10 Valter Birsa
Valter Birsa began his professional career at NK Primorje in 2003 while still a teenager, and joined ND Gorica at the age of 17. By the time he had moved on to French club Sochaux in 2006, he already made 61 first-team appearances and had 26 goals to his name.
But Birsa’s form was less than prolific for the club, and he was loaned out to Auxerre in 2009, with the club eventually taking the player on permanently.
He began his international career with the Slovenia Under-21 squad in 2004, but made his international debut just one year later, becoming the country’s youngest-ever player.
He has since earned 32 caps, and will be looking to add to his two goals in the 2010 World Cup finals in South Africa.
