Silvio berlusconi martin schulz biography

Martin Schulz, the leader of the Social Democratic Party and a former European Parliament president, is seen as the underdog in the race for Germany's top job.

But he has remained upbeat during the campaign ahead of the 24 September vote, insisting his party can close the gap and unseat his centre-left rival, Chancellor Angela Merkel, after 12 years in power.

Here is a look at his career ahead of the German federal parliamentary elections.

Who is he?

Mr Schulz, 61, has spent most of his career - 23 years - in the European Parliament, where he served as president from 2012 until he resigned this year to contest the German election.

His highest elected position in Germany was as mayor of the small western town of Wuerselen.

He was born in western Germany in 1955 as the fifth child of a policeman and housewife, who he described as "simple and very decent people".

At school, he had been hoping to become a professional footballer