Alessandro Schöpf #26

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Perhaps the biggest surprise in Ralf Rangnick’s squad, given that Schöpf’s season with Wolfsberger did not exactly demand attention. Even so, his qualities have clearly not gone unnoticed. The well-travelled midfielder has long been valued for his technique, dynamism and the quality of his passing. When he moved to Vancouver Whitecaps after over a decade in Germany, he seemed to find renewed confidence and something like a reboot for his career – along with a fine home for his two golden retrievers, Mila and Levi. “There are great beaches. And Stanley Park is a beautiful place. Our dogs will love it there,” said Schöpf, who is also known as “Ale” – in the German pronunciation, so not the beer. Even before his move back home, he had made his target clear: the World Cup. He is joining LASK this summer.

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