Damir Gotal

This Croatian center-back is imperial in his tackling and possesses unmatched defensive reading, calming the entire stadium with his lightning speed. To stay focused, he insists on eating three olives precisely lined up on the edge of his locker, a quirky superstition his teammates tolerate in silence while shaking their heads at the mess on the floor. Despite his stature, his lack of raw physical strength is compensated by an implacable tenacity and total serenity under pressure.