He was actually not yet at retirement age. And yet the ball-loving Eden Hazard – still only 32 – decided to end his career. Why actually? Some intimates give a glimpse into the head and (broken) heart of a retiring legend.
For months, the football world’s best-kept secret remained without an answer.
Would we ever see Eden Hazard on a pitch again? Even the toughest scoop guns found no answer.
Some loose transfer rumors kept the mystery alive for a long time. Our compatriot’s name actually came up in Brazil, but also in Saudi Arabia and the United States.
It didn’t seem concrete at all.
In the meantime, his public appearances and messages – no influencer has been lost to Hazard anyway – were scarce.
After his farewell moment with the Red Devils, tourists spotted the attacker on holiday in Vigo, Spain. Hazard (with dyed gray hair) also suddenly appeared in a video with his hairdresser and during the final of the US Open. He was also happy to perform for the transfer of Roméo Lavia to old love Chelsea.
The rest of the time Hazard lived under the radar in Madrid.
Until on Wednesday he made everyone speed up one last time with an Instagram message and announced his retirement as a professional football player.
“Because you have to listen to yourself and stop at the right time.”
No Messi or Ronaldo
For Hazard that is (already) at the age of 32 – and still a bit in a minor key.
Why stop in anonymity and not have a graceful last dance at a beautiful traditional club? Our journalist Peter Vandenbempt also believes that Hazard still had “some good years left in him”.
After all, Messi was three years older than Hazard is now when he won his greatest trophy, and Ronaldo is still breaking records at the age of 38.
However, Hazard’s human nature is different.
Best friend Christian Benteke knows this better than anyone. “Eden needs less football to be happy,” says the 45-time Red Devil.
“Look, Ronaldo and Messi don’t play because they need money, right? It’s a way for both of them to separate themselves from who they are outside of football. Only on the field do they have their freedom – despite the millions of eyes watching. focused on them. At Eden it is different.”
Did Eden have to change his family’s entire life for one or two years in the MLS? He didn’t want that.
Vincent Vlieghe, Hazard confidant
Give Hazard his family and only then will he feel like the happiest person in the world.
Wife Natacha and the four sons always come first. That also did not make the search for a possible new challenge any easier.
“His family was the absolute priority,” emphasizes Vincent Vlieghe, the man who has run Hazard’s business empire for 15 years.
“All the boys go to school in Madrid and feel good there. Did Eden have to change all their lives for one or two years in the MLS? He didn’t want that.”
Benteke laughs: “Moreover, Eden would only have liked to live in Miami. And well, for Eden, Real Madrid was his highest dream. Then it is not easy to find something that gives you the same feeling.”
Hazard with his family at the last European Championship.
Broken football heart
Especially because Hazard’s sporting fairy tale in Madrid did not turn out as he had imagined.
Due to injuries, the record transfer failed to meet the sky-high expectations at any time. The Red did fill his list of achievements with trophies, but his own share was non-existent.
It caused the eternal smile to disappear from Hazard’s face more and more often.
“Something is broken in him at Real,” said Vlieghe. “Without that bad period there, Eden would probably still be playing football.”
Benteke also noticed that Hazard’s hopeless position under coach Carlo Ancelotti was mentally affecting his friend.
“You should know: Eden is not as strong in his head as others,” the striker outlines.
“That’s because he never had any struggles – Eden could always rely on his talent and only experienced top moments. A situation like in Madrid, with those injuries and the competition? Totally new. Eden didn’t know how to fight for a place. He always remained as he is until the end: calm and chill.”
I’m not going to say that his passion for football was gone, but… She wasn’t the same anymore.
Christian Benteke
But inside, the lack of playing time really gnawed at the eternal optimist.
Thibaut Courtois, the man with whom Hazard played most often, also noticed this in the dressing room.
“Eden is a proud boy who wants to play and doesn’t just want to be part of a team without playing,” the goalkeeper says. “I think that’s why he chose to terminate his contract. You felt that he was a bit exhausted.”
An impression that Benteke confirms: “I’m not going to say that his passion for football was gone, but… (wait a moment) She wasn’t the same anymore.”
After which the striker immediately points out the cause: “You know, with Eden there is a love for the game when he has the ball. Sitting on the bench and just watching, like with Real? Others know those ups and downs, Eden doesn’t. took away his pleasure.”
Because Vlieghe also assures: “For Eden, football was never a profession, but a game.”
Hazard and Benteke have been best friends since the Belgian youth teams.
No trainer, but an analyst?
Now, let us not fall into too much negativity when it comes to Eden Hazard’s phenomenal career.
“He is one of the greatest in Belgian football history,” Courtois repeatedly emphasizes.
“At Chelsea, Eden was even one of the best players in the world. That he is now retiring at the age of 32? Don’t forget that Eden started young – a career of 16 years is really long.”
Benteke adds: “Everyone always wants a perfect ending to a story – that’s just how people are wired. Only the reality is often different. So don’t just look at Eden’s finish, but at his great course.”
And who knows, the best chapter is yet to come for Hazard.
Because what will the future bring for the Sunday child?
“There are no concrete plans yet,” says Vlieghe. “Eden will first enjoy some peace and quiet with his family for a few months. What else does he do? (laughs) Play a lot of golf.”
No interlocutor dares to say whether football will still play a prominent role in Hazard’s life.
A few years ago, the retired Devil was one of the few to decline the trainer’s course of the Belgian Football Association. But for son Leo, active in Real’s youth team, Hazard will undoubtedly be on the sidelines.
“He would never have become a coach anyway,” Benteke says.
“But analyst on television? I can still see him doing that, actually. Eden knows football, can share his experiences and make some jokes in the meantime.”
Admit it: you would watch too, wouldn’t you?
2023-10-11 04:21:58
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