Five professionals and national team players – Michael Ballack (Germany), Alexi Lalas (USA), Steve McManaman (England), Santiago Solari (Argentina) and Taylor Twellman (USA) – have been named analysts for ESPN’s 2014 FIFA World Cup team in Brazil. With a combined five FIFA World Cup tournament teams between them this group will be part of ESPN’s English-language presentation in the United States on ESPN, ESPN2, ABC and WatchESPN throughout the month-long tournament, June 12 – July 13, 2014.
Michael Ballack, Lalas, McManaman and Solari will appear on pre-match, halftime and post-match shows, SportsCenter, ESPN FC, and FIFA World Cup-themed news and information programs. Twellman will primarily serve as a co-commentator. McManaman will also co-commentate on select matches.
Following the 2006 FIFA World Cup, Michael Ballack joined Chelsea FC in the English Premier League on a free transfer. He played for Chelsea from 2006-10. He won a Premier League title and three FA Cups with The Blues before signing a two-year contract with Bayer Leverkusen in 2010 to return home to the German Bundesliga.
Michael Ballack was appointed German National Team captain in 2004 by former coach Jurgen Klinsmann (current U.S. Men’s National Team coach). He played in 98 international matches for Germany and scored 42 goals from 1999 – 2010, when injury forced him off the World Cup team. Michael Ballack played in three UEFA European Football Championships in 2000, 2004 and 2008, and two FIFA World Cup tournaments in 2002 and 2006.
Arguably the best central midfielder ever in German soccer, Michael Ballack began his playing career with a regional club Chemnitzer FC in 1995 at 19 years old. His performance on the team earned him a transfer to Kaiserslautern in 1997.
Paul M. Banks is the owner of The Sports Bank.net, an affiliate of Fox Sports. He’s also an analyst for multiple news talk radio stations across the country; with regular weekly segments on NBC and Fox Sports Radio. Follow him on Twitter (@paulmbanks) and RSS Catch him Tuesdays talking Illini and Northwestern for KOZN 1620 The Zone, Fridays talking Chicago Bears for WAOR 95.7 The Fan