Bastian Schweinsteiger: 10 things you need to know about the Chelsea target, plus video of him in action

By Mirror Football in Mirror Football Blog

Published 15:15 18/03/10

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By Mehreen Khan

As Chelsea seek to ease their Champions League exit pain with some retail therapy, names galore are being touted to arrive at Stamford Bridge in the summer.

Chelsea transfer special: who will join in the summer - and who will leave?

One of those names belongs to Bastian Schweinsteiger, but what do we actually know about the extremely German sounding German midfield target?

Well, here's what...

1) Born in 1984 in Bavaria's Alpine town of Oberaudorf, Schweinsteiger's parents owned a skiing equipment firm. In his youth, Schweinsteiger won several downhill skiing youth contests but at 14 he gave up a possible career in professional down-hilling to sign for German giants Bayern Munich. Apparently because he didn't like carrying the heavy equipment.

2) Having had just two practice sessions with the first team, manager Ottmar Hitzfeld gave young Bastian his debut in the Champions League in 2002. It took him just a couple of minutes after coming on as a substitute against Lens to show his worth, making a goal for Markus Feulner. Such an instant European impact is exactly what Roman Abramovich will be hoping for should the German arrive in west London.

3) Known by fans as 'Basti' or 'Schweini', to distinguish him from his older brother Tobias, who plies his trade in the German Third Division, Schweinsteiger's name literally translates into English as 'pig riser'. Chelsea fans will be hoping he doesn't cause a stink at Stamford Bridge.

4) Right-footed, Schweini has spent most of his professional career with Bayern and Germany as a left-sided midfielder to great effect. Here's one memorable example of his stunning right peg being put to good use against Portugal in the 2006 World Cup.

5) Scoring an impressive 18 goals in all competitions from midfield in the Bundesliga last season, Chelsea were on the receiving end of the German's eye for goal during the quarter-finals of the Champions League in 2005. Current Blues midfielder Michael Ballack was also on the score-sheet for the Germans, but won the first leg 4-2 at the Bridge.

6) Although only 25 years old, Schweinsteiger is one of Bayern's longest serving players. Revered by the Munich faithful, Chelsea may have a tough time prizing away a player who rose and rose through the youth ranks.

7) The temperamental flame-haired midfielder has rarely been a stranger to controversy. As a youth he was known to be a rebel and, in 2006, he was questioned by German police over alleged betting and match-fixing, but was later cleared of all charges.

8) Not known for going to the ground easily, Schweinsteiger has had more problems keeping his feet off the field. If he is to sign for Chelsea, this may be a good reason for Carlo Ancelotti to keep him off the bench.

9) With Cheryl and Ashley's relationship on the rocks, Schweinsteiger's arrival at Stamford Bridge would bring a touch of WAG glamour back to west London. For the past four years, the midfielder has been dating stunning German-born model and blond bombshell Sarah Bradner.

10) Known for being entertaining on and off the pitch, a despondent Basti, following Germany's loss in the Euro 2008 final, had his post-match interview interrupted by a jubilant Spanish team doing the conga...twice. Cheer up, Schweini. There's always the World Cup.