“Alonso’s Leverkusen is great for the Bundesliga and for Bayern” ⚽ Michael Ballack | Up Front
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?
Пікірлер: 385
As a Leverkusen fan each time you said my team's name was like a stab to the heart
@philipp4067
Ай бұрын
Leverkausen ab jetzt
@ThatGuy-tx4vm
Ай бұрын
He's a goddamn idiot because of the fact that he actually has said the name correctly in the past. I have no idea why he does this.
@arturweber4179
Ай бұрын
This does in the ears hurt.
@SirPablo2Pablo
Ай бұрын
Simon not Cow but Koo
@davidwilliams5378
Ай бұрын
Im not even a Leverkusen fan, but I felt the same stab Why does Ballack not correct him? Awful - shows me he has never watched Leverkusen play
I swear we here in Germany owe this man a lot. He took the national team on his back when nothing was going for us. Only world class player we had back then and was great captain. He wasn’t treated the best when his career came to an end.
@SATULAL
Ай бұрын
I live in Germany and I'm honestly stunned by the indifference/hate he gets from regular German football fans my age (mid 30s). The way he was shafted by the DFB/Loew in 2010 after his injury did not sit well with me. He is well spoken in both German and English.
@RL-
Ай бұрын
Fantastic player and fantastic leader. Chelsea fans were truly spoiled in the mid 2000s into the 2010s. Just full of top class leaders of men.
@FrederickJohnSebastian
Ай бұрын
They did have Kahn who was world class and Klose 😉 but I get your point that had Ballack played a little later or a generation before he likely would have had international trophies. In 2002, he missed the final due to a technical foul and they suffered against Brazil. A phenomenal player.
@sohelzibara8166
Ай бұрын
One of the best german footballers ever. Had he had the margins on his side he would have ended winning the WC 2002, the euros 2008 as well as the CL 2008 with chelsea and 2002 with Bayer leverkusen. He also was an allround player who could score with both feet and head.
@jay7024376
Ай бұрын
@@FrederickJohnSebastian Khan was world class not Klose
Let's have a drink every time Simon says LeverkAUsen!
@tahabouhoun831
Ай бұрын
Oh it hurts .. Ballack keeps saying it the right way but Simon can't
@FrankyHaemmer
Ай бұрын
He could say IT right. Levercoosen
@ianmworia5790
Ай бұрын
We'd all be shit-faced in 10 minutes.
@pat7963
Ай бұрын
Let`s here you speak German :)))))
@ianmworia5790
Ай бұрын
@@pat7963 Leverkusen!!!!
This guy interviewing is uninformed. In the WC semifinal he committed an absolutely necessary tactical foul to prevent a goal at 0:0. He did not get send off as this guy implied but received a yellow card which disqualified him from the possible final. Instead of crying like some english guys tend to do in such circumstances he scored the winning goal 2 minutes later. This guy is a legend.
@spreadthelove77
26 күн бұрын
Exactly 👌🏼
LeverkAusen? Christ, that grates every time he says it!
Michael Ballack is the reason I started following and playing football religously. Major respect, Always stepped up especially for Germany.
@DannyG-cv8so
Ай бұрын
Ballack was a solid, no nonsense, very talented and tough player. That Chelsea team he was part of was stacked with leaders and captains, and he lead them.
Great interview with Matt Damon
@tyronevaldez-kruger5313
Ай бұрын
With that accent Matt should have fought for us in "Save Private Ryan"
@georgeschilli1269
Ай бұрын
@tyronevaldez-kruger5313 have you seen the x-rated version? Saving Ryan's privates 😅😅😅
@IBelongtoJesus2729
13 күн бұрын
@@tyronevaldez-kruger5313the wrong side won that war, all you have to do is look out the window to see this is true.
@naldo9213
12 күн бұрын
😂
@ethandavis961
3 күн бұрын
My brother and I been saying the same thing for so long 😅
13:58 Ballack gives him the right pronunciation and he still keeps getting it wrong.
@fargodavilleitnotd6729
Ай бұрын
He has no self awareness, its somewhere between his arrogance and his know it all.
@geraldbutterpants5712
24 күн бұрын
The English do that all the time…especially commentators they make little to no effort in pronouncing foreign players names right when its not even hard to pronounce correctly
@fargodavilleitnotd6729
24 күн бұрын
"the english" wtf? what a ridiculous thing to say.
@felixdale3950
9 күн бұрын
@@geraldbutterpants5712 yeah true but I've never heard anyone pronounce it wrong like Simon; on this one at least
Horrible interviewer. Cuts him off repeatedly. Insults him ( 'but you lost in the finals' etc). Kudos to Ballack for enduring this.
@Mightyflynn77
Ай бұрын
Got 4 times as many subscribers as Boredom Allardyce, Sontaran McAllister and some random woman.
@David-ce1nh
29 күн бұрын
dont watch it then . Go watch some woke interviewer who accepts every answer without challenging them.
@FrederickJohnSebastian
29 күн бұрын
@@David-ce1nh only watched it once. Didn't know he was a professional troll. I won't make that mistake again
@adamtench4447
26 күн бұрын
@@FrederickJohnSebastian👋
@mrfurious60
24 күн бұрын
Brooo, he's so unlikeable. Has no charm or wits about him, Simon Jordan.
Simon’s pronunciation of Leverkusen is an absolute shocker, how longs he been around football? Surely never heard another soul say it like that 😅
@Daniel-ns1uf
Ай бұрын
What do you expect?! He can't even pronounce 'conversation' and 'nonsense' correctly. 😀
@callumbradke7194
Ай бұрын
@@Daniel-ns1uf"nonsenth"
@gtmr3070
Ай бұрын
When Ballack himself said "Leverkusen" that should have been a hint to Simon that his pronunciation was completely wrong, but apparently it wasn't. Wtf 😅Also, I understand when English people don't get the German club names completely right, but I mean "Levercowsen"? What the fuck is that?
@Bombast-A-Blasta
Ай бұрын
He’s doing it on purpose. It’s a British thing. Stupid.
@ThatGuy-tx4vm
Ай бұрын
@@gtmr3070funny thing is that he has said leverkusen multiple times before... Also levercowsen. He seems to pronounce it wrongly or correctly on a whim
Ballack was my favourite player and idol. I was so obsessed with him after the 2002 and 2006 World Cups. His playing style and leadership qualities were world class. I still have his German National team shirt from the Euro 2008.
47. This guy doesn't age. Singlehandedly pulled Germany through the dark ages.
Him Lampard Essein was honestly a pleasure to watch
@DannyG-cv8so
Ай бұрын
Spot on, and a nightmare to play against too.
Man, one of the best players of his generation... he was the whole package. So well rounded... and hey, he looks amazing!
I love Simon Jordan, but I don’t think listening is his main strength, Balack kept correcting him , but he was hearing LiverCOWson
Simon it's leverKUSEN
@carlspice4019
Ай бұрын
Honestly the way Simon says words does my nut in. It's like he wants to different or he's trying to show english people are inept in showing we won't even try to pronounce words properly.
@fergusmurphy3724
Ай бұрын
He’s brilliant at lots of things but his pronounciation of loads of names is atrocious
@fahadal-thani1386
Ай бұрын
Leicesterkousen
"The comfort Zone vs the Delivery Zone". That's José Mourinho 👏👏👏
Something missing when you're not in the same room having a conversation.
50+1 rule is actually the progressive model compared to the money grabbing Premier League. Football is for the fans not just about money.
@MJeezyPineappleTheFruitDude
Ай бұрын
Agreed. I appreciate ex-players like Ballack for their insights but when it comes to more complex topics like 50+1 you often can't really expect a very sophisticated answer. The vast majority of the German public and fans supports 50+1 and cares more about integrity than about international competitiveness.
@liams4411
Ай бұрын
@@MJeezyPineappleTheFruitDude I do like Simon but I do think he looks at Football from just a Business perspective most of the time and that's why he said PL is more 'progressive'. I guarantee if you ask most Football fans from EFL clubs they would love to have the German style system and fandom which the English leagues fail to tap in to. The Germans certainly know how to make their fans feel wanted compared to how the majority of English clubs treat their own supporters. We may have the best quality on the pitch, but something has gone missing along the way in England and it all points to greed and money.
@TheHesseJames
Ай бұрын
Ballack is a player not a fan. 50+1 may be good for the game but it isn’t for player salaries.
@danielobrien2877
24 күн бұрын
TH£ £PL IS FUCK£D OV£R SP£ND L£AGU£ Points deductions galore 1 horse race fs
This guy was the only player I saw boss a game at Highbury v Viera and Petit when he was playing for his German team, he was like a quarterback controlled the majority of the game which was rare when we had those 2 in our midfield.
@roykeane1922
Ай бұрын
Why did you just make this up lol? These KZread comment sections are bizarre. We faced Leverkusen long after Petit had left and took 4 points off them including a 4-1 win at highbury…
@bradleyclutton4564
Ай бұрын
@@roykeane1922 100% viera played anyway, I was in the west stand, and this guy bossed the game definitely, being a old fucker my memory isn’t what it was
@Youafool500
26 күн бұрын
You are probably thinking about blond haired German called Stefan Effenberg
What a legend! He carried Germany on his shoulders during our struggles. Lahm and Schweinsteiger learned a great deal from him. Even though he never won a title with Germany, he remains one of the most important players we've ever had, in my opinion.
Ballack was fantastic player and he is a really bright guy
I loved how Michael gave a little laughter when he sais Leverk#U#sen after Simon said Leverk#AU#sen the 15th times in the interview, and then Simon just went on with his AU.
Michael Ballack looks like a spitting image of Matt Damon from Bourne movies.
A really insightful interview with one of the great German midfielders. I really think the secret sauce of European success is the early emphasis on street football, I certainly saw this is the Netherlands where kids cycled everywhere together, where older kids had the responsibility to look after the younger ones, and on the way back from school used to pitch up and play an hour or so, the emphasis on developing technical skills before becoming athletes, and introducing competitive football at a later age so reducing the influence of 'competitive dad's' and focusing on fun and enjoyment before the pressure of the 'win at all costs' of professional football and to play without fear. It would be great to get the views of Bergkamp, Laudrup and other European players who are also coaches and have been managers as well.
Ballack had crazy goals i remember those long range bangers
Thank you for doing this interview! Love Ballack
gret to listen you interview michael legend forever
Love Ballack. Rivalry aside the Germans and us are very similar, I loved it there at the 2006 WC
Who the fuck are leather cow son
@tyronevaldez-kruger5313
Ай бұрын
idk. Sounds like an offspring of a kinky cow in leather
@tyronevaldez-kruger5313
Ай бұрын
idk. Sounds like an offspring of a kinky cow in leather
@tyronevaldez-kruger5313
Ай бұрын
idk. Sounds like an offspring of a kinky cow in leather
@vinzenzvega4445
Ай бұрын
😂😂😂
The big guns are out for Simon, great stuff
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
An incredible player and perhaps one of the most underrated players this century.
ballack was a top player i always enjoy these interviews with the best
Superb. Thank you both.
LeverKAUSEN. I have never heard them called that. They're in the news lots at the moment so how can someone who earns some of their living discussing sport (mainly football) get the pronunciation so wrong.
@Filzzy
Ай бұрын
I think he does it on purpose,I remember him butchering some Italian team names.
@klaus1913
Ай бұрын
@@Filzzy Yeah one gets the impression he's purposely trolling.
@tommyschmid5831
Ай бұрын
Some people are just bad with names. Even when others say them correctly or even when corrected.
One of my Favourite Chelsea players. Strong player, powerful player, and a great leader also.
Best quote from Ballack while doing punditry for ESPN for the 2014 World Cup. “John Terry stills owes me a champions league title 🏅” 😂
when michael says about it being wrong, that you should need a coach to motivate you, is very telling. and he's spot on. you see players now, who havent got that mentality. that fire in your belly. you cant coach that, nor should you need it.
Leverkusen!!!! damm, why doesn't he tell him!
@tommyschmid5831
Ай бұрын
He does it silently by doing it by example.
@svenrichtmann6792
Ай бұрын
Too polite to tell him he’s saying it so annoyingly wrong.
@DannyG-cv8so
Ай бұрын
Why are you all so bothered about how a foreigner pronounces a place/team name? I’m English, and couldn’t give a toss how you’d pronounce our names.
@tommyschmid5831
19 күн бұрын
@@DannyG-cv8so No one expects perfection or no accent. But when it is your job to know and talk about teams and players and their names at least get it somewhat right, specifically when you hear others use it so many times.
@kasperlassner3632
10 күн бұрын
It's called ignorance or, I don't think that's the case, disrespectful in such a case to be a football expert and not know how to pronounce it correctly. Ballack should have pointed him toward the right spelling as I'm sure he prefers to spell it correctly.
Great interview Simon talking about Michael`s backgrounds! Keep on with your Podcast..
Fantastic player and career, great video Simon
Stop talking over your guests ffs Simon, and Ballack was right, you do focus on the negatives
@Nicolchu_
Ай бұрын
He's become a Media Tart
@tommyschmid5831
Ай бұрын
It becomes painful to listen to after a couple of times.
@tyke-sl8bs
Ай бұрын
@@tommyschmid5831 he's got a lot of views I don't disagree with, but equally it appears only his view matters/is valid
@eugene_horan
Ай бұрын
Dead right!!!!! He tries to finish their sentences so he can quickly talk again🤦♂️ I like Simon in general but he has a lot to learn when it comes to interviewing someone. We come here to listen to them. The guest is ALWAYS the star..... Or else you're interested wrong job!
The Legend Ballack13 ya Love to see it😍👍
Here before Huw Evans repeats Simons intro for the billionth time
Ballack needs to be active at a high level somewhere - he has a great outlook
@callumbradke7194
Ай бұрын
Believe he's often a pundit over in Germany
@davinnicode
Ай бұрын
@@callumbradke7194sometimes he is a pundit for the German coverage of the Champions League by Amazon Prime
@TheHesseJames
Ай бұрын
@@callumbradke7194Not really. He may sound more eloquent/ interesting in English because you factor in that he is speaking in a foreign language. He is just as clumsy in German. He is a great footballer not necessarily great to work for the media.
@DannyG-cv8so
Ай бұрын
Spot on mate. His football knowledge needs to be taught to young players.
Grate interveiw wit michal bollock
What ALonso is doing with Leverkusen is the best story in football sinse I dont know when. Its jsut fantastic. Of coruse he was somewhat lucky with the new players coming in, but still, to play this sort of season (they have yet to lose a game) is jsut unbelievable.
@Filzzy
Ай бұрын
Since Leicester winning the prem
one of my favorite players ever
Best Podcast👍 Thanks Simon Thanks Ballack 👏
It s nice to see him again. Grew up with him on the German national team and when it was still kind of a magnicent thing to have East and West united.
Nice interview but could have asked him about the differences in PL players now and then e.g. more great strikers back then. Also how his role #6/8 has changed over the years.
@lukebrodin631
Ай бұрын
More quality out wide now
@davinnicode
Ай бұрын
The game became extremely athletic and less position-oriented. That’s why Full/Wing backs are one of the most important players in modern football
This man, Jose Mourinho! 🔥 🔥
Sir Simon = Top LAD Proper Clobber 💯 Facts
@user-pm5tu6qn4i
Ай бұрын
Boring comment
@williamwallace1097
Ай бұрын
Simon = Top Lad Proper Clobber
@GamerFrisco
Ай бұрын
Sir LFC Spectre & Sir Simon Jordan = top LADS Proper Clobbers 💯 Facts 👌✊️
@lfcspectre4335
Ай бұрын
@@williamwallace1097 Sir William = Top LAD Proper Clobber 💯 Facts
@lfcspectre4335
Ай бұрын
@@GamerFrisco Sir GamerFrisco = Top LAD Proper Clobber 💯 Facts
Ballack said 50 times how to say Levakusen. Despite this, Jordan proceeded to say it LevAKausen
@pat7963
Ай бұрын
Michael comes from Eastern Germany and due to his accent he might have some difficulties with certain words spelled in Western German accent. As it is in every country with different accents.
@orlando124431
Ай бұрын
@@pat7963 Not Ballack, Simon Jordan!!
“Leverkausen” omg
The arrogance of saying Germany got nocked out in the Final, England got nocked out in the group stages! And Leverkusen lost the CL final but was a great achievement to get there, beating Man United on the way
Simon “Levercowsen” Jordan
Thanx Simon. I really enjoy your informative interviews - really entertaining. Dare I suggest you extend your skills into politics?
great legend michael
If a team's progress is runner up, so be it. Fell in love with Michael B. Wearing flairs ( boot cut) jeans in a champions league magazine program in 2000 The sense back then was youth, expectation, and total commitment. While unlike Jordan here, the European domestic football opened up country wide.
Proud Levercow myself.
Even Rowan Atkinson couldn't have made the LeverCOWsen part more penetrating.
Great guest, a true german football leader. We are proud of you Michael Ballack ❤. And simon ur still a Master of Nothing, we are not proud of ya.
Levacowzun
Leathercowson
Watching this a day after Bayern and Dortmund just qualified for CL semi final.
Great interview even if with the wrong pronunciation of Leverkusen 😂
If that’s the best quote you could get from the pod I can’t be bothered to listen
Some real hard hitting controversial questions in this one!
Leverkausen? Leverkousen? Leverkaosen? Leverkoasen? Leverkusen!
@pat7963
Ай бұрын
In Germany we have different accents, so any pronounciation is right.
One of the best german footballers ever. Had he had the margins on his side he would have ended up winning the WC 2002, the euros 2008 as well as the CL 2008 with chelsea and 2002 with Bayer leverkusen. He also was an allround player who could score with both feet and head.
50+1 ensures that clubs are firmly anchored in the communities of their respective cities. This is why there are so many fans in German stadiums (the Bundesliga is the number one league in the world in terms of attendances, the 2. Bundesliga is the number five league in the world), because they identify with their club, which is partly theirs as a member. You also have the security of not ending up as a submissive propaganda tool for authoritarian dictatorships (Man City, PSG or Newcastle come to mind).
@davinnicode
Ай бұрын
It might be more stable but it also hinders much needed developments as fans are always able to reject suggestions. In my opinion the Bundesliga could be much stronger if the clubs were managed more professionally and teams were more open for investors (without losing power of the fans). Everything else, infrastructure, fans, geographical position and economic power is already there.
@denniswild7318
Ай бұрын
@@davinnicode In my opinion, many Bundesliga clubs, with the limited financial resources they have, are better managed than some Premier League clubs. There, at management/board level, you have ALMOST exclusively football experts working. Ex-players or people who have been in the business for years. That's not always the case in England. In some English clubs often money is just burned...
I had a good childhood everything was well organised 🤣
Lever cowson
@tommyschmid5831
Ай бұрын
Was probably playing Indians and Cowsons a lot with the boys then.
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.
It’s Leverkusen not LeverChaosen Simon. You got it wrong 50 times. Even after Michael pronounced it correctly
Simon Jordan, it’s called LEVERKUSEN, not LEVERKOUSEN 😂
We could all learn a lot from Michael Ballack.
Simon needs to be slapped for how he pronounces Leverkusen
Simon. East Germany also includes Silesia, Ostpreußen, Westpreußen, Posen, Pomerania, and parts of Brandenburg. Also it's Leverkusen.
70 percent of comments about the pronounciation of ballack`s ex-club instead of appreciating this great interview.
@alexsilk2611
Ай бұрын
He also didn't allow Ballack to finish a single answer
He's getting the words Leverkusen and Lederhausen get jumbled up in his head
16:58 'Haa Haa' 😂
بالاك. عملاق.اسطورة.المانية❤❤❤❤❤
I had to stop at 30 minutes. For fucks sake Simon stop interjecting and finishing off folks point. You in a rush?!
Even when Michael is saying LevekUsen, Simon insists on getting it wrong
@fargodavilleitnotd6729
Ай бұрын
Thats because if he prounounces it correct after Ballack he would have to admit to being wrong, That isnt in his locker at all.
🔴⚪️ MB13 BAYERN LEGEND 🔴⚪️
levercowsen
@dreamcaster99
Ай бұрын
Same with Bayern. We say Bayern Munich but it's actually Bayern Munchen
German football teams according to Simon Jordan Moainz Shaoulka Dartmound Kalan Hembaourg Haufonheim
Damn, let the guest talk. Maybe Simon thinks they are inane ramblings or that the conversation is getting stale, but often I want to hear the guest finish their idea. Simon seems to love inserting his voice after a certain point in the conversation, no matter what.
Clas player class bloke
Lever kauson
@guido_aka_guy
Ай бұрын
I guess Simon Jordan would never arrive the 24 km from Cologne Airport to Bayer what
Not a fan off zoom interviews tbh
@gunner4life568
Ай бұрын
me too but maybe there wasn't any choice
@chriss5884
Ай бұрын
right? Our small brains cannot adapt to this
Simon with all the respect, the way you pronounced Leverkusen made me sick, love your show though.
The greatest German Footballer in the last 25 years
@horsepower523
Ай бұрын
Philipp Lahm is right up there too with Ballack in my opinion
Ballack mentioning Hoeneß and Rummenigge when joining Bayern is the reason why Bayern is currently in a very difficult time of transformation. Hoeneß and Rummenigge basically are the fathers of success of Bayern Munich. They stepped down from their roles and it left a huge gap in terms of leading such a big club which is difficult to fill for new personnel. Even a legend like Oliver Kahn failed to do it. You could compare it to Alex Ferguson‘s exit at Man Utd.
@georgeschilli1269
Ай бұрын
They are partially responsible for the current crisis (especially Hoeness is) coz he implented Salihamidzic...which was a huge mistake.....a mistake he never admitted.....Salihamidzic was totally overwhelmed with his job struggling through interviews with "ehmmmm" and "ähmmmm". His "greatest transfer" (Mane) was a total flop....he created big problems amongst the players due to him raising sallaries of players who didnt deserve it. Also neither Hoeneß nor Rummenigge were able to just let go. They always Interfere and dont give others a real chance to take over. So YES it is partially their fault too.
The pig headed ignorance of Jordan on full display as he continuously calls Leverkusen, ‘Levvercowsun’, absolutely astonishing and actually quite disrespectful
I'm not even German and I'm pissed at Simon's shocking pronunciation of Leverkusen.
Ballack isnt in the greatest midfielder conversation. He definitely should be