Mourinho took time out from his whirlwind week to manage a star-studded World XI in former Blues midfielder Michael Ballack’s testimonial at the Red Bull Arena in Leipzig, Germany.
World football stars past, present and future turned out by the bucketload to honour the majestic career of the midfield legend yesterday.
The 98-time Germany international signed off in some style, scoring three in a highly entertaining clash between a "Ballack & Friends" ensemble and World XI outfit managed by Jose Mourinho.
The festivities provided Mourinho with a chance to reunite with his old students - Ricardo Carvalho, Michael Essien, Florent Malouda, Andriy Shevchenko and Didier Drogba — all of whom played under the Portuguese manager during his trophy-laden stay in west London.
World XI: Lehmann, Weidenfeller, Carvalho, Mahdavikia, Essien, Kuka, Lokvenc, Malouda, Schürrle, Lahm, Matthäus, Berbatov, Shevchenko, Drogba.
Ballack and Friends: Adler, Zuberbuhler, Salihamidzic, Neuville, Hamann, Tetzner, Kirsten, Wörns, Mertesacker, Sam, Hertzsch, Jancker, Glöckner, Zecke, Frings, Schneider, Schumacher, Klose.
The party was in full swing long before kick-off, it was the man in the iconic No13 jersey who rightly stole the show with a first-half brace.
Jumping ship for the restart, it got better for the former Germany captain who, after Andreas "Zecke" Neuendorf dinked over Jens Lehmann at one end, added to goals from Didier Drogba (two) and Andre Schürrle at the other to swing the contest the way of Mourinho's men.
The special one rubbed minds with Bayern Leverkusen sporting director Rudi Voller, who was managing the Ballack and Friends team, he also used the opportunity to work out a deal to bring Andre Schurrle to the Bridge.
Fittingly, the evening's all-star cast formed a guard of honour come full time, shortly before the Görlitz-born hero made one final lap of the Leipzig pitch to the tune of Frank Sinatra's "My Way", following over 15 unforgettable years at the top of the game.
The festivities provided Mourinho with a chance to reunite with his old students - Ricardo Carvalho, Michael Essien, Florent Malouda, Andriy Shevchenko and Didier Drogba — all of whom played under the Portuguese manager during his trophy-laden stay in west London.
World XI: Lehmann, Weidenfeller, Carvalho, Mahdavikia, Essien, Kuka, Lokvenc, Malouda, Schürrle, Lahm, Matthäus, Berbatov, Shevchenko, Drogba.
Ballack and Friends: Adler, Zuberbuhler, Salihamidzic, Neuville, Hamann, Tetzner, Kirsten, Wörns, Mertesacker, Sam, Hertzsch, Jancker, Glöckner, Zecke, Frings, Schneider, Schumacher, Klose.
The party was in full swing long before kick-off, it was the man in the iconic No13 jersey who rightly stole the show with a first-half brace.
Jumping ship for the restart, it got better for the former Germany captain who, after Andreas "Zecke" Neuendorf dinked over Jens Lehmann at one end, added to goals from Didier Drogba (two) and Andre Schürrle at the other to swing the contest the way of Mourinho's men.
The special one rubbed minds with Bayern Leverkusen sporting director Rudi Voller, who was managing the Ballack and Friends team, he also used the opportunity to work out a deal to bring Andre Schurrle to the Bridge.
Fittingly, the evening's all-star cast formed a guard of honour come full time, shortly before the Görlitz-born hero made one final lap of the Leipzig pitch to the tune of Frank Sinatra's "My Way", following over 15 unforgettable years at the top of the game.
The most efficient midfielder of my generation.. wen i say effiency, i mean d guy dats gonna give 100% frm the kick off whistle 2 d final whistle.
ReplyDeleteAwwww im sure Malouda dint consider d invitation twice.. lol
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