Eden Hazard is the latest Premier League legend to be immortalised in the Hall of Fame in recognition of an incredible.Ā
The former Chelsea winger registered 85 goals and 54 assists in 245 top-flight appearances for the Blues, winning two league titles during his seven years at Stamford Bridge, which ended when he joined Real Madrid in a deal worth up to ā¬146.1 million in 2019.
But Hazard is remembered fondly not for the numbers he put up or the accolades on his resumĆØ, but the absolutely outrageous skill and supreme quality he showed every time he took to the pitch.
The Belgian has a highlight reel like few others; it was not uncommon for him to take on multiple defenders and dribble past each one of them, slaloming between players like an Olympic downhill skier.
Simply sensational. @hazardeden10 did this #OTD in 2018! š¤© pic.twitter.com/V8EcazBhth
— Chelsea FC (@ChelseaFC) September 26, 2022
Hazard described it perfectly himself when speaking to the Premier League after accepting the honour. “My playing style is just to have fun on the pitch. I donāt think about it too much, I like to take the ball and go straight for the goal.
“I know the people pay for their tickets to go to watch a show, so thatās my job, to go for 90 minutes and show them what I can do. That was always in my head. When you look at my career, I think I did it well. I always try and give the fans a fun feeling and some entertainment, even opposition fans.”
It’s just a shame that fitness and injuries wrecked his time at Madrid, where he never got to show off his full array of abilities. He retired in 2023 at the age of 32.
But Hazard remains a beloved figure at Chelsea. “From the first day to the last, it was like a love story with the fans,” he said.
“Even now, when I’m walking on the street in London, six years after I moved to Real Madrid in 2019, people come up to me and say I gave them so much happiness on the pitch, and that gives me a good feeling.”
Hazard now joins club legends such as Didier Drogba and Frank Lampard in the Hall of Fame, as well as some of his personal heroes.
“Thierry Henry is also there you know. I grew up watching France so players like [Zinedine] Zidane and Henry were my idols. So being there with them is special.”
Every Premier League Hall of Fame member so far:
2021:
- Alan Shearer
- Thierry Henry
- Eric Cantona
- Roy Keane
- Frank Lampard
- Dennis Bergkamp
- Steven Gerrard
- David Beckham
2022:
- Wayne Rooney
- Patrick Vieira
- Sergio Aguero
- Didier Drogba
- Vincent Kompany
- Peter Schmeichel
- Paul Scholes
- Ian Wright
2023:Ā
- Tony Adams
- Petr Cech
- Rio Ferdinand
2024:
- Ashley Cole
- Andy Cole
- John Terry
2025
- Gary Neville
- Eden Hazard
Read –Ā Premier League players with the most appearances by position
See Also – Premier League players with the most appearances by position
