Ballack wants coaching license, hopes for farewell

BERLIN: Retired ex-Germany captain Michael Ballack has said he is hoping to have a farewell game organized for him and has revealed he plans to get his coaching license.
The former Chelsea star, who turned 36 in September, retired from professional football at the start of the month after his two-year contract at Bayer Leverkusen expired having made 98 appearances for Germany.
Ballack turned down a offer by the German Football Federation (DFB) to make his final appearance in the friendly victory over Brazil in August 2011, but the midfielder says he still wants a farewell match.
“I would hope so. Of course, I would like to say goodbye to the fans,” Ballack, who spent four years with Chelsea, told Cologne newspaper Express when asked if he wanted a farewell match.
“I will at some point in the foreseeable future get my coaching license.
“But whether or not I will be a trainer, I can’t say yet.” Bayer Leverkusen’s director of sport Rudi Voeller says he wants to see a special game organized for Ballack.
“Everyone had assumed Michael would continue to play,” Voeller told Bild on Sunday, having also advised Ballack to get his coaching license.
“Now we have to see whether we can organize a farewell match, it should be put together by the DFB, Ballack and Bayer.” But it looks unlikely the DFB will be involved in any plans after Ballack turned down their initial offer.
“I personally think the time for a farewell match is gone,” Bierhoff told Aktuellen Sportstudio on German television before pointing out neither former stars Jurgen Klinsmann nor Jurgen Kohler had farewell matches.
“Firstly, we have only a few dates available, so I see no chance anymore.”