Ballack missed the World Cup finals in South Africa due to a serious ankle injury.
Philipp Lahm took over the captaincy at Germany while Ballack was away.
“I advised him (to retire before the World Cup) as a friend – I did not mean anything nasty,” Hoeness told Bild newspaper.
“The fact is, if he had followed my advice, he would have spared himself a lot of grief.
“The situation has now changed. Back then, he would have retired from a strong position but after everything which has now happened, I can understand why he is continuing.
“You need strong nerves in sport and he has them.”
