Introduction
Eden Hazard is a Belgian professional footballer who is widely regarded as one of the best attacking midfielders in the world. He has played for several top-tier clubs such as Lille, Chelsea, and Real Madrid, and has won numerous individual and team awards throughout his career. Here are 40 interesting facts about Eden Hazard.
Facts about Eden Hazard
- Hazard was born in La Louviere, Belgium, and began his football career at the age of four.
- His parents were both professional footballers, and his mother played for the Belgian women’s national team.
- Hazard’s first club was Royal Stade Brainois, where he played for four years before joining Tubize.
- He was scouted by Lille while playing for Tubize’s youth team, and joined the French club’s youth academy at the age of 14.
- Hazard made his professional debut for Lille in November 2007, at the age of 16.
- He won the Ligue 1 Young Player of the Year award in the 2008-09 season.
- Hazard helped Lille win the Ligue 1 title in the 2010-11 season, scoring seven goals and providing 10 assists.
- He was named the Ligue 1 Player of the Year in both the 2010-11 and 2011-12 seasons.
- Hazard joined Chelsea in June 2012 for a reported fee of £32 million, making him the club’s most expensive signing at the time.
- He won the Premier League in his first season with Chelsea, scoring nine goals and providing 11 assists.
- Hazard was named the PFA Young Player of the Year in the 2013-14 season, and the PFA Player of the Year in the 2014-15 season.
- He helped Chelsea win the Premier League title again in the 2016-17 season, scoring 16 goals and providing five assists.
- Hazard joined Real Madrid in June 2019 for a reported fee of €100 million.
- He made his debut for Real Madrid in August 2019, in a 3-2 win over Levante.
- Hazard has won the Belgian Golden Shoe award three times, in 2011, 2012, and 2018.
- He has also been named the Belgian Professional Footballer of the Year four times, in 2011, 2012, 2015, and 2019.
- Hazard has scored 32 goals in 106 appearances for the Belgian national team.
- He helped Belgium reach the semi-finals of the 2018 FIFA World Cup, where they lost to eventual champions France.
- Hazard has been named in the UEFA Team of the Year four times, in 2017, 2018, 2019, and 2020.
- He has also been named in the FIFA FIFPro World11 three times, in 2018, 2019, and 2020.
- Hazard has a sponsorship deal with Nike, and wears the Mercurial Vapor football boots.
- He has been featured on the cover of the FIFA video game series three times, in FIFA 15, FIFA 16, and FIFA 17.
- Hazard is known for his dribbling ability, and has been compared to former Chelsea and Ivory Coast winger, Didier Drogba, for his style of play. 24.
- He is also known for his versatility, as he can play in multiple attacking positions including as a winger, attacking midfielder, or second striker.
- Hazard is left-footed, but is also proficient with his right foot.
- In 2018, Hazard was ranked as the eighth-best player in the world by The Guardian.
- He has been described as a “joy to watch” by former Liverpool defender, Jamie Carragher.
- Hazard has a tattoo of his wife’s name, Natacha, on his right arm.
- He is fluent in French, Dutch, and English.
- Hazard has four siblings, three brothers and a sister.
- His younger brother, Thorgan Hazard, is also a professional footballer, and plays for Borussia Dortmund and the Belgian national team.
- Hazard is a devout Christian and has spoken openly about his faith.
- He married his longtime girlfriend, Natacha Van Honacker, in 2012.
- The couple has three sons together, Yannis, Leo, and Samy.
- Hazard has a fear of flying, and has admitted to taking sleeping pills to help him cope with long flights.
- He is a fan of the NBA team, the Boston Celtics.
- Hazard has been involved in charitable work, including supporting a campaign to raise awareness of blood cancer in Belgium.
- In 2017, he donated €50,000 to a charity that supports children with cancer in his hometown.
- Hazard has been praised for his sportsmanship, and has been known to help opponents up after fouls.
- He has expressed a desire to return to Chelsea in the future, and has stated that he would like to work with former manager, Jose Mourinho, again.
Eden Hazard’s Personal information in tabular form
Name | Eden Hazard |
---|---|
Date of Birth | January 7, 1991 |
Place of Birth | La Louvière, Belgium |
Age | 32 years old |
Height | 5 ft 9 in (1.75 m) |
Weight | 163 lb (74 kg) |
Nationality | Belgian |
Position | Forward/Winger |
Current Club | Real Madrid |
Jersey Number | 7 |
Youth Clubs | Royal Stade Brainois, Tubize |
Professional Clubs | Lille, Chelsea, Real Madrid |
International Career | Belgium National Team (2008-present) |
Spouse | Natacha Van Honacker |
Children | Yannis, Leo, and Samy |
Siblings | Thorgan Hazard (brother) |
Languages | French, Dutch, English |
Conclusion
Eden Hazard is a highly decorated footballer who has achieved success at the highest levels of the sport. His talent, versatility, and sportsmanship have made him a beloved figure among fans of the game. Despite his success, Hazard remains humble and committed to giving back to his community through charitable work.
FAQs about Eden Hazard
What is Eden Hazard known for?
Eden Hazard is known for being a highly talented and successful professional footballer.
What teams has Eden Hazard played for?
Eden Hazard has played for several teams including Lille, Chelsea, and Real Madrid.
What position does Eden Hazard play?
Eden Hazard typically plays as a forward or winger.
Has Eden Hazard won any awards?
Yes, Eden Hazard has won numerous awards including the Premier League Player of the Season, the UEFA Europa League Player of the Season, and the FIFA World Cup Silver Ball.
Is Eden Hazard married?
Yes, Eden Hazard is married to his longtime girlfriend, Natacha Van Honacker.
Does Eden Hazard have any children?
Yes, Eden Hazard has three sons with his wife Natacha Van Honacker.