Hans Vanaken continues to do what he has been doing for more than ten years: playing at the highest level, without wavering. Against Kairat Almaty, he scored his 24th European goal for Bruges, an absolute Club record.
These figures are not the result of chance. Every season, Vanaken is on the move, with goals, assists and decisive actions, in Belgium and in Europe. More than a decade at the highest level of football, and he still hasn’t lost the intensity in his game. That’s exceptional, especially in a league where stars often leave early or reach their peak quickly.
Vanaken remains the best player in Belgium, without discussion
Three Golden Shoes now adorn his record, and he has come close to a fourth on several occasions. This reality places him in a particularly restricted club. But the most important thing is that Vanaken still remains the best player on Belgian pitches today, without discussion.
What makes his European figures even more striking is the context. For Belgian clubs, the European scene is a reward, but also a hell of a challenge. Scoring 24 goals should not be trivialized, especially when you are not playing as a top striker.
Au Club de Brugeshe has been much more than a simple midfielder for years. He is the coach’s relay, the anchor when the storm rages and the man who stands up when necessary. In Astana, he was once again decisive, at a time when the Club needed to turn things around after domestic setbacks.
But nothing to boast about, Hans Vanaken did his duty, nothing more, as he did on this same pitch in Astana with the Devils two months ago: “It’s a great step for me, but the three points remain the most important, just like the collective performance”.
This characterizes his career. Never the loudest voice, but always the heaviest weight on the scale. Where others come and go, Vanaken continues to perform. His game is less explosive than before, but smarter, more efficient and just as decisive. So much the worse for high-intensity races, so much the better for fans of infiltration without making noise.
The question is no longer how important Hans Vanaken is, but how durable he will be. More than ten years at the top, records that will continue to fall and an influence that has never been denied. Ivan Leko was pleased to have Vanaken at the top of his game during his first visit, it is no different for his return.
