Igor Matanovic #20

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Croats, war refugees who had nothing and didn’t even speak the language.” He recalls a visit to the bombed and abandoned house where his mother’s family used to live. “Among the ruins, there was still an album with photos of Michael Jackson that she collected. They were just teenagers and suddenly they needed to start a whole new life.” Born in Hamburg, Matanovic opted to play for Croatia and is still making a name for himself both in the Bundesliga and with the national team. In his hometown, he owns an Oakberry franchise that sells acai bowls and smoothies, which has its benefits: “I love that feeling when you just go to the counter, take what you want and don’t have to pay for it.”

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