Ivan Klasnić

Ivan Klasnić was a striker of clean finishing, clever movement and remarkable human resilience. At Werder Bremen, before illness changed the shape of his career, he formed part of a fluid attacking side, using sharp runs, quick combinations and a calm left foot to punish defenders who gave him half a metre too much. He was not a bruising target man and not a spectacular dribbler, but a natural finisher who understood where chances were born. His return after kidney transplants gave his story a rare weight, yet the football should not be reduced to sentiment. Klasnić had real class: efficient, technical, intelligent around the box and cold when the finish arrived. A forward whose career carried both quality and courage.