Former professional footballer Eden Hazard, known for his time with Chelsea and Real Madrid, officially announced his retirement from the sport at the age of 32.
The former Belgian captain shared the news on his Instagram page, stating, “You must listen to yourself and say stop at the right time.”
After a remarkable 16-year career, during which he played in over 700 matches, he expressed gratitude for realizing his dream and enjoying the game on numerous pitches worldwide.
Here are 13 key facts about the 32-year-old Belgian and Chelsea legend:
1. Eden Hazard was born on January 7, 1991, in La Louvière, Belgium.
2. Both of his parents, Carine and Thierry, had football backgrounds. His father notably played as a defensive midfielder for La Louvière in the Belgian Second Division.
3. Hazard’s football journey began at the age of four when he joined his hometown team, Royal Stade Brainois. He later moved to AFC Tubize before eventually signing with Lille in 2005.
4. Notably, Eden Hazard has three brothers who are also involved in football: Thorgan Hazard (RSC Anderlecht), Kylian Hazard (RWD Molenbeek), and Ethan Hazard (R Union Tubize-Braine U21).
5. He made a significant move to Chelsea from Lille on July 1, 2012, spending seven successful years at the club, followed by a transfer to Real Madrid on July 1, 2019. He took on the role of Belgium’s captain in 2015 and retired from the national team in 2022.
6. During his international career, Hazard played 123 matches, contributing 33 goals and 36 assists to the Belgian national team.
7. At Chelsea, he made 352 appearances, scoring 110 goals and providing 92 assists.
8. His time at Lille saw him play 194 matches, netting 50 goals and delivering 53 assists.
9. While at Real Madrid, Hazard played 72 matches, scoring 7 goals and assisting 11 times.
10. Eden Hazard received the Footballer of the Year award in 2015 (in England).
11. He earned the Player of the Year award three times, with one from Chelsea and two from Lille.
12. His impressive list of achievements includes winning the UEFA Champions League with Real Madrid in the 2021-2022 season, the FIFA Club World Cup in 2023 with Real Madrid, and two Europa League titles (in 2013 and 2019 with Chelsea).
13. Hazard boasts five league titles across three different leagues: two English titles with Chelsea (in 2017 and 2015), two Spanish titles with Real Madrid (in 2021-2022 and 2019-2020), and one French title with LOSC Lille (in 2010-2011).
These highlights encapsulate the remarkable career of Eden Hazard, a football icon celebrated for his talent and accomplishments in the world of professional soccer.
