Ballack planning farewell match
Former Germany captain Michael Ballack is reported to be organising his own farewell match for July 2013 having retired from professional football in October.
The 36-year-old former Chelsea and Bayern Munich midfielder is planning to hold his own farewell match on July 5 with Leipzig, Kaiserslautern and Leverkusen as possible venues, according to Cologne newspaper Express.
"We are in talks with Michael," said Leverkusen's director of sport Rudi Voeller, where Ballack spent the last two years of his career.
Having won 98 caps for his country, Ballack rejected an offer by the German Football Federation (DFB) to make an honourary appearance against Brazil in August 2011 and announced his retirement from all football on October 2.
Ballack is believed to be inviting former prominent players from his previous clubs Kaiserslautern, Leverkusen, Bayern and English Premier League side Chelsea for the July match.
The guest list is also believed to include Real Madrid coach Jose Mourinho, Didier Drogba, Frank Lampard, Ashley Cole, plus Germany stars Bastian Schweinsteiger and Mesut Ozil.
