Legendary

From Hitler Jugend to paratrooper on the Eastern front to prisoner of war at PoW camp 50 at Ashton to Man City goalkeeper in the 1956 Cup Final to OBE, Bert Trautmann.
In the 75th minute of said cup final Bert (real name Bernd, but the English had trouble pronouncing that) he collided with Birmingham City striker Peter Murphy and suffered a serious blow to his neck. As all subs had already been used, he stayed on the pitched and came up with some impossible saves to defend Man City's 3-1 lead. X-rays later showed that he had broken a vertebrae in his neck.