Michael Ball

Michael John Ball (born 2 October 1979 in Liverpool, Merseyside) is an England professional Association football who currently plays as a Defender (association football) Full back for English Premier League team Manchester City F.C..

Ball started his professional career at Everton F.C., making his debut as a 17 year old in 1997. In 2001 he was capped by England national football team, though he has not represented his country since. In the 2001 close season he joined Rangers F.C. in a £6.5m transfer. In December 2001 he suffered a knee ligament injury which took 18 months to heal. In the 2004-05 season, Ball won Scottish Premier League and Scottish League Cup medals with Rangers, but at the end of the season was sold to PSV Eindhoven for a nominal fee.

Ball spent one and a half seasons at PSV but was not a first team regular. In January 2007 he returned to Britain, signing a short term contract with Manchester City. On July 12 2007 Ball signed a new contract with City that ends 2009.

Everton

As a schoolboy Ball was part of the Liverpool F.C. youth system, playing alongside Michael Owen and Steven Gerrard. From 1994-1996 he attended the The Football Association's National School at Lilleshall, before joining Everton F.C.. He played his first senior match in April 1997 as a substitute against Tottenham Hotspur F.C., and made his first start a week later at West Ham United F.C.. Ball developed into an impressive player equally adept at both centre back and his main position, left back. His solid performances for Everton led to an England National Football Team call-up to Sven-Göran Eriksson's first England squad for a friendly match against Spain national football team in February 2001. Ball was named as a substitute, and made his debut when he replaced Chris Powell at half-time.

Rangers

In 2001 he was allowed to leave Everton, primarily due to the club's financial problems. Although he had offers from the Premiership, he opted for a lucrative deal with Scotland SPL club Rangers F.C. and moved to Glasgow in a £6.5m deal. His first Old Firm match ended in controversy when he swore at Rangers manager Dick Advocaat after being substituted, resulting in a £10,000 fine. In December 2001, after his eleventh Rangers appearance, he suffered medial ligament damage which kept him side-lined for 18 months, including the entire 2002-03 season. Upon his return to fitness he regained his place in the team, becoming a first team regular in the 2003-04 season. Also getting player of the month award in his first month back.

Ball's transfer to Rangers included installments payable after fixed numbers of appearances. As Ball approached 60 appearances Rangers became reluctant to play him, as doing so would trigger a £500,000 payment to Everton. As a result, Ball played only four matches in the first four months of the 2004-05 season. The scenario was eventually resolved in December 2004 when negotiations involving the player and the two clubs reached an undisclosed agreement. With the contractual wrangling resolved, Ball returned to the first team, and won Scottish league cup medal an SPL league winners medal as Rangers won the 2004-05 title.

PSV Eindhoven

In the 2005 close season Rangers wished to remove the higher earners from their wage bill, and Ball moved to Dutch side PSV Eindhoven for a nominal fee, signing a two year contract. Despite winning a Eredivisie medal in his first season, he was - at the start of the 2006/07 - deemed to be surplus to requirements by new PSV boss Ronald Koeman.

Manchester City

He joined Manchester City on the 31st January 2007 after impressing on a week long trial, on a 6-month contract for a nominal fee. He made his debut ten days later against Portsmouth, and scored his first goal for the club in an FA Cup 5th Round match against Preston North End on 18th February 2007. On Sunday 27th of January 2008 Ball was sensationally pegged by two balloons in Manchester City's 2-1 loss to Sheffield United. He is often used as third choice captain, if Richard Dunne (Captain) and Micah Richards (Vice Captain) are Unavailable.
On May 5, in the Manchester derby at City of Manchester Stadium, Ball stamped on the stomach of Manchester United's Cristiano Ronaldo, but the referee and his assistants missed the incident. The FA launched an investigation into this incident, with Ball subsequently admitting and apologising for his attack on Ronaldo and as a result was banned for the last few games of the season.
On the 24th August 2008 Ball took the captain's armband after stand in captain Micah Richards was knocked out in a challenge with a team mate and substituted during a game against West Ham in the 46th minute. After Ball became captain City sensationally went on to score three goals and win the game 3-0.