The hard player: Cheikhou Kouyaté
Born on 21 December 1989 in Diourbel, Senegal, Cheikhou Kouyaté is a central defender and defensive midfielder who made his name on European pitches. It was at RSC Anderlecht that he truly established himself, racking up 206 matches and 6 goals before English clubs came calling. West Ham United gave him a platform in the Premier League with 147 appearances and 15 goals, and Crystal Palace extended that chapter with 141 matches and 3 goals – a reliable, versatile presence across the back line and midfield.
He rounded off his career with spells at Nottingham Forest (36 matches, 1 goal) and KV Courtrai (30 matches, 3 goals), completing a European journey that took him from Belgium to England and back. At international level, he featured for Senegal’s U20 side three times, scoring twice.
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PlayThe medium player: Grzegorz Krychowiak
Born on 29 January 1990 in Gryfice, Poland, Grzegorz Krychowiak is a defensive midfielder who built a rich career across France, Spain and Russia. He cut his teeth in European football at Stade de Reims (72 matches, 8 goals), before making his mark at Sevilla FC with 90 appearances and 5 goals, holding the midfield together in a demanding team environment.
He then moved to Lokomotiv Moscow (70 matches, 21 goals), before returning to Reims (60 matches, 4 goals) and heading back to Moscow for a second spell (39 matches, 2 goals). A restless career spread across multiple leagues. At international level, he represented Poland’s U20 side on 7 occasions, scoring once.
The easy player: Gerd Müller
Born on 3 November 1945 in Nördlingen, Germany, Gerd Müller spent the bulk of his career at Bayern Munich, where he scored 570 goals in 613 appearances. A strike rate that turned every penalty box into his personal hunting ground and earned him the nickname “Bomber der Nation” – a title no one would dare dispute.
For West Germany, he managed 68 goals in just 62 international matches, a record that still ranks among the most remarkable in national team history. He later crossed the Atlantic to join the Fort Lauderdale Strikers (73 matches, 40 goals), before returning to his roots at TSV 1861 Nördlingen. Gerd Müller passed away on 15 August 2021.