Iconic personalties

SEBASTIEN  DEISLER

Position: Winger Clubs: Monchengladbach, Hertha BSC, Bayern Munich Injury: Knee Age at first injury: 19 Age at decline: 21 Age at retirement: 27 Games per season before decline: 21 Games per season after decline: 12

Deisler's career coupled phenomenal talent with personal turmoil. Seen by many as the last German with the ability to seriously contend for the Ballon d'Or, the man from Lorrach in the Wiese Valley emerged at the dawn of the new millennium as the nation's only youngster with the potential for global domination.

It wasn't to be, however, as a cruciate ligament rupture in 1999 was followed by a number of relapses up until and during his time at Bayern Munich, where his career would eventually come to an end. Under immense pressure at the Bundesliga's largest club as the nation waited with bated breath for their bright new hope to blossom into one of the world's great wingers, Deisler suffered from depression throughout his time in Bavaria, and was eventually forced to retire in 2007 with only 135 professional appearances under his belt.