Eden Hazard is the latest Premier League legend to be immortalized in the Hall of Fame in recognition of an incredible feat.
The former Chelsea winger scored 85 goals and 54 assists in 245 top-flight appearances for the Blues and won two league titles during his seven years at Stamford Bridge, which ended when he joined Real Madrid in 2019 on a contract worth up to €146.1 million.
But Hazard is not fondly remembered for the numbers he put up or the accolades on his CV, but for the absolutely outrageous skill and superior quality he showed every time he took the field.
The Belgian has a highlight like few others; it was not unusual for him to take on multiple defenders and dribble past each of them, slaloming between players like an Olympic downhill skier.
Simply sensational. @hazardeden10 did this #OTD in 2018! 🤩 pic.twitter.com/V8EcazBhth
— Chelsea FC (@ChelseaFC) September 26, 2022
Hazard himself described it perfectly when speaking to the Premier League after receiving the honour. “My playing style is just to have fun on the pitch. I don’t think about it too much, I like to grab the ball and go straight for the goal.”
“I know people pay their tickets to watch a show, so that’s my job: to go for 90 minutes and show what I can do. That was always in my head. If you look at my career, I think I’ve done a good job. I always try to give the fans a nice feeling and some entertainment, even opposition fans.”
It’s just a shame that fitness and injuries blighted his time in Madrid, where he never got to showcase his full range 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 walk down 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 makes me feel good.”
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 there too, you know. I grew up watching France, so players like it.” [Zinedine] Zidane and Henry were my idols. So it’s special to be there with them.”
Every member of the Premier League Hall of Fame to date:
2021:
- Alan Scheerder
- Thierry Hendrik
- Erik Cantona
- Roy Keane
- Frank Lampard
- Dennis Bergkamp
- Steven Gerard
- David Beckham
2022:
- Wayne Rooney
- Patrick Vieira
- Sergio Aguero
- Didier Drogba
- Vincent Kompany
- Peter Schmeichel
- Paul Scholes
- Ian Wright
2023:
- Tony Adams
- Peter Cech
- Rio Ferdinand
2024:
- Ashley Cole
- Andy Cole
- John Terry
2025
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See also – Premier League players with most appearances per position
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