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Baller League is coming to the UK - and this is what you can expect
Football icons such as Gary Lineker, Alan Shearer, John Terry and Ronaldinho are joining forces with influencers and content creators such as KSI, Miniminter and AngryGinge in the inaugural addition of the UK Baller League.
Baller League is a brand new six a side competition designed to shake up modern football and the way it is consumed by fans across the globe. It faces fast paced matches, quirky rules and combined ex-professional footballers with internet stars, academy prospects and street freestylers in an innovative take on the beautiful game.
The concept was created by Bundesliga icons Mats Hummels and Lukas Podolski, and has already enjoyed huge success in Germany over the last two years, with each match last year being watched live by an average of 3 million viewers.
Co-founder Felix Starck said: “Sport is no longer as easy as just saying 'look, we're here now, come and watch us.' That's just not how sport works any more. It needs to be exciting, and it needs to be authentic. Those are the two words that we always use at Baller League."
Ahead of its launch, we take a look at what fans can expect from Baller League, including the rules of the draft, a full list of stars involved and how fans can keep up to date with all of the action.
What is Baller League?
Baller League is a six-a-side football tournament with a difference. It combines traditional games with a “back to the roots” style of play with new rules to excite fans and create a sense of intrigue.
Each team plays each other once over the course of 11 matchdays that will take place on Monday nights with the top four sides heading into the Final Four. The matches are 30 mins, 15 each half, and the last three minutes of each half are played by Gamechanger rules such as Threeplay (3v3).
Shock rule twists will be introduced for the final three minutes of each half including a long-range goals counting as double, and goalkeepers not being allowed to use their hands. These rule twists for the final three minutes will be randomised in each game while old MLS style one-vs-one penalties will be used.
When is the Baller League draft and how does it work?
The Baller League draft takes place on Monday 10 March at 6.30pm and will be steamed live on YouTube and Twitch. Every match will be broadcast on the channel and hosted by Chunkz and Olivia Buzaglo.
Each manager will take it in turns to pick 12 players that have all been scouted, rated and ranked ahead of Draft Night. Managers will use these ratings to decide who they select. The order of the draft will be based on 12 rounds of numbered quiz based questions with the closest answer going first and the furthest away being at an immediate disadvantage with the last pick.
Who are the managers?
Match of the Day panelists Alan Shearer, Micah Richards and Gary Lineker will combine to face off against Arsenal Invincible squad members Jens Lehmann, Robert Pires and Freddie Ljungberg in the dugout while former Chelsea captain John Terry and Barcelona icon Luis Figo will also take charge of their own teams. The star-studded managerial line-up will be followed by the final two team managers being revealed before the Baller League UK Draft on March 10
Here is a full list of the managers and team names that you can expect to see on Draft night.
Angry Ginge (Yanited)
Miniminter (M7 FC)
Tobi Brown (VZN FC)
Sharky (SDS FC)
Luis Figo (Trebol FC)
Alan Shearer, Micah Richards & Gary Lineker (Deportrio)
Jens Lehmann, Robert Pires & Freddie Ljungberg (N5 FC)
John Terry (26ers)
Dave (Santan FC)
Clint 419 [Corteiz] (F.C RULES THE WORLD)
Who is playing in the Baller League?
The Baller League YouTube channel has a series - 'Becoming a Baller' - that has chronicled which players have made it into the draft pool, based on trials in Manchester and London earlier in the year.
Some of the names known to be taking part are ex-Newcastle United and Aston Villa defender Ciaran Clark, former Crystal Palace and Watford centre back Adrian Mariappa and Love Island contestant Montel McKenzie. It is not yet clear if any of the legendary managers will take to the pitch to help their teams.