"Deep roots are not reached by the frost," John Ronald Reuel Tolkien wrote in his famous book The Lord of the Rings.
That is certainly true of Ermedin Demirovic, who was born in the German city of Hamburg in 1998 but has always remained deeply connected to Bosnia & Herzegovina, the country his parents came from after fleeing the war that devastated the entire Balkan region in the early 1990s.
However, the strong cultural influence passed down by his family played a decisive role in shaping him. Multicultural Germany offers room for minority cultures to flourish. Bosnian culture, in which the family is at the heart of everything, prevailed in the young Demirovic, who answered the call of the Balkan nation's Under-16 side at the age of 15.
After the war ended, it was only natural for him to spend his summer holidays in the homeland of both his mother and father. It was a country where the family home is at the centre of everything, as are daily sacrifices. That work ethic, combined with a lively Balkan temperament, helped the 1998-born centre-forward make his way in top-level football.
Taking Champions League by storm
In Germany, the centre-forward has honed every tactical and athletic aspect of the modern game: a willingness to press, constant movement and ruthlessness in the final third.
His hat-trick on his Champions League debut against Viking, followed by his goal against Slovan Bratislava, has already sent him to the top of the competition's scoring charts, level with Erling Haaland and Nicolo Tresoldi.
The Hamburg native has made an unexpected and extraordinary start to his Champions League campaign, making him a player for opponents to watch closely. That contrasts sharply with his league form, where he has scored just once in five appearances this season.
Europe, however, also appears to be more fertile ground for Stuttgart. After two matches, they sit top with six points, the same tally they have in a league where they are currently mid-table, alongside Hamburger SV, whose academy Demirovic attended from the age of six to 16.
His nomadic career, which also took him to France, Spain and Switzerland, has shaped him, as reflected in his steadily improving goalscoring numbers. Demirovic has reached double figures in each of the last three seasons.
Return to his roots
With four goals in this season's Champions League - the same number he has scored for Bosnia & Herzegovina in 48 appearances - Demirovic may have reached a turning point at the age of 28.
After years of graft, the Hamburg-born centre-forward now appears ready to lead Stuttgart to major success, having played a significant role in taking them into Europe's elite competition.
His biggest challenge, however, will be taking on the heavy legacy of Edin Dzeko with his national team. He has not scored in his last 15 appearances for Bosnia & Herzegovina, despite being the first-choice centre-forward.
He is now enjoying his redemption with a club that believed in him when he was still playing for Augsburg.
To revive his Bundesliga season, however, he will have to start with this weekend's visit to the much-loved Volksparkstadion, where he dreamed of playing while training with HSV's youth teams.
Now, at 28, he has reached a crucial stage of his career and must prove that he has fully matured. He must show that he is stronger than his emotions, too.
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Born and raised in Naples, forged in Spain and Argentina, Antonio Moschella is a Football specialist editor for Flashscore. He's always looking for the best option to mix the proper football experience with backpack travel.
