The Premier League is in a position to be set alight next season as Chelsea sign Eden Hazard from Lille. The Belgian international announced his chosen club to be ‘the champions of Europe’ on Twitter, after speculation that he wanted to go to Manchester and play for United.
But just who is Eden Hazard?
We know he’s an extraordinary talent and he’s been outstanding at Lille. But is he just another one of those players in Nike tracksuits who will fade away with time and end up doing adverts for cheap footballs? Journalist Philippe Auclair has said that French football has now lost its best player: “In terms of raw talent, he is spectacular. Technically, he is superb. He is very quick, and although he is still very young, he is experienced – this is his fifth season with Lille”.
Praise indeed. But is it justified? Let the stats decide.
Hazard signed for Lille in 2007, made his first Belgium appearance in 2008, and in the past four years has won four French Player of the Year Awards. In 2010 he became the first player to retain the French Young Player of the Year Award after becoming the first overseas player to win it in 2009. Then in 2011 and 2012 he has become the first player to win the French PotYA two years running.
The accolades are there and he certainly isn’t lacking in football medals, helping to guide Lille to their first league championship since 1954, and with 17 goals this season he has sealed Lille’s Champions League place. It’s safe to say he knows his way around football goals.
The question remains of whether he will be overshadowed at Chelsea. With Porto striker Hulk thrown into the mix as a potential signing – along with established superstars like Terry, Lampard, Torres and Mata – will the pressure of the greatest league in the world prove too much?
