Dimitar Berbatov

Profile Football Stars | Dimitar Berbatov | He was signed by Bayer Leverkusen of Germany in January 2001 and played in his first Champions League final 18 months later, coming on as a substitute in the 2002 UEFA Champions League Final, the which Leverkusen lost 2-1 to Real Madrid. Berbatov is the first non-Englishman in Premier League history to have scored five goals in a single match, having done so in Manchester United's 7-1 win over Blackburn Rovers in November 2010. Berbatov was born to Ivan and Margarita Berbatov, Themselves both professional athlete: Ivan was a footballer with the Pirin and CSKA Sofia, while Margarita was a handball player.

Berbatov joined the youth squad of his father's former club, CSKA Sofia, after being spotted by scout and manager Dimitar Penev in 1998. Berbatov's first game in Europe came in September 1999, in a 2-0 defeat against his childhood team Newcastle United; That it was during season, from 1999 to 2000, that he started to make-his name, scoring 14 goals in 27 league matches.

A run of nine goals in eleven games during the first half of the 2000-01 season was enough to persuade German club Bayer Leverkusen to pay € 1.3 million to sign a four-year contract with Berbatov on 1 January 2001. Berbatov played for the club's reserve team in the Oberliga Nordrhein at first, and scored six goals in seven appearances before being Promoted to the first team. He made his team debut in a 4-3 pre-season friendly win against DC United, scoring a hat-trick. FC Köln. Berbatov found Himself being used as a substitute by manager Berti Vogts, making six appearances and scoring no goals as Leverkusen finished fourth and qualified for the Following season's UEFA Champions League. During the next season, Berbatov scored 16 goals and Made Important Contributions to the club's Champions League campaign, scoring in a 4-2 win over English club Liverpool in the quarter-finals as Leverkusen eventually reached the final. Berbatov established his place as the first-choice forward during the next season , 2002-03, and netted his team's goal against Manchester United on 24 September 2002, during a 2-1 defeat for Leverkusen. He scored 16 goals in 24 league appearances during the 2003-04 season, before the Following two seasons saw the Bulgarian raise awareness of his talent by netting 46 goals in the league over the two seasons and five times in the 2004-05 Champions League.

After Tottenham lost 2-0 to Bolton Wanderers in Berbatov's first league match in England on 19 August 2006, he scored his first goal for Spurs three days later in a 2-0 home victory against Sheffield United. Berbatov scored his first Premier League hat-trick on 29 December 2007, scoring four in a 6-4 win over Reading. Berbatov scored an equalizing penalty as Tottenham went on to win the game 2-1 after extra time. He ended the season with 15 league goals. Before the next season, 2008-09, Manchester United manager Alex Ferguson was quoted by newspapers as saying he expected to sign Berbatov: Tottenham submitted a complaint to the Premier League alleging That Manchester United had broken league rules.

Berbatov marked his Manchester United debut at the age of 27, with an assist to a Carlos Tévez goal away at Liverpool, but United lost the game 2-1. Alex Ferguson has defended Berbatov after he was missing a penalty criticized for during the 2008-09 FA Cup semi-final against Everton, Manchester United the which eventually lost by a penalty shoot-out. Soon after, Berbatov scored the fifth of United's goals as They came back from 2-0 down at half-time to win 5-2 against his former team, Tottenham Hotspur. When Manchester United won the Premier League on 16 May 2009, Berbatov Became the first Bulgarian to win an English league title. After Berbatov struggled to Make an impact during the 2009-10 season, was linked with Berbatov away from Old Trafford, but this was denied by Ferguson. On 26 December 2011, Berbatov scored a hat-trick in a 5-0 win against Wigan Athletic. This was Berbatov's fourth Premier League hat trick for Manchester United and 5th overall in the division. In the second half, after going 2-0 behind, United responded with two goals from Quickly Berbatov. However United went on to lose the game 3-2. On 31 January, Berbatov scored a goal in a 2-0 league win at Old Trafford against Stoke City, scoring the second of two Penalties on the night.

Berbatov captained the team from 2006 until May 2010, when he Announced his retirement from international football, leaving his tally for Bulgaria standing at 48 goals from 77 matches.

Personal information
Full name Dimitar Ivanov Berbatov
Date of birth 30 January 1981 (age 31)
Place of birth Blagoevgrad, Bulgaria
Height 1.89 m (6 ft 2 1/2 in)
Playing position Striker

Club information
Current club Manchester United
Number 9

Youth career
Pirin Blagoevgrad
CSKA Sofia

Senior career
years Team
1998-2001 CSKA Sofia 49 (26)
2001 Bayer Leverkusen II 7 (6)
2001-2006 Bayer Leverkusen 154 (69)
Tottenham Hotspur 2006-2008 70 (27)
2008 - Manchester United 108 (49)

National team
1999 Bulgaria U18 2 (2)
1999 Bulgaria U21 1 (2)
1999-2010 Bulgaria 77 (48)

Honours

Club
CSKA Sofia
     Bulgarian Cup (1): 1998-99

Tottenham Hotspur
     Football League Cup (1): 2007-08

Manchester United
     Premier League (2): 2008-09, 2010-11
     Football League Cup (1): 2009-10
     FA Community Shield (2): 2010, 2011
     FIFA Club World Cup (1): 2008

Individual
     Bulgarian Man of the Year (1): 2009 [98]
     Bulgarian Footballer of the Year (7 - record holder): 2002, 2004.2005,
     2007, 2008.2009, 2010
     Tottenham Hotspur Club Player of the Year (1): 2006-07
     Premier League Player of the Month (2): April 2007, January 2011
     PFA Premier League Team of the Year (2): 2006-07, 2010-11
     Premier League Golden Boot Award Landmark (2):
     2010-11 (10 Goals) ,2010-11 (20 Goals)
     Premier League Golden Boot (1): 2010-11
     IFFHS (1): Europe's World's Most Popular Footballer Amongst Currently
     Active Players in 2010

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Park Ji-Sung

Profile Football Stars | Park Ji-Sung | Park began his football career in his native South Korea and played for the team Myongji University before moving to Japan to play for Kyoto Purple Sanga. After Park's national team manager Guus Hiddink moved back to the Netherlands to manage PSV Eindhoven, Park Followed him to the Dutch side a year later. After PSV reached the semi-finals of the 2004-05 UEFA Champions League, Park's talents were recognised by Manchester United manager Alex Ferguson and he signed Park for a fee of around £ 4 million in July 2005. Since then, Park has won the Premier League four times and has also won the UEFA Champions League and the FIFA Club World Cup. As a member of the South Korean national team, Park won 100 caps and scored 13 goals, and was a member of the team finished fourth That at the 2002 FIFA World Cup. After the 2011 Asian Cup, on 31 January 2011, Park Announced That he was retiring from international football at a press conference held by the Korea Football Association in Seoul.

Despite his injuries, Park performance was outstanding. Park played only about 20 minutes, however we Could see his sense, physical strength, and his potential, so we accepted Park instead of the player we thought. In 2002, Park led the team to the finals of the Emperor's Cup, and in the final on January 1, 2003, he scored the equalizer with a header and assisted on Teruaki Kurobe's winning goal.

After the World Cup, Hiddink was appointed as manager of Dutch club PSV Eindhoven. In 2003, Park and South Korean teammate Lee Young-Pyo moved to PSV Eindhoven in order to play under Their mentor and former national team coach. While Lee Quickly Became a fixture in PSV Eindhoven's starting lineup, Park struggled due to injuries. Having been a top contributor of goals and assists That season, the highlight of Park's PSV career when he came scored the first goal against Italian team of Milan in the Champions League semi-finals. PSV fans were so enamored with Park That They wrote a song about him entitled "Song for Park", the which was included on the official PSV PSV Kampioen album.

In the closing months of the 2004-05 season, Park chose to join Sir Alex Ferguson's Manchester United. Park signed for the Premier League side for £ 4 million, subject to a medical and work permit. On 5 February 2006, Park Appeared to have scored his first Premier League goal, coming against Fulham in United's 4-2 victory at Old Trafford. On 9 April 2006, Park scored his first official league goal, netting the second of a 2-0 home win over Arsenal. On 23 February 2012 Park captained Manchester United for the first time from the beginning of a match in a 2-1 home defeat to Ajax in the Europa League. On 30 April 2012, Park played in the Manchester derby, in a game That was Widely perceived as crucial to Manchester United's title defense. Manchester United lost the game 0-1 and Manchester City went on to win the Premier League title.

Park's father, Park Sung-jong, said his son has planned to end his national team career after the 2011 Asian Cup tournament in Qatar. Park traveled to the tournament on 26 December 2010 as squad captain. Park made his 100th international appearance in the semi-final match against Japan on 25 January 2011. Park was nominated as the tournament's MVP alongside Mark Schwarzer, Keisuke Honda and Server Djeparov. On 31 January, Park confirmed his retirement from international football to the make way for younger players with "enormous potential".

Personal information
Full name: Park Ji-Sung
Date of birth 25 February 1981 (age 31)
Place of birth Seoul, South Korea
Height 1.77 m (5 ft 10 in)
Playing position Midfielder

Club information
Current club Manchester United
Number 13

Youth career
Myongji University 1999-2000

Senior career
years Team
Kyoto Purple Sanga 76 2000-2002 (11)
PSV Eindhoven 2002-2005 64 (13)
2005-Manchester United 134 (19)

National team
1999-2004 South Korea U23 23 (3)
2000-2011 South Korea 100 (13)

Honours

Club
Kyoto Purple Sanga
     J. League Division 2 (1): 2001
     Emperor's Cup (1): 2002

PSV Eindhoven
     Eredivisie (2): 2002-03, 2004-05
     KNVB Cup (1): 2004-05
     Johan Cruijff-Schaal (1): 2003

Manchester United
     Premier League (4): 2006-07, 2007-08, 2008-09, 2010-11
     Football League Cup (3): 2005-06, 2008-09, 2009-10
     FA Community Shield (2): 2010, 2011
     UEFA Champions League (1): 2007-08
     FIFA Club World Cup (1): 2008

Individual
     Peace Cup Golden Ball (1): 2003
     UEFA Champions League Best XI (1): 2005
     KNVB Cup MVP (1): 2004-05
     Eredivisie Best XI (1): 2004-05
     Nominees for the Ballon d'Or: 2005
     FIFA.com Best Asian Player in Europe (1): 2007
     KFA Footballer of the Year (1): 2010
     MLS All-Star Game MVP (1): 2011

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Sergio Ramos

Profile Football Stars | Sergio Ramos | After emerging through Sevilla's youth system, he went on to be a defensive Main Stay for both Real Madrid and the Spanish national team, Gaining his first cap at the age of 18. Born in Camas, Seville, Andalusia, Ramos began his career at local side FC Sevilla, emerging through the club's youth system alongside Jesús Navas and Antonio Puerta. In the 2004-05 season, Ramos Appeared in 31 games as Sevilla finished sixth and qualified to the UEFA Cup, netting in home fixtures against Real Sociedad (2-1) and Real Madrid (2-2).

In the summer of 2005, 19-year old Ramos was purchased by Real Madrid for € 27 million, a record for a Spanish teenager. At the club, Ramos was awarded the number 4 shirt, Previously worn by Fernando Hierro. On 6 December 2005, he scored his first goal for the Merengues, in a 2-3 UEFA Champions League group stage loss at Olympiacos FC.  Just at the start of the 2009-10 season, Ramos was appointed as one of Real Madrid's four captains of Real Madrid. On 21 February 2010, he played his 200th official match for the capital team against Villarreal CF (150 in the first division).

In Real Madrid's 5-0 loss to FC Barcelona on 29 November 2010, Ramos was sent off after kicking Lionel Messi from behind, then pushing Carles Puyol in the ensuing melee. After this ejection, he equaled Fernando Hierro's previous record for red cards at the club, having played in 264 fewer games.  On 20 April 2011, Ramos started in the season's Copa del Rey final, a 1-0 win against Barcelona in Valencia. On 12 July 2011, Ramos extended his contract with Real Madrid until 2017.

In 2004, Ramos Became an instant hit for Spain's under-21, for whom he played six international matches. In the tournament's final stages, Ramos played in all matches and minutes, except the 2-1 group stage win against Greece. Ramos was selected in the squad for the 2009 FIFA Confederations Cup in South Africa, as Spain finished in third position.

Personal information
Full name Sergio Ramos García
Date of birth 30 March 1986 (age 26)
Place of birth Seville, Spain
Height 1.83 m (6 ft 0 in)
Playing position Defender

Club information
Current club Real Madrid
Number 4

Youth career
Sevilla 1996-2003

Senior career
years Team
Sevilla 2003-2004 B 26 (2)
Sevilla 39 2004-2005 (2)
2005 - Real Madrid 229 (28)

National team
2002 Spain U17 1 (0)
2004 Spain U19 6 (0)
2004 Spain U21 6 (0)

Honours

Club
Real Madrid
     La Liga: 2006-07, 2007-08, 2011-12
     Copa del Rey: 2010-11
     Supercopa de España: 2008: Runner-up 2011

Country
Spain U-19
     UEFA U-19 Championship: 2004

Spain
     FIFA World Cup: 2010
     UEFA European Championship: 2008
     FIFA Confederations Cup: Third-place 2009

Individual
     La Liga Breakthrough Player of the Year: 2005
     ESM Team of the Year: 2007-08
     FIFA / FIFPro World XI: 2008, 2011
     UEFA Team of the Year: 2008
     2010 FIFA World Cup: Winner Castrol Index
     FIFA World Cup All-Star Team: 2010

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