Elizabeth Francis's Page

Of course, Chelsea F.C is in first place in the Champions League. (favorite champions league team)


Michael Ballack: (favorite champions league player)

2008/09 Premier League
Games Goals Assists
5 0 1
Full Name: Michael Ballack
Birth Date: September 26, 1976
Birth Place: Chemnitz, Germany
Height 6' 2'' (1.88m)
Weight: 181 lbs (81.9 kg)
Age: 32
Position: Midfielder
Squad Number :13

Michael Ballack Bio:
German skipper Michael Ballack signed for Chelsea on a free transfer after four seasons with German Champions Bayern Munich.
Although he came on a free, there was the small matter of a reported wage of £120,000-a-week.

But Ballack's impact at Chelsea was negligible and his below par performances were said to be one of the reasons the Blues lost their Premier League crown to Manchester United.

He struggled to adapt to the pace of the English game and to sharing a midfield role with Frank Lampard who clearly outshone the Germany international.

Well known for being a versatile and well-conditioned player, as well as one of the best headers of the ball in world football, Ballack made his name as a classic box-to-box midfielder with Bayer Leverkusen.

Ballack arrived as a real world-class player who can play with either foot. These attributes earned him the German player of the year award on three occasions (2002, 2003, 2005).

Beginning his career in 1995, Ballack was given his first professional contract by Chemnitzer FC, thanks to his impressive performances in the role of central midfield.

Dubbed the 'Little Kaiser' in reference to German legend Franz Beckenbauer, his skills were noticed by decorated German coach Otto Rehhagel and he signed for FC Kaiserslautern in the summer of 1997.

Ballack became a regular in the side over the coming years, and he was fully established as a kep component of the side in 1999, where he made his first international appearance for Germany.

Ballack moved to Bayer Leverkusen for ¬4.8 million, at the age of 22, where he would go on to make his name as one of the best players in Germany.

Making his full breakthrough under coaches Christoph Daum and Klaus Toppmöller, Ballack was given licence to roam and pull the strings in the centre of the pitch. Proving a reliable finisher, he scored 27 goals in 3 seasons at the BayArena and netted a further 9 times in Europe.

His development into one of Europe's best midfielders continued as Leverkusen endured a heartbreaking 2001/02 season, coming second in the Bundesliga again and losing in both the UEFA Champions League final and German Cup final.

He also endured the personal agony of losing the World Cup Final in the same year, although his remarkable season- finishing with 17 league goals from midfield, led to him being voted Germany's Footballer of the Year.

Real Madrid approached the midfielder but he chose to stay in Germany, signing instead for German giants Bayern Munich in a ¬12.9 m deal in 2002.

Ballack was deployed more defensively in the Munich side, but still popped up with 10 goals as Bayern stormed the to Bundesliga title. He also scored twice in the 3-1 German Cup final win against Kaiserslautern.

After a difficult second season, Ballack claimed the midfield role for himself in 2004/05 as Bayern completed another double. In four seasons at Bayern, Ballack won three Bundesliga and German Cup doubles and scored 47 goals in 135 matches.

Between 1998 and 2005, Ballack had notched up 61 goals in his domestic league.

However, in 2006, his relationship with Bayern turned sour. Open criticism from general manager Uli Hoeness did not help matters and Ballack made it clear he was looking for a big move when his contract expired in the summer.

During his final few games, he was jeered throughout the stadium, despite his years of service.

Ballack agreed a transfer to big spending Chelsea in summer 2006, on a Bosman free deal. Reportedly the highest paid Premiership player on £120,000 a week, Ballack iterated his desire to stamp his authority on the English game.

So far, however, he has only managed to stamp on Momo Sissoko and get himself sent off in the Community Shield match against Liverpool.

Despite his settling in period, manager Jose Mourinho is a great admirer of the player, saying: 'For me he's one of the best players in the world. He's very intelligent, tactically very strong and he scores a lot of goals. For me in Europe there's only [England and Chelsea's] Frank Lampard who plays at that level. The two would form a dream pair.'

Scoring his first goal for the club in September 2006, a penalty, Ballack then struggled with a hip injury, limiting his first team chances at the start of the season.

On his return to fitness he still looked a shadow of the player who had carved out a reputation as one of the best midfielders in Europe.

And his first season in England ended in mid-April due to an ankle injury. His only trophy was the League Cup.

Throughout the campaign Ballack was linked with a move away due to his inability to settle, but Mourinho was determined to make it work.



Christiano Ronaldo Bio:
Cristiano Ronaldo
2008/09 Premier League
Games Goals Assists
3 1 2
Full Name Cristiano Ronaldo
Birth Date February 5, 1985
Birth Place Madeira, Portugal
Height 6' 1" (1.83m)
Weight 165 lbs (75 kg)
Age 23
Position Forward
Squad # 7

ProfileStatisticsGame LogWorld CupEuro

Cristiano Ronaldo Bio
Manchester United will feel they pulled off one of the moves of the summer in keeping hold of Cristiano Ronaldo.
The midfielder felt the time was right to move on after winning the Champions League in May 2008, having achieved all he could in England. The player was desperate for a move to Real Madrid, but despite a continued chase by the Spanish giants Sir Alex Ferguson stood firm on the player's future - and in early August he confirmed he would remain at Old Trafford.

Cristiano Ronaldo dos Santos Aveiro was signed by Manchester United with the cash received from the sale of David Beckham to Real Madrid. And now he has become as big an idol as his predecessor.

After criticism for his over-elaboration, gamesmanship and tendency to disappear in games, it has all come together for the Portuguese star.

Goals, assists and lightning skills make him one of the most desired players in the world.

The right-sided winger wonder is another from the Sporting Lisbon production line, following the likes of Luis Figo and Joao Pinto into a big European move.

Ronaldo's talents had been hailed in his homeland for well over a decade - he was the subject of a transfer at the age at eight in his native island of Madeira.

On August 15, 2001 he was handed his Sporting debut as a 16-year-old against Second Division B side Atletico. His league debut saw him score twice in a 3-0 victory over Moreirense and then hit a late winner in a 2-1 defeat of Boavista.

He was soon to play a starring role for the Portuguese Under-17 side at the European Championships.

His two-footedness and ability to play on either wing or as a support striker made him the ideal candidate for Sir Alex. Sir Alex had been eyeing the player for a year when his hand was forced by interest from other leading European clubs in Real Madrid and Juventus into invoking United's close relationship with Sporting and splashed out £12.24m.

He made his United debut in a 4-0 thrashing of Bolton at Old Trafford. He replaced Nicky Butt just after the hour and produced a mesmerising performance. Three of United's goals came after the young star's introduction.

Ronaldo did struggle at times in the first half of the season as he adapted to life in England, but after the turn of the year really decided to turn on the style and starred in the FA Cup Final win over Millwall. He also dominated the Carling Cup Final of 2006 as Wigan were put to the sword in Cardiff.

His trademark footwork set the Premiership alight, and earned him a place in Portugal's squad for Euro 2004.

He found the back of the net in the semi-final against Holland, although their was heartbreak for the winger when Portugal lost in the final to Greece.

Along with Wayne Rooney, Ronaldo was one of the real stars of Euro 2004 - and he can only get better with age at Old Trafford.

He also starred at Germany 2006, despite a well publicised incident with Rooney which placed his future at United in doubt. But some well chosen words from Sir Alex kept him at United, and the rest is history.

Ronaldo was the dominant player as United won back the Premier League crown in 2006/07 as he finished second top scorer in the league and swept the individual awards board.

But the best was yet to come. In 2007/08 he was unstoppable, netted an unbelievable 42 goals - 31 of them in the Premier League - to secure back-to-back titles. He also scored United's goal in the Champions League final and although he missed in the penalty shootout the Red Devils would still be victorious over Chelsea in Moscow.

Ahead of Euro 2008, Ronaldo batted away questions about his future but it soon became clear he wished to move to the Bernabeu. By keeping hold of Ronaldo it may purely be delaying the inevitable, but Sir Alex can claim a huge moral victory over Real and their transfer market tactics.

He picked up an ankle injury which ruled him out of the start of 2008/09, but what a player to have waiting to return to fitness.


David Beckham: (favorite MLS player)
2008 USA Major League Soccer
Games, Goals, Assists
25 5 7
Full Name David Beckham
Birth Date May 2, 1975
Birth Place London, England
Height 6' 0" (1.83m)
Weight 165 lbs (74.8 kg)
Age 33


Didier Drogba
2008/09 Premier League
Games Goals Assists
5 0 0
Full Name Didier Drogba
Birth Date March 11, 1978
Birth Place Abidjan, Ivory Coast
Height 6' 2'' (1.88m)
Weight 185 lbs (83.8 kg)
Age 30
Position Forward
Squad # 11

Didier Drogba Bio
As good a player as he is, Drogba will always be regarded with suspicion by many for his theatrical style and regular displays of petulance.

His strong and powerful displays have made him vitally important to Chelsea's system yet his conduct has cost them on the highest stage; his sending off in Moscow on May 21 2008 was reprehensible and foolish and ultimately cost his team a penalty-taker and/or goal threat.

A series of injuries and outbursts against his club after the departure of Jose Mourinho scarred a season in which he could still be influential. .
Ivory Coast international Drogba arrived in France in 1983, living with his uncle Michel Goba - who had also been a professional footballer in the French Second Division.

He began his career as a right-back with Dunkirk, before being converted to a striker during his time with Abbeville.

After an enforced sabbatical he joined Levallois in 1994 and then opted to join less glamourous club Le Mans where he was coached by his 'spiritual father', Marc Westerloppe.

The striker was never prolific for Le Mans, and he fell out of favour after Westerloppe had been sacked and replaced by Thierry Goudet.

Guingamp came in in for the player in 2001, and in 2002/03 their faith in the player's ability was repaid with 17 goals. Drogba also won his first ever call-up into the full Ivory Coast squad.

In the summer of 2003 he was signed by Marseille for £3.3million. The player enjoyed an outstanding season, scoring five Champions League goals despite Marseille's exit in the group stage.

His form continued in the UEFA Cup, bagging a further six goals as Marseille lost out in the final to Valencia.

New Blues boss Mourinho got his man for an undisclosed fee - believed to be £24million, smashing the British record fee for a striker in the following summer.

Drogba made his debut for the club in a 1-0 victory over Manchester United on the opening day of the 2004/05 campaign.


Slow to start shining for Chelsea, he neverthless won two Premier League titles and by the time Andriy Shevchenko arrived in the summer of 2006, he was able to outshine the Ukrainian and become the best in the British business.

He scored winning goals in both the Carling Cup and FA Cup Finals of 2007, cementing his eye for the big occasion. He followed up with a free-kick in the 2008 Carling Cup Final, though this time Spurs were the victors, and then came his moment of Moscow madness.



Favorite Brazilian Players:

~Ronaldinho
~Marta