Eden Hazard: The player who embodied the true essence of football

Posted on by Harrison Burridge

“Hazard. Creative and running at Koscielny.

“Eden Hazard’s gone all the way and scored a beautiful, beautiful goal”

Eden Hazard playing for Chelsea​
Eden Hazard playing for Chelsea

One of the many clips of commentary that encapsulate Eden Hazard for the player he was and equally the manner in which Francis Coquelin bounced off him perfectly illustrates the level above the rest the Belgian operated at.

Only a select group of players throughout the history of football have had the ability to have managers, players and fans alike purring at their individual brilliance. Hazard fits into that category.

But he was about so much more than his on-field actions. Off it he could’ve starred in his own comedy show with a burgeoning highlights reel set up by his historic ‘I am signing for the champion’s league winner’ tweet.

Most importantly though he offered the regular every day football fan an opportunity to watch their dreams being played out on the biggest of stages with everyone else simply a supporting act. Football was stripped back to the basics when he was in possession of the ball. Fans ooh’ed and aah’ed as he cast his latest spell over the bewildered defenders. A magician at work.

The ‘humble star’ played a style that is in stark contrast to what is evident on a regular basis in football of the current day. Take the recent clash between Arsenal and Manchester City and the desire to not lose fuelled by the rigid set-ups of both sides sucked the creative freedom and magic out of the game making for a difficult watch for fans of both teams and neutrals alike. Hazard in the Chelsea blue and anywhere he went was the remedy to that. The injection the game needed. A process he began in West London from his debut against Reading.

What that assist led to is simply history. Two Premier Leagues, two Europa Leagues, a FA Cup, a League Cup and a record four Chelsea Player of the Year awards securing his place in Chelsea folklore.

Along the way there was a sumptuous strike in the ‘Battle of the Bridge’ that ended Tottenham’s title aspirations, a nutmeg on Alberto Moreno that lifted the roof off the Anfield Road Stand and that run through Arsene Wenger’s Arsenal. But perhaps the best of the lot were the events that unfolded under the Stamford Bridge lights on a Monday evening in April 2019.

The Belgian wizard picked up the ball inside the Hammers’ half and proceeded to duck and weave his way past five challenges and through some seemingly impossible gaps before sliding the ball into the bottom corner. It was a demonstration of the man at his untouchable best. The forcefield around him that could only be broken by the numerous kicks he would receive every time he step foot on the pitch.

Fittingly too he signed off from the Blues with a performance that will be remembered for many years to come against Arsenal in the Azerbaijan capital, Baku. Two goals and an assist rewarded him with his final piece of silverware with the club and preceded *that* interview that brought a tear to Chelsea fans worldwide.

It may not have worked out for him at Real Madrid but to his last day as a professional he stayed true to himself and lived a career how he wanted and to the best of his own ability whilst mesmerising millions of people.

A one of a kind footballer, a one of a kind character and one that will never be replicated.

Written & edited by Harrison Burridge (@hburridge2)

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