Manuel Friedrich

Manuel Friedrich is a German former professional footballer who played as a central defender. Born on 13 September 1979 in Bad Kreuznach, he came through the youth ranks of Mainz 05 and went on to play 258 Bundesliga games, scoring 16 goals over twelve seasons for Werder Bremen, Mainz 05, Bayer Leverkusen and Borussia Dortmund. He helped Mainz win promotion to the top flight in 2004, spent several seasons as an ever-present defender at Leverkusen, and joined Dortmund on a free transfer in November 2013 after injuries to two of their central defenders. In March 2006 he became the first Mainz player to be called up to the German national side and he made his full debut that August in a friendly against Sweden. He ended his career with a season at Mumbai City in the Indian Super League.