Hassen Ayalew

This towering Ethiopian center-back dominates the air with ice-cold composure and flawless slide tackles, though he sometimes struggles in direct physical tussles. Before every match, he obsessively insists that his teammates tie his shoelaces in a specific magical sequence, a quirky routine the rest of the locker room accepts with an amused smile. His ability to read the play and his sharp reactions make him a nearly impenetrable defensive anchor.