Edin Džeko

Edin Džeko was never just a tall striker waiting for crosses. At his best, he was a complete centre forward with the feet of a playmaker, the frame of a target man and the penalty area instinct of a genuine scorer. Wolfsburg showed his finishing power in a title winning team, Manchester City used him as a decisive rotational weapon, and Roma gave him the space to reveal the full range of his game: link play, layoffs, diagonal runs, aerial control and surprisingly delicate combinations around the box. He could look frustrating, even wasteful, because easy chances sometimes escaped him and his rhythm was not always constant. Yet the larger picture is clear. Džeko scored everywhere, made teams play better and carried Bosnia and Herzegovina as its defining football figure. A technical giant, imperfect but hugely effective, and one of the most intelligent number 9s of his generation.