The hard player: Mateja Kežman
Born on 12 April 1979 in Zemun, Mateja Kežman first made his mark at Partizan Belgrade (43 goals in 74 matches) before truly exploding at PSV Eindhoven, where he scored 129 goals in 176 appearances – a ratio that had every major European club on high alert. He earned 26 caps for Yugoslavia, scoring 10 goals, as part of a golden Balkan generation.
The big moves followed, but results were mixed. At Chelsea, just 7 goals in 41 matches. Then at PSG, 8 goals in 35 appearances. It was at Fenerbahçe where the striker rediscovered his scoring touch, netting 30 goals in 69 matches.
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PlayThe medium player: John Arne Riise
Born on 24 September 1980 in Ålesund, John Arne Riise built his reputation across European pitches with remarkable consistency. A left-back by trade, he spent nearly two decades in professional football between 1997 and 2016. It was at Liverpool where he wrote his finest chapter: 350 appearances, 31 goals, and above all a Champions League title in 2005 that will forever be part of Anfield folklore.
After Liverpool, Riise kept moving: 136 appearances and 11 goals at AS Roma, then 101 matches at Fulham and further spells across Europe. Football also runs in the family – his brother Bjørn Helge Riise carved out his own professional career in the game.
The easy player: Rudi Völler
Born on 13 April 1960 in Hanau, Rudi Völler was never the type to chase every ball or make himself look busy. His game was simple: wait for the decisive pass, then put it away. That approach earned him the nickname “The Penalty Box Fox” and some staggering numbers: 119 goals with Werder Bremen, 68 with AS Roma, and 47 goals in 90 caps for Germany.
The pinnacle of his playing career came with the 1990 World Cup, won with the Mannschaft. But Völler’s relationship with football didn’t end at retirement. He took charge of the German national team and guided them all the way to the 2002 World Cup final. He then served as sporting director at Bayer Leverkusen from 2018 to 2022, before being appointed to the same role with the German national side in early 2023.