Topic: Maximising Success

Michael Ballack

Retired award-winning German footballer, Michael Ballack is one of the top goalscorers in the history of the German national team. Known best for his dominating presence in midfield along with his powerful shot, physical strength and passing range. Making his professional debut in 1995 following his previous career as a youth at Chemnitz, which was his local team. By 1996 he had already made his debut for Germany's Under-21 side which led to his transfer to FC Kaiserslautern in 1997 where he won his first major honour within the first season, the Bundesliga. During the 1998 and 1999 season Michael had earned his first senior national cap for Germany and became a first-team regular.

By 1999 Michael was a popular well established player who was brought by Bayer Leverkusen for €4.1 million. As a crucial member of the team which finished runner up in the DFB-Pokal, Bundesliga and UEFA Champions League during the 2001-02 season. 2002 was also the year Germany lost to Brazil in the World Cup, however Michaels performance carried the team scoring consecutive game-winning goals in the quarter-final and semi-final. After a €12.9 million move to FC Bayern Munich where he scored fifty eight goals between 2002 and 2006 he eventually joined Premier League club Chelsea. He helped take Chelsea to their first ever Champions League final and win the FA Cup in 2009 and 2010.

Michael has had an impressive football career to say the least and was selected by Pelé as one of FIFA’s 125 Greatest Living Players. He was named the UEFA Club Midfielder Of The Year in 2002 and won the German Footballer of the Year award three times. An international phenomenon, Michael has played alongside two FIFA World Cups and in three UEFA European Football Championships.  Michael makes for one of the best sports speakers on the circuit and can offer insights into 'behind the scenes' football. Whether it's at an award ceremony or sporting function the legendary footballer can discuss a huge range of topics from high performance and maximising success to leadership and teamwork, he is a huge inspiration in the sporting world.

Michael Owen

Michael Owen is a former footballer who progressed through the ranks of Liverpool youth team and scored on his Premier League debut in May 1997, becoming the club’s youngest goalscorer at the time. In his first full season in the Premier League, he won the Premier League Golden Boot and was awarded the PFA Young Player of the Year award. He was Liverpool’s top goal-scorer from 1997 to 2004.

Owen helped Liverpool to a treble in 2000–01, as the team won the League Cup, FA Cup and UEFA Cup to end a six-year trophy drought. He scored both Liverpool goals late in the 2001 FA Cup Final to turn around what had appeared to be a certain defeat for Liverpool at the hands of Arsenal and later that year, he was awarded the Ballon D’or award in recognition of his performances that season.

Owen joined Real Madrid in 2004 before returning to the Premier League with Newcastle in 2005 followed by spells at Manchester United and Stoke City before announcing his retirement in 2013. He scored 163 goals in all club appearances.

Internationally, Owen first played for the senior England team aged 18 in 1998 against Chile. Just months later, he scored his first International goal in a pre-World Cup friendly against Morocco. He went on to score a total of 40 goals in 89 international appearances, including that goal against Argentina in the 1998 World Cup in France that was voted one of the greatest ever England goals and a memorable hat-trick against Germany in 2001.

Michael owns Manor House Stables racing yard and alongside his commercial activities, he also works as a pundit for Premier League Productions.

Kaká

Kaka is an internationally renowned former Brazilian footballer who has played for some of the world’s most successful teams including Milan and Real Madrid. An incredibly talented and determined attacking midfielder, Kaka has an immensely long list of prestigious awards which are a testament to his abundance of knowledge within teamwork, leadership and achieving peak performance.

Kickstarting his career as part of a local youth team, he immediately captured the attention of his hometown team Sao Paulo, who signed him to join the youth academy at the age of eight. He signed for their youth squad Copa de Juvenil glory at the age of 15 and eventually made his senior debut in 2001. Throughout the 27 appearances he made for the team in his first season, he managed to score a staggering 12 goals, an effort in which helped them to win their first and only Torneio Rio-Sau Paulo Championship.

Throughout his impressive career, Kaka managed to make over 460 appearances across four teams and also scored nearing 150 goals. He also boasts 92 caps and 29 goals for the Brazillian national team in whom he played for, for 14 years. A pivotal player in Milan’s victory at the FIFA Club World Cup in 2008, he scored the team’s third goal in a 4-2 victory against Boca Juniors in which crowned them World Champions.

With some of his most recent successes including playing in the MLS All-Star Game in three consecutive seasons and helping to win the 2012 Supercopa de Espana with Real Madrid, it’s evident that Kaka has a valuable skillset in which he has the ability to relate to both corporate and school organisations as well as sporting clubs as an after dinner speaker.

Awarded World Soccer Player of The Year, the FIFA Club World Cup Golden Ball and the FIFA World Cup Top Assist Provider amongst other awards including being inducted into the AC Milan and Maracana Hall of Fame, Kaka has established himself as one of the most prominent names in international football. A hilarious and charismatic character, he can create an unforgettable atmosphere at any event, conference and function.