Roman Bürki

Location: Münsingen, Switzerland

This is where it all began. Mum, dad, and younger brother are in the picture. This is his family house, and it looks cozy. (Image: schweizer-illustrierte.ch)

Had it not been for his father, we would have never seen this goalie don the BVB colors at all. We have him to thank for not taking him back home when he panicked before trying out with Young Boys. We have him to thank for having that crucial talk with his kid, for recognizing that there was a mental problem and that he needed help. This shot-stopper started with FC Münsingen, but as he progressed he started trying out with numerous clubs only to be rejected, before landing up with Young Boys. A player that understood his shortcomings, he quickly began seeing a therapist and continues to this day. He's a very smart player who constantly learns from his mistakes. His club career has seen him traverse the two countries of Switzerland and Germany. As a senior, he got his first big break, in Switzerland, with the Grasshoppers before he moved to Germany to play for SC Freiburg. He almost single-handedly kept them in the Bundesliga, but it was not meant to end that way. He switched to Dortmund when they were relegated in 2015 and has been with them since. He has continued to improve as a player and is now the first choice keeper for BVB. His career hasn't progressed as much as he would have like for the Swiss national team, but he's only 29 and still has some time to go before he calls it a day.