Born in La Louvière in Belgium, Eden Hazard took his first steps in the French championship with LOSC on November 24, 2007 against Nancy (2-0) at 16 years, 10 months and 17 days. A precocious talent, he scored his first goal in the elite with his training club, ten months later (September 20, 2008) against Auxerre, becoming the 2nd youngest scorer in the history of the Dogues. At the end of the season, the Belgian received the UNFP trophy for best prospect of the year. The birth certificate of a rough diamond.
Very quickly becoming a star in Ligue 1, the number 10 rose to the rank of legend in Lille during the 2010-2011 financial year which saw the Rouge et Blanc win the cup-championship double. Hazard wins the title of best player of the season, rewarding his many strokes of genius including this sensational goal scored in Marseille, during the 26th day. An exceptional strike from 35 meters from the left – his bad foot – unstoppable for OM goalkeeper Steve Mandanda. For the record, this decisive achievement for winning the championship was elected, in 2020, “goal of the century” by Lille supporters in front of another feat achieved… by this same Hazard, obviously, against Saint-Étienne.
SEE ALSO – Eden Hazard’s move to Real Madrid (2019-2023)
In May 2012, the international signed with the Blues for 40 million euros after a prodigious last year at LOSC (20 goals and 18 assists in 38 Ligue 1 matches). The biggest transfer in the history of Belgian football at the time, he quickly confirmed all the hopes placed in him, winning the 2013 Europa League, his first European title, alongside Franck Lampard and Fernando Torres.
During this 2012/2013 season, Hazard also experienced the first and only (!) expulsion of his career on the field of Swansea in the English League Cup. With his team trailing late in the game, he wants to play a quick throw-in but kicks a ball blocked by a local ball boy. Result, three suspension matches and a controversy for the newcomer, who will then distinguish himself by an impeccable state of mind on the field.
Well integrated into Chelsea, the Belgian international returns to 10 at the dawn of the 2014-2015 financial year. A legendary number that he will take on perfectly by dominating the Premier League under the orders of “Special One” José Mourinho. With 14 goals and 10 assists, he led the London club to the title and received the best player trophy for the second time in a row. His dribbles capsize all the English defenses, Hazard is at his peak.
In a championship renowned as the most physical in the world, the pocket attacker (1.73m) stands out for his agility, speed and technique well above average. These qualities all came together on February 4, 2017, during the derby against Arsenal’s London neighbor. Antonio Conte’s Chelsea then played the leading roles and their Belgian genius scored one of the goals of the year after a crazy race and a 50-meter slalom. The Blues brought down their rival (3-1) and lifted the title a few months later, the 16 goals of their star (his best total in England) had a lot to do with it.
Starting with Belgium A in 2008, Hazard gained ground over the years until becoming captain in 2016, just before a disappointing Euro in France (quarter-final defeat against Wales) despite his status as the best passer of the competition. In 2018, during the World Cup in Russia, the former Lille player believed in the lucky star of the Red Devils, stronger than ever. In the quarter-final against Brazil, the Belgian maestro did not score but delivered a historic performance. He makes the Seleção dizzy by successfully completing 10 dribbles out of 10 attempted, a record for a player with 100% success in the history of the World Cup (Opta figure). At 29, he is on a mission to put his country on the roof of the world. Unfortunately for him, Samuel Umtiti’s French team stood in his way a few days later…
Despite Russian disillusionment, Hazard has lost none of his football and will say goodbye to the Blues in the best possible way in 2018-2019. 16 goals and 15 assists in the league, yet another personal feat at Liverpool and a 2nd Europa League won at the expense of Arsenal (4-1) for his last match in the blue jersey. A rich seven-year adventure which ends with a double in the European final. The icing on the cake, the supporters of Stamford Bridge will not soon forget it.
He had dreamed of it, the moment has come. In the summer of 2019, Hazard signed for Real Madrid for a huge transfer of 100 million euros. With Cristiano Ronaldo gone, Zinedine Zidane, on the Merengue bench, sees him as the Portuguese’s successor. But nothing is going to happen as planned. The Belgian striker has a string of injuries and rarely sets foot on the pitch at the Santiago Bernabéu. In four years at Casa Blanca, he played only 76 matches, scoring 7 small goals and 12 assists. A huge waste which will precipitate his decision to stop.
The news came this Tuesday, Eden Hazard has decided to end his professional career following an almost blank year. Winner of the Champions League in 2022, the best Belgian player of his generation – and perhaps in history – ended his club adventure last summer, left free by Real Madrid. Just a few months after a new disappointment in the selection, the elimination in the group stage of the Qatari World Cup.
Endowed with a rare genius on the ball, the native of Louvière completed fifteen years of a crazy career that left no one indifferent. 200 goals and 193 assists in 749 matches, a pretty good list for a football virtuoso.
