Makoto Hasebe

Makoto Hasebe is the kind of player every coach would love to have in his squad: hard-working, eager to learn, enthusiastic and disciplined. Indeed, whenever his name is mentioned, the words "model professional" and "intelligence" are never far away. It is no surprise, then, that the midfielder was also captain of the Japan national team, earning 114 caps for the Samurai Blue before retiring from international duty after the 2018 FIFA World Cup.

Dubbed the 'Japanese Beckenbauer', the veteran still has at least one more season at Eintracht Frankfurt, where his tactical understanding and versatility are highly prized assets. Hasebe joined the Eagles from 1. FC Nürnberg in 2014 and has since played as a central midfielder, centre-back, right-back and right midfielder. 

If there is a moment that encapsulates Hasebe's fighting spirit and will to win then you need look no further than the 2018 DFB Cup final against Bayern Munich. In the 69thminute, Corentin Tolisso was driving towards goal inside the penalty area, but just as he was shaping to shoot Hasebe slid in to nick the ball off his toe. Had he not done so, Tolisso could well have put Bayern 2-1 in front.

'Hase' was known for those very attributes at his previous clubs, and won the Bundesliga title with VfL Wolfsburg and the Japanese championship with Urawa Red Diamonds. As of summer 2018, his tally of 260 Bundesliga games meant he had made more appearances in Germany's top flight than any other Japanese player. Given that his current contract runs until the end of the 2018/19 season, he will have plenty of opportunities to build on that record. It remains to be seen whether or not Hasebe, who is also a UNESCO Ambassador, will retire from the game at that point.