After all, the Belgian superstar has decided to end his career at the age of just 32.
Specifically, Hazard announced, “You have to listen to yourself and know when to stop. After 16 years and over 700 matches, I’ve decided to end my professional football career.
I’ve been able to fulfill my dreams, I’ve played and enjoyed the joy on many football fields around the world.
In my career, I’ve been fortunate to meet some great managers, coaches, and teammates. Thank you all for these wonderful times; I will remember all of you.”
Hazard continued, “I also want to thank the clubs I’ve played for: Lille, Chelsea, and Real Madrid; and thank the Belgian Football Federation for everything. Special thanks to my family, friends, my advisors, and those who were by my side in both good and challenging times.
Lastly, I want to express my deep gratitude to my fans, those who have followed me over the years, and for your support wherever I played.
Now is the time for me to enjoy joyful moments with my loved ones and have new experiences. See you all outside the football field.”
The Belgian winger had four forgettable years in the Spanish capital after moving to Santiago Bernabeu from Chelsea in 2019. After a period filled with accolades at Stamford Bridge, a decline in form and fitness issues made Hazard never truly succeed with Los Blancos.
The more than 100 million euro transfer deal for the White House giants turned out to be a disappointment. Injuries and an inability to control his weight led Hazard to fade away at the Bernabeu. It’s no surprise that Hazard is considered one of the worst signings in Real’s history.
It should be noted that four years after joining Bernabeu, Hazard did not feature in any El Clásico matches. His injury count as a Real Madrid player reached 16. Clearly, this was not something Real Madrid had anticipated.
In contrast to his 110 goals in 352 appearances for The Blues, he only scored 7 goals in 76 appearances for La Liga giants before reaching an agreement to end his contract early this summer.
In his final year at Madrid, Hazard only made 10 appearances in all competitions. With his physical condition no longer capable of peak performance, Hazard had a reason to retire from playing football.
Once again, farewell Eden Hazard!
