Chelsea’s Eden Hazard has emerged as one of the Premier League’s top talents. Now his younger brother wants a chance.
When Chelsea signed Eden Hazard from Lille in 2012, little attention was paid to the fact that they also signed his younger brother, who was immediately loaned to Belgium’s Zulte Waregem. Thorgan is used to living in his brother’s shadow, but he’s spent the past two years trying to find his own light to shine in.
He’s done so successfully. Though many still don’t know his name, those surrounding him in Belgium have witnessed his swift rise to prominence. “He is no longer Eden’s brother,” said Francky Dury, his coach at Zulte. “He is now Thorgan Hazard in his own right.”
This isn’t just a coach’s standard flattery. Hazard has earned his praise. In January, he was named 2013’s Belgian Pro League Footballer of the Year and given the ceremonial Golden Boot. In all competitions this season, Thorgan has 11 goals and 15 assists. It is becoming clear that at just 20 years old, he has outgrown the Belgian Pro League.
Now, the question facing Chelsea is this: do we bring him to England where he can test his skills as his brother’s teammate, or do we loan him to a more challenging league, allowing him to continue developing his personal brand?
Thorgan has an answer for them. “I’ll begin at Chelsea,” Hazard said. “We’ll see – it’s all too far off for now. We can’t forget Playoffs 1 [the final part of the Pro League season]. We want to perform in that. After that, though, I will leave Belgium.”
A DIFFICULT FEW MONTHS
Though his stats this season remain impressive, Thorgan Hazard’s performance has dipped in recent months, dating back to a failed attempt by his agent to organize a loan transfer to Anderlecht. “It was a difficult few weeks and months,” Hazard said of the saga. “I was frustrated that it did not happen.”
John Bico is the man that organized the mess. He is an interesting character from Cameroon (remember that he was once accused by Frank Ribery of threatening behavior), and he has represented the Hazard trio (18-year-old Kylian included) for quite some time.
He has a curious influence over the Hazard family. While no longer allowed to be an agent since taking a general manager position at Kyrian’s club, second division White Star Brussels, Bico has adjusted his role with the brothers to that of advisor. It was in this capacity that Bico advised Thorgan to move to Anderlecht, who were attempting to sign him before his Golden Boot ceremony.
The Belgian press went on to host a saga that lasted hundreds of headlines in which all parties said regrettable things. In particular, Thorgan accused Zulte of poor ambitions, citing their decision to let stars Habib Habibou and Junior Malanda sign for other teams.
Eventually, nothing materialized. Zulte held strong and Chelsea refused to participate. Thorgan remained with his club and the storm settled.
Hazard has been attempting to regain focus and correct his season ahead of this weekend’s Belgian Cup Final against Loreken. “The Cup Final is a great chance to show that I’m back,” he told the press that had recently chronicled his messy few months. “It’s also a chance for the club to win a trophy. I’d like to leave this club with a trophy.” He added, “everyone knows I won’t be staying at this club.”
As for a move to Anderlicht? “You never know, but at this point it’s no longer an option for me.”
His future is in Chelsea’s hands.
