King Edin

Edin Dzeko's rise to international fame has indeed overcome countless obstacles, and brought a war ravaged nation into the international football spotlight for the very first time.  

Edin Dzeko's four goals against a shell-shocked Tottenham was indeed impressive.  Last week I did a piece on Dzeko's latest football form but neglected to mention perhaps one of the most important characteristics of his reportoir, his incredibly friendly demeanor, and his always smiling face, that has become symbolic of the way the Bosnian people have treated years of war, destruction, and rebuilding in the face of nationalism and ethnic cleansing.  

To a country that is still emerging from the dark ages of war and still in the grips of a political quagmire, the one uniting force has been the most popular sport in the area, football.  Edin Dzeko has become an international ambassador for the tiny country from the Balkans, and his fellow countrymen certainly have something to be proud of.  Dzeko has hit the target six times in three league games this season, and another strike in the Community Shield loss to United.  

With the stage set for an epic showdown between bitter rivals City and United, Edin has spearheaded a lethal forward line that has both managed to out compete and outwit the opposition so far.  The addition of Samir Nasri (three assists against Tottenham) seems to have elevated Dzeko's game even further, even though it is still far too early to tell.  

During his Bundesliga days at Wolfsburg, Dzeko flourished on playmaker and fellow countryman's Misimovic's assists, Nasri could very well play a similar role.

Edin Dzeko seems to have completed the final stage of his integration into City's team, finding his form, and hitting the target as a vital cog in the machine.  His international charity work for UNICEF and his children's football charity center Valter in Sarajevo are only a few examples of what Edin has given to his country during his short career.  

Behind the scenes, there are stories of Dzeko accommodating reporters and complete strangers and for now, it seems he hasn't let the money or the fame get to his head.  He's still the same awkward gangly smiling boy from Sarajevo, only bagging goals in the EPL.