Michael Ballack agreed to join Chelsea on a free transfer on 15 May 2006. Shortly after arriving at Chelsea, Ballack stated that he hoped to end his career at Chelsea.
Ballack’s debut for Chelsea came on 31 July 2006, during a practice match at UCLA’s intramural football pitch. Chelsea presented him to the media the following day where the club also gave him his favoured number 13 shirt, worn throughout his career. On 27 August 2006, Ballack earned his English League debut for Chelsea against Blackburn Rovers, and made his UEFA Champions League debut for Chelsea against Werder Bremen on 12 September 2006.
Ballack scored his first goal for Chelsea in the later match against Werder Bremen. He received his first straight red card of his career in Chelsea’s 1–0 win over Liverpool on 17 September 2006, after being judged to have stamped on Mohamed Sissoko’s leg. Ballack scored his first goal in the English League on 21 October 2006 against Portsmouth at home with a header. His first FA Cup goal came in the 109th minute in a match against Blackburn Rovers on 15 April 2007.
Photos supplied by EMPICs and Getty Images / Darren Walsh Chelsea FC
You may like these:
CHELSEA AWAIT CANARIES CLASH
BALLACK'S BRIDGE RETURN
TORRES ASSISTS CHELSEA TO OPENING DAY WIN
MORE TORRES TRASH TALK FROM POSITIVE PERFORMANCE
Death, Defeat and VictoryShortlink:
