Mehdi Carcela crowned winner of the Lion Belge 2018
Mehdi Carcela, midfielder for Standard Liège (nicknamed the "Rouches"), has been voted Lion Belge 2018, a prize awarded to the best North African player or player of North African origin in the Belgian championships. He succeeds another Standard player, Ishak Belfodil.
The Standard de Liège footballer secured a large majority of the votes, ahead of Dylan Bronn (KAA Gent) and Hamdi Harbaoui (Zulte Waregem). This is not the first time Mehdi Carcela has been crowned Lion Belge, as he also won the trophy in 2015. "This is a trophy I really appreciate because it is due to my roots; I dedicate it to my dad", he added. As a reminder, this trophy is awarded following a press vote and a jury vote.
This is the first individual award for the player who returned to Standard this winter for more match play. He played a decisive role against Ostend to reach the Playoffs 1, before showing his true class in the final stage of the championship. Carcela is indisputably the player who enabled the Liège team to make its fantastic rise to the top of the championship. He hopes that his efforts are being closely followed by Moroccan team manager Hervé Renard, and that he will be included in the World Cup squad.