Football lacks entertainers. The wonderful ability of an individual to captivate and tantalise stadiums with an uncoachable skill, distinguishing them from everyone else, is fading. Eden Hazard’s retirement is a poignant reminder of a player who achieved this unreachable feat.
While Hazard’s dream move to Real Madrid in 2019 materialised into disaster, his legacy extends beyond the realm of numbers and statistics. Hazard brought something different. The low centre of gravity, close control, incisive movement, hypnotic agility, and punishing end product all contributed to a stupidly impressive and mouthwatering gift. He blissfully played the game at his own pace and for his own relentless enjoyment.
Hazard’s role in Lille’s league and cup double in 2011, as well as being named Ligue 1’s Player of the Year on consecutive occasions, put him on the radar of all European juggernauts. Chelsea was the lucky club. The diminutive Belgian strutted around Stamford Bridge for seven years, gloriously flaunting his mesmerising technique, stocky frame, and peachy backside in an untouchable trophy-laden love affair.
The opposition tried their utmost to stop him, and not always in fairways. In the 2010s, Hazard won the most fouls (1030) in Europe’s top five leagues. He would be kicked, hacked, pulled and crunched. Ultimately, there was a collective acceptance that there was no other way to deal with Hazard. At Chelsea, he registered 916 successful take-ons in the Premier League. No one else managed more. He was sickeningly good.
