POOR TIMING Michael Ballack SLAMS former team-mate and retiring legend Philipp Lahm

Former Bayern Munich and Germany team-mates fell out over a row over captaincy and had never reconciled

Posted Monday, May 22, 2017 by Dreamteamfc.com

POOR TIMING Michael Ballack SLAMS former team-mate and retiring legend Philipp Lahm
Lahm and Ballack with Joachim Low in 2010 following the captaincy switch

Former Bayern Munich and Germany team-mates fell out over a row over captaincy and had never reconciled

Bayern Munich said goodbye to a legend on Saturday.

After 16 seasons with the Bavarian giants, Philipp Lahm has hung up his boots, departing the game as one of the very best players of the modern era.

Tributes have poured in for the first German to lift the World Cup since the country was unified as the 33-year-old received an emotional send off at the Allianz Arena following Bayern's 4-1 win on the last day of the season.

But not everyone has wished Lahm a happy retirement.

Michael Ballack has reopened old wounds with comments about his former team-mate's character.

The pair fell out back in 2010 when Ballack handed over the captaincy of Germany ahead of the 2010 World Cup.

The former Bayern, Bayer Leverkusen and Chelsea midfielder was injured and thought the switch of leadership was only temporary.

However, once Ballack was back to full fitness, Lahm refused to hand back the armband.

POOR TIMING Michael Ballack SLAMS former team-mate and retiring legend Philipp Lahm
In happier times…

The pair argued, effectively ending Ballack's international career on 98 caps.

Speaking about his experience of playing with Lahm, Ballack told Sport 1 Doppelpass: "I got to know Lahm's other face."

"I didn't know that a player who takes on the role of captain doesn't have to give it back afterwards. That was a frontal attack.

"I never made the step back to the national team after that incident. I had no chance to do anything against it. The way it took place was absolutely not okay."

POOR TIMING Michael Ballack SLAMS former team-mate and retiring legend Philipp Lahm