Nikola Vasilj #1

Profile

Goalkeeping runs in the Vasilj family: Nikola’s father, Vladimir, was part of Croatia’s squads at the 1998 and 2002 World Cups, while Nikola himself represents Bosnia and Herzegovina, something that, in this part of the world, nobody really finds unusual. Unlike many modern elite keepers, Vasilj was never considered a major prodigy and spent years on a treadmill of loans, reserve football and lower league action before finally reaching the Bundesliga with cult club St Pauli. As a child he was a huge admirer of Manuel Neuer, and eventually he found himself playing against his idol himself – even if their recent relegation might put an end to such occasions. Despite his aggressive style and spectacular reflex saves, teammates describe him as unusually calm and reserved away from football.

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