Julio Salinas

A tall and intelligent Spanish centre-forward, Julio Salinas was never a striker of pure elegance, but he understood the job with admirable clarity. Strong in the air, clever in his movement and excellent at occupying defenders, he gave teams a reliable attacking reference point without needing the whole system built around him. At Athletic Club, Atlético Madrid, Barcelona and with Spain, he offered goals, work rate and tactical usefulness, often functioning as the honest centre-forward beside more gifted creators. His touch could look awkward and his finishing was not always immaculate, but his timing, positioning and competitive character made him far more valuable than the caricature suggests. A classic number 9 with brains, presence and a strange habit of being exactly where the ball became dangerous.