here's a few to start off with
Kenny dalglish
Michael Owen
Liverpool in the 1980s (very grudgingly ...though if i'd known then that the refereeing was biased!)
the Croatian Boban with Liberian George Weah who played for AC Milan in the late 90s
the chelsea italians Vialli/Zola di Matteo + Poyet
Vialli Ravenelli Juve
Zidane Del Piero Juve (serie A used to be on channel 4)
Justine Henin my all time fav tennis star who i am not sure i have ever watched more than the equivalent of a single set .... but for the unlikeliest world number 1
Steffi Graff
Steve Waugh
Michael Chang, The come back king of tennis
Bjorn Borg, I'll never forget those matches with McEnroe
Thierry Henry, Saw him play at Fratton Park, the season Arsenal went unbeaten, the home fans were applauding the shear display of genius on the pitch .
Lance Armstrong, Incredible to survive cancer then win the Tour DE France
7 times.
Niki Lauda, involved in an incredible accident in the 76 season that put him in a coma and left him with severe burns to the face, but six weeks later he was back in an F1 car, and went on to win the 1976 F1 title by 1 point.
there are probably many more...