Eden Hazard Retires at 32 After Injury-Plagued Spell at Real Madrid
&w=707&quality=100 "Eden Hazard Retires at 32 After Injury-Plagued Spell at Real Madrid") |
| Eden Hazard Retires at 32 After Injury-Plagued Spell at Real Madrid |
Hazard joined Real Madrid from Chelsea in 2019 for a club-record fee of £89 million, but he made just 76 appearances in all competitions for the club, scoring just 7 goals. He was plagued by injuries throughout his time at the Bernabéu, and he was ultimately unable to fulfill his potential.
Hazard announced his retirement on Instagram on October 10, 2023, saying: "You must listen to yourself and say stop at the right time. After 16 years and more than 700 matches played, I have decided to end my career as a professional footballer. I was able to realise my dream, I have played and had fun on many pitches around the world."
Hazard's early career
Hazard was born in La Louvière, Belgium, in 1991. He began his playing career with local club Tubize, before moving to Lille in 2007. He made his professional debut for Lille at the age of 16, and he quickly established himself as one of the most exciting young players in Europe.
Hazard helped Lille to win the Ligue 1 title in 2011, and he was named the Ligue 1 Player of the Year. He also won the Coupe de France with Lille in 2011.
Move to Chelsea
In 2012, Hazard joined Chelsea for a fee of £32 million. He quickly became a key player for the Blues, and he helped them to win the Premier League title in his first season at the club.
Hazard won the Premier League title again with Chelsea in 2015, and he was also named the PFA Player of the Year and the FWA Footballer of the Year in that season. He also won the UEFA Europa League with Chelsea in 2013 and the UEFA Champions League in 2012.
Move to Real Madrid
In 2019, Hazard joined Real Madrid for a fee of £89 million. He was expected to be the star player for the club, but he struggled with injuries from the start.
Hazard made his Real Madrid debut in September 2019, but he suffered a broken ankle in his first season at the club. He missed most of the 2019/20 season, and he never fully recovered from the injury.
Hazard made just 76 appearances in all competitions for Real Madrid, scoring just 7 goals. He won two La Liga titles with the club, but he was unable to fulfill his potential.
International career
Hazard made his international debut for Belgium in 2008. He went on to make 126 appearances for his country, scoring 33 goals.
Hazard helped Belgium to finish third at the 2018 FIFA World Cup, and he was named the player of the tournament. He also helped Belgium to reach the quarter-finals of the UEFA European Championship in 2016 and 2020.
Retirement
Hazard announced his retirement from professional football on October 10, 2023. He said: "You must listen to yourself and say stop at the right time. After 16 years and more than 700 matches played, I have decided to end my career as a professional footballer. I was able to realise my dream, I have played and had fun on many pitches around the world."
Legacy
Eden Hazard is one of the most gifted footballers of his generation. He was a skillful, creative, and exciting player who was capable of scoring goals and creating chances for his teammates.
Hazard won numerous individual and team awards throughout his career, and he is considered to be one of the best players in the history of Chelsea and the Belgian national team.
Conclusion
Eden Hazard's retirement
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