The defender was born and raised in the German capital Berlin and represents the country of his birth at international level, but has never forgotten his African roots and is proud of his dual heritage.

Furthermore, he has also revealed it was the influence of his parents, who have since returned to live in Sierra Leone, along with his experiences growing up in one of Berlin’s toughest neighbourhoods, which inspired him to start his own charitable foundation.

‘Even though I was born and raised in Germany, I also have to recognise there’s another country that’s part of me, so 100 per cent I’m very proud of that,’ explained Rudiger.

‘I was born and raised in Neukolln in Berlin. It’s a tough area where mostly refugees grew up and my parents fled from the civil war in Sierra Leone and came to Germany to have a better life.

‘Hanging around in the street you either go the right way or the other way. Football kept me away from trouble. I see myself as very lucky because I come from a very poor background so it’s important to me to give something back if I can help. That’s why I said to my brother I want to start a foundation to do good things, not only in Sierra Leone and Germany, but around the globe.

‘This is just who I am. This is how my parents raised me. There were tough times in those days and my parents always said “be someone in the future to help the poor” and this has always been on my mind. I’m not doing this for fame or anything, I do it because I want to.’

Rudiger’s desire to help others has never been more apparent than over the last year, when he has been doing his bit during the spread of Covid-19, as well as showing his gratitude to those working so hard on the front lines in the pandemic.

‘In the first lockdown I contacted the hospital where I was born to see if I could help and they said “we would be grateful if you could pay for the food for the people who are on the front lines for three months”. I said this is something I want to do, especially in the hospital where I was born and I got together with my team and we did it.

‘A couple of months ago, I also provided food for the guys there and at other hospitals around Germany when the second wave came.

‘Also, in Sierra Leone, we provided face masks because, the way things were going in Europe at that time, I was very afraid when it comes down to Africa, so I did my best to help.’

It’s not just the health workers in hospitals and elsewhere on the front lines that Rudiger is grateful to, as he also acknowledges how hard it has been for the authorities and officials to keep football going during the pandemic, even if he admits it is not the same sport without supporters in the stadiums.

‘With all the coronavirus, football has changed for everyone. It is weird because at the end of the day we are doing our job, but it’s like Sunday league. Football is fans and you want them to cheer you and keep you going and you want the other fans to whistle against you. This is the type of stuff you miss.

‘But the FA have done well to keep football going and you have to say thanks to the politicians and the workers who are fighting hard against the virus.’