In the third of our series we look at the career of Michael Ball, and find out what he is up to now.
In the third of our series we look at the career of Michael Ball, and find out what he is up to now.
Michael Ball started his career off with Everton but as a youth had been part of the Liverpool set up along with the likes of Steven Gerrard and Michael Owen. He went to the FA’s National School at Lilleshall, before joining Everton.
He made his competitive debut in April 1997 as a substitute against Tottenham Hotspur, before making his first start one week later against West Ham United. He could play at either left back or centre back but it was mainly at left back he would star for Everton.
Ball would go on to be a regular in the Everton side and his performances earned him his first call up for England. He got his one and only cap as a substitute against Spain in a friendly in 2001.
That same year he got a move to Rangers, back in the days where Dick Advocaat was given vasts amount of money to spend. The transfer fee was £6.5 million. Money which Everton were glad to take as they had financial difficulties at the time.
He was fined £10,000 by the club after his first old firm game after he swore at Dick Advocaat when he was subbed. His first goal was against Dinamo Moscow in a UEFA Cup tie.
Despite being a regular in his first couple of seasons, he missed a lot of football due to ligament damage and also the fact that some of his £6.5 million fee was made up of appearance fees.
He eventually moved on in 2005 to PSV Eindhoven in Holland. Due to injury though he didn’t play as much as he would have liked but did manage to win a League championship medal.
From PSV he then moved on to Manchester United back in his homeland in England. He had a good couple of years there and even went on to be the captain but after another injury he fell out of favour and was released.
He is now with ambitious Championship side Leicester City, managed by former England manager Sven Goran Eriksson. He made his competitive debut in a 4-1 win over Rotherham in the League Cup first round on 9 August 2011.