The hard player: Klaas-Jan Huntelaar
Born on 12 August 1983 in Voor-Drempt in the Netherlands, Klaas-Jan Huntelaar made his early mark on loan at AGOVV Apeldoorn (35 matches, 26 goals) before exploding onto the scene at SC Heerenveen with 39 goals in 61 matches. The goal machine then shifted into top gear at Ajax Amsterdam: 53 goals in his first spell, then a stunning 105 goals in 136 matches upon his return, making him one of the most prolific strikers in the club’s history.
His spell at Schalke 04 confirmed the pattern: 126 goals in 240 matches in the German league. Huntelaar also represented the Netherlands at youth level, netting 3 goals in 6 matches with the under-17 side.
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PlayThe medium player: Bixente Lizarazu
Born on 9 December 1969 in Saint-Jean-de-Luz, Bixente Lizarazu honed his craft at the Girondins de Bordeaux, where he played 299 matches and scored 28 goals as a left-back – a striking return for a defender. He then conquered Germany with Bayern Munich, making 227 appearances and scoring 8 goals during his first spell, before returning for a further 46 matches.
Between his two stints in Bavaria, he sampled life at Athletic Bilbao (18 matches), a club with deep Basque roots just like him, and Olympique de Marseille (15 matches). Lizarazu also earned 1 cap for the French military national team.
The easy player: Gianluigi Buffon
Born on 28 January 1978 in Carrara, Gianluigi Buffon first made his name at Parma AC, where he played 220 matches before making the move to Juventus FC. It was in Turin that he truly cemented his legacy, racking up 656 appearances in the black and white jersey – a staggering total that defines his club career.
Towards the end of his career, he made a detour to Paris Saint-Germain (25 matches) before returning to Juventus for a final stint of 29 matches. Buffon also represented Italy at youth level, featuring 3 times for the under-16 national side.