I'm going to choose a player from the late 90's who epitomised why I fell in love with the game to start with... Stuart Pearce (nicknamed Psycho).

Perhaps an unusual choice in that he wasn't flashy, he didn't have any flair, and to be quite honest, probably lacked ability altogether. But... he had passion, pride, determination, worked hard. Everything you expect from a player.

There are 2 incidents in particular that stick in my mind.

1. Basile Boli's Head Butt
2. Trying to continue playing with a broken leg.

Disappointingly, the head butt knocked him to the floor, but he didn't complain about it. He just got on with it. Like the small pain of breaking a leg. He wanted to continue and didn't even realise it was broken. I can't imagine any player in today's game doing this. The closest you'll get is somebody telling the referee they shouldn't send somebody off after diving to the floor in the hope they'll get them sent off (Alexander Mitrovic anyone?!)

For flair and genius, I'd vote Jimmy Kebe but I only get one vote so it goes to Stuart "psycho" Pearce.