Eden Michael Walter Hazard, born January 7, 1991, better known as Eden Hazard, is a former Belgian professional footballer who played as a winger and attacking midfielder. He is widely regarded as one of the standout players of his generation, and is esteemed as one of the all-time greats in the history of the Premier League.
Profile Summary
Full Name: | Eden Michael Walter Hazard |
Date of Birth: | January 7, 1991 |
Place of Birth: | La Louvière, Belgium |
Nationality: | Belgian |
Occupation: | Footballer |
Net Worth: | $55 million |
Wife: | Natacha Van Honacker |
Early Life and Education
Eden Michael Walter Hazard was born on January 7, 1991, in La Louvière, and he spent his formative years in Braine-le-Comte. His parents, Carine and Thierry, were both involved in football.
Thierry, his father, had a semi-professional career, primarily as a defensive midfielder with La Louvière in the Belgian Second Division.
Meanwhile, Carine was a striker in the Belgian Women’s First Division, but she paused her football career when she was three months pregnant with Eden.
Following their football pursuits, both parents transitioned into careers as sports teachers, with Thierry retiring in 2009 to dedicate more time to his children.
Eden Hazard is the eldest among four siblings, all of whom share a passion for football. His brothers, including Thorgan, who joined him at Chelsea in 2012, are Thorgan, Kylian, and Ethan.
The Hazard family provided a nurturing and supportive environment, ensuring the brothers had all they needed to excel.
Their family home was conveniently situated, “no more than three meters” from a football training ground, which allowed the brothers to frequently visit and use a small hole to access the training pitch, where they honed their football skills.
During his formative years, Eden Hazard looked up to the French midfielder Zinedine Zidane, spending hours watching him both on television and online, drawing inspiration from his footballing idol.
Career
Hazard, born on 7 January 1991, began his football journey with Royal Stade Brainois at the age of four, where his youth coach described him as a “gifted” player. After spending eight years with the club, he moved to AFC Tubize.
At Tubize, a Lille scout noticed Hazard during a local tournament and recommended him to Lille. With the promise of better training facilities in France, Hazard’s parents agreed. In 2005, at the age of 16, Hazard joined Lille, signing his first professional contract in May 2007.
He made his debut for Lille’s senior team in 2007 and quickly gained recognition for his performances. Hazard continued to impress, earning awards and nominations. In 2012, he transferred to Chelsea, where he made significant contributions, winning several titles. In 2019, he joined Real Madrid for a reported fee of €100 million.
However, Hazard faced injuries and inconsistent form at Real Madrid, which led to criticism. In June 2023, he retired from professional football at the age of 32 after 16 years in the sport.
Hazard was a versatile attacker, known for his pace, technical ability, and mesmerizing dribbling skills.
At Lille, he played as a winger and central attacking midfielder, while at Chelsea, he primarily operated as a left midfielder, cutting inside to strike with his right foot.
His development into one of the world’s best players was evident in the 2014–15 season when he won multiple awards and received praise from pundits and managers. Hazard was also known for his accuracy in taking penalties and free kicks.
Eden Hazard Net Worth
Eden Hazard has a net worth of about $$55 million. He was a professional footballer who rose to fame for his skills and dribbles in the English premier league.
Personal Life
Eden Hazard is married to Natacha Van Honacker, and they have children together. Hazard and the family are living together in Belgium after he retired from professional football.