsburg
Hannover 96 2-1 1.FC Kaiserslautern
1.FC Köln 1-4 FC Bayern München
1.FSV Mainz 05 0-3 Borussia Mönchengladbach

Bundesliga Column - Round 33: Decisions at top, relegation battle on last day

As is usual in the German Bundesliga for the last couple of rounds all nine matches of Round 33 of the 2011/12 season were played simultaneously at 15.30 CET on Saturday. This is to ensure same chances for everyone fighting for the title, places in Europe and against relegation.

The matchday saw champions Borussia Dortmund visit relegated 1.Kaiserslautern in an inconsequential match which did have its moments as Dortmund won 5-2, while Schalke ensured third spot and direct qualification for the UEFA Champions League while Bayer 04 Leverkusen and VfB Stuttgart qualified for the UEFA Europa League.

But of bigger interest was the relegation battle then before the match day four teams still could face relegation or the playoff spot. But with 17th place Hertha BSC Berlin trashed 4-0 by Schalke 04 and 16th placed FC Cologne losing 1-4 at SC Freiburg it meant that goalless draws for FC Augsburg in Mönchengladbach and Hamburger SV against Mainz was enough to ensure their survival.

But between Hertha Berlin and FC Cologne it will only be decided on next Saturday who goes down directly and which team will get another chance for survival in the relegation playoff spot. Currently Cologne are on 30 points, two ahead of Hertha Berlin. But both sides have tough final day encounters with Cologne set to face Bayern Munich, while Hertha Berlin take on Hoffenheim who are coached by former Hertha coach Markus Babbel who was fired late last year.


Round 33 Results

FC Schalke 04 4-0 Hertha BSC Berlin
Bayer 04 Leverkusen 1-0 Hannover 96
SC Freiburg 4-1 1.FC Köln
1.FC Kaiserslautern 2-5 Borussia Dortmund
1899 Hoffenheim 2-3 1.FC Nürnberg
VfL Wolfsburg 3-1 SV Werder Bremen
Hamburger SV 0-0 1.FSV Mainz 05
FC Bayern München 2-0 VfB Stuttgart
Borussia Mönchengladbach 0-0 FC Augsburg

Bundesliga Column - Round 32: Dortmund are champions!

Round 32 of the 2011/12 Bundesliga season saw champions Borussia Dortmund defend their title from last season with a rather easy 2-0 against Borussia Mönchengladbach while 1.FC Kaiserslautern returned to winning ways against Hertha BSC Berlin but still were relegated while Hertha's relegation threat grew further with the defeat.

Dortmund went into the third last round of the season with an eight point lead and knowing if Bayern Munich don't win in Bremen then the would have won the title before playing their Saturday evening match against Borussia Mönchengladbach. But Bayern Munich scored a 90th minute winner through individual brilliance from substitute Franck Ribery to beat Werder Bremen 2-1 in an afternoon match.

Now Dortmund wanted to seal the title this weekend at home rather then wait another week and win the title away. The team showed what it did all season - direct power football which didn't leave any real chances to Gladbach. Goals from Ivan Perisic and Shinji Kagawa on either side of the break sealed the victory. Thereafter it was party time in Dortmund!

Meanwhile in the relegation race the two bottom clubs Hertha BSC Berlin and 1.FC Kaiserslautern met at the Olympic Stadium in Berlin. Hertha hoped to close the gap or overtake FC Cologne who are in the 16th spot relegation playoff spot, but the club from the capital suffered a 1-2 defeat against Kaiserslautern, their first win after 21 winless matches.

FC Cologne meanwhile showed a marked improvement against an in-form VfB Stuttgart but in the end had to settle for a one-all draw, which was also the result between FC Augsburg vs FC Schalke 04 and 1.FC Nürnberg vs Hamburger SV. With two matches to play Augsburg remain four points ahead of Cologne, while Hamburg have five points more then the Rhineland club.


Round 32 Results

1.FSV Mainz 05 0-0 VfL Wolfsburg
SV Werder Bremen 1-2 FC Bayern München
1.FC Köln 1-1 VfB Stuttgart
Hertha BSC Berlin 1-2 1.FC Kaiserslautern
1899 Hoffenheim 0-1 Bayer 04 Leverkusen
1.FC Nürnberg 1-1 Hamburger SV
Borussia Dortmund 2-0 Borussia Mönchengladbach
FC Augsburg 1-1 FC Schalke 04
Hannover 96 0-0 SC Freiburg

Bundesliga Column - Round 31: Derby win propels Dortmund closer to title

Round 31 of the 2011/12 Bundesliga season was about derbies in the west and the north of the country. While Dortmund won 2-1 away to Schalke to close in on defending their Bundesliga title, Mönchengladbach trashed FC Cologne 3-0 to keep their direct Champions League qualification hopes alive while Cologne's relegation worries grew even further and Hamburger SV scored a vital win against Hannover 96 in their fight to avoid relegation.

Borussia Dortmund just three days after winning against FC Bayern Munich had to dig deep to beat archrivals FC Schalke 2-1 in a closely contested Ruhr valley derby. With Bayern Munich only drawing goalless against 1.FSV Mainz 05 this derby win puts Dortmund eight points clear at the top with three matches to go and now remaining undefeated in their 25 straight game setting a new Bundesliga record.

In the race to avoid relegation Kaiserlautern are just one point away to confirm their 2.Bundesliga status next season. Another loss, this time 0-2 against 1.FC Nürnberg didn't help their cause. But Hertha BSC Berlin, who are in 17th place, fought back from two goals down against Bayer 04 Leverkusen to even go 3-2 ahead but they had to settle for a 3-3 draw which in their situation isn't enough.

FC Cologne went into the Rhine derby against Borussia Mönchengladbach under a new interim coach in Frank Schaefer, but they lost 0-3 to stay in the relegation playoff spot. But the gap to the teams above them widened then Hamburger SV won at home against Hannover 96, while FC Augsburg scored a surprise 2-1 away win to VfL Wolfsburg.

The Bundesliga title looks decided, the first relegated team is also clear but everything else is to play for with three rounds of matches remaining.


Round 31 Results

VfB Stuttgart 4-1 SV Werder Bremen
FC Schalke 04 1-2 Borussia Dortmund
Hamburger SV 1-0 Hannover 96
1.FC Kaiserslautern 0-2 1.FC Nürnberg
VfL Wolfsburg 1-2 FC Augsburg
Bayer 04 Leverkusen 3-3 Hertha BSC Berlin
FC Bayern München 0-0 1.FSV Mainz 05
Borussia Mönchengladbach 3-0 1.FC Köln
SC Freiburg 0-0 1899 Hoffenheim

Bundesliga Column - Round 30: Dortmund on way to title!

Round 30 of the 2011/12 Bundesliga season was all about the top of the table clash between Borussia Dortmund and FC Bayern Munich at the Signal Iduna Park, Dortmund on Wednesday evening. Meanwhile in the relegation battle the bottom five all lost which close to ensures Kaiserslautern's relegation while Hamburg, Augsburg, Cologne and Hertha Berlin fight for survival.

The match BVB vs FCB was about one against two in the table, defending champions vs record champions, it was billed as the match of the season. It had a slow start as Dortmund were in control in the first session, but after the break Bayern Munich had more of the game but it was Dortmund who scored through a great flick from Robert Lewandowski of a Kevin Großkreutz shot. Arjen Robben was the unlucky man for Bayern Munich as his penalty was saved by Roman Weidenfeller and close to the end shot over from about five yards out. Dortmund are now six points ahead with four matches to play and anything but the title would now be a big surprise.

In other matches VfB Stuttgart maintained their impressive run with a 3-1 away win in Augsburg to stay fifth ahead of Bayer 04 Leverkusen and Hannover 96 who also won their games, while 1.FC Nürnberg trashed FC Schalke 04 4-1, Freiburg won 2-1 away to Hertha BSC Berlin while 1.FSV Mainz 05 hammered 1.FC Köln 4-0 to all move away from the relegation zone.

This leaves now five instead of eight clubs to fight for survival. In the relegation battle things did not look good for Hamburger SV (0-4 in Hoffenheim), FC Augsburg (1-3 at home against Stuttgart), FC Cologne (0-4 in Mainz), Hertha BSC Berlin (1-2 against Freiburg) and Kaiserslautern (1-3 in Leverkusen)


Round 30 Results

Hertha BSC Berlin 1-2 SC Freiburg
FC Augsburg 1-3 VfB Stuttgart
1.FSV Mainz 05 4-0 1.FC Köln
SV Werder Bremen 2-2 Borussia Mönchengladbach
Borussia Dortmund 1-0 FC Bayern München
1.FC Nürnberg 4-1 FC Schalke 04
1899 Hoffenheim 4-0 Hamburger SV
Bayer 04 Leverkusen 3-1 1.FC Kaiserslautern
Hannover 96 2-0 VfL Wolfsburg

Bundesliga Column - Round 27: The Relegation Battle intensifies

Round 27 of the 2011/12 Bundesliga season saw a number of teams in the relegation zone win, which has put pressure on teams above them then out of the earlier four now eight, maybe even nine clubs could be fighting to stay in the league until the end of the season.

Especially the incredible runs from FC Augsburg and SC Freiburg, who a few weeks ago seemed doomed for relegation has surprised many while other clubs like 1.Kaiserslautern, Hertha BSC Berlin, Hamburger SV and FC Cologne have not been picking-up enough points.

Bulgarian Krassimir Balakov made his debut as the new coach at bottom side 1.FC Kaiserslautern. Balakov happens to be a former Bundesliga star at Stuttgart and knows the league well, but he only joined midweek from Croatian side Hajduk Split. He couldn't do much as Lautern lost 0-2 in Freiburg against an inform side who moved into 13th spot.

Another inform side Augsburg needed an injury time equaliser against Bremen to continue their unbeaten run, while Hertha BSC scored a crucial win away to Mainz though staying on an automatic relegation spot. But the worry of the league are Hamburg and Cologne who suffered more defeats. While Hamburg has now lost four matches in a row, Cologne were trashed 6-1 by champions Dortmund.

For Dortmund the 6-1 win against Cologne on Sunday was crucial then Bayern Munich had closed the gap to just two points after their hard-earned 2-1 win against Hannover 96. The title race is one as both sides keep the momentum going, while Schalke moved into third spot with a 2-0 win against Leverkusen, while Mönchengladbach lost to Hoffenheim as they did not overcome their midweek German Cup blues.


Round 27 Results

VfL Wolfsburg 2-1 Hamburger SV
1.FSV Mainz 05 1-3 Hertha BSC Berlin
Borussia Mönchengladbach 1-2 1899 Hoffenheim
FC Bayern München 2-1 Hannover 96
SV Werder Bremen 1-1 FC Augsburg
SC Freiburg 2-0 1.FC Kaiserslautern
FC Schalke 04 2-0 Bayer 04 Leverkusen
VfB Stuttgart 1-0 1.FC Nürnberg
1.FC Köln 1-6 Borussia Dortmund

Crazy Bundesliga: The table looks upside down

The German Bundesliga is only into its second round, but it was once more a crazy match day this Saturday, August 28. With matches to be played later today, the league is currently being jointly led by promoted 1.FC Kaiserslautern and 1899 Hoffenheim on a better goal difference ahead of Mainz 05, Hamburger SV and Hannover 96 all on six points; while on the other side of the table you will find 1.FC Cologne, Eintracht Frankfurt, Schalke 04 and VfL Wolfsburg with no points so far.

The pick of the day surely was the 4-3 win of Mainz 05 against VfL Wolfsburg at the Volkswagen Arena. The North Germans were already leading 3-0 after a double strike from Edin Dzeko and a goal on his debut from Brazilian Diego at the half hour mark, but Mainz went on to score four goals in a rare turnaround for an in the end deserving away win. For Steve McClaren and his team it was the second loss in as many games and the Englishmen will think what he did wrong as his defence once more let him down. Mainz continue were they left off last season as the surprise team of the league as they now have two wins out of two matches.

The upset of Round 2 came on Friday evening as newly promoted 1.FC Kaiserslautern beat defending champions FC Bayern Munich 2-0 infront of a sell-out 50.000 at the legendary Betzenberg. Bayern had over 70% ball possession, chances galore but somehow the Bavarian giants could not score on the night. World Cup hero Thomas Mueller had their best chance in the 24th minute as his shot beat keeper Tobias Sippel, but also missed the goal by a whisker. Lautern won the match with a double strike with a minute. First in the 36th minute Ivo Ilecivic scored a beauty of a goal which beat Butt in the Bayern goal and then only a few seconds later Ilecivic played a square pass to Srdjan Lakic, who just had to tap in.

In other games Schalke 04 lost 1-2 against Hannover 96, Werder Bremen won 4-2 against 1.FC Cologne, Eintracht Frankfurt suffered a 1-3 home defeat against Hamburger SV, 1.FC Nuremberg lost 1-2 against SC Freiburg, while FC St. Pauli lost due to a late goal against 1899 Hoffenheim.

In the final matches of Round 2 later today Bayer 04 Leverkusen face Borussia Moenchengladbach in a Rhine derby, while VfB Stuttgart host Borussia Dortmund in a match-up of Europa League qualifiers.