Mateo Kovacic

Team: Real Madrid

Position: Midfielder

Age: 22

Breaking into the first-team at Real Madrid is tough for any player. It's even worse when you are a defensively minded midfielder. And then seeing the manager who signed and trusted you get sacked adds on more woe.

Mateo Kovacic was seen as a defensive excess on the part of Rafa Benitez when he was regularly selected by the Spaniard during his reign at the Santiago Bernabeu.

But Kovacic is so superb that Zinedine Zidane, Benitez's replacement, still uses him regularly.

He's made 18 La Liga appearances this season and provides Real with a solidarity they otherwise lack.

Mateo Kovacic may be a defensive midfielder but has still found a home in the Real Madrid side