‘The right time’: Eden Hazard retires from football
The time has come. Former Belgian Red Devil Eden Hazard is saying goodbye to football at 32 years old.
Hazard, who has the sport running through his genes with two ex-footballer parents, had retired from the national squad in December 2022. Now, “after 16 years and more than 700 matches played,” Hazard has said that “you must listen to yourself and say stop at the right time.”
The fan favourite shared the news on social media with several photos from throughout his career, including his win of the 2019 Europa League final with Chelsea FC.
“I was able to realise my dream”, Hazard said, underlining that he was “lucky to meet great managers, coaches and teammates. He thanked them all, along with his teams, Lille, Chelsea and Real Madrid. Of course, he still thanked the Royal Belgian Football Association, where his 126 caps make him one of the most called-to-action players in Belgian football history.
Impressively, Hazard scored 167 goals in his club career, the vast majority of which (110) were in the jersey of Chelsea FC.
Who knows when the next Eden Hazard will come along? Only time will tell. What’s sure is that he has captured the imagination of Belgians and international fans alike, and that he will be remembered as one of the greatest Belgian footballers of all time.
We’ve said it before, and we’ll say it again: Merci, Eden!