One of the most successful players at Chelsea and England’s top league in the mid-2010s has officially said goodbye to football. For many people, the age of 32 is still the beginning of their careers, but it has become long, restless nights for Eden Hazard when he has to consider whether to stop or move on.

“You have to listen to yourself and know when to stop,” Hazard wrote on his personal Instagram on October 10. “After 16 years and more than 700 matches, I decided to end my career. I was able to fulfill my soccer dream, playing and having fun on many pitches around the world.”. Now is the time to enjoy fun with loved ones and have new experiences. See you soon my friends.”

If there is a video that can encapsulate the excellence of the Belgian midfielder, it must be the description of the goal against Arsenal when he and Chelsea advanced rapidly on the journey to winning the 2017 Premier League title.

Thirteen touches of the ball in 10 seconds, receiving the ball from home and moving very quickly, swinging past blocker Matthew Harding and then unleashing with irresistible speed and power. Arsenal’s red and white defenders were left behind and after a shot that burned into the net, Hazard turned around with a bright smile and slid his knee across the field, showing off a familiar goal celebration gesture.

Hazard was a key factor in Chelsea’s 2015 Premier League championship campaign under Mourinho when he also won the FWA “Best Player of the Year” and “Best Player of the Year” titles. of PFA. He won the same double again under Conte in 2017.

In his final season playing for Chelsea, Hazard had a complete transformation: Appearing 62 times for club and national team, scoring 26 goals, including 2 goals in the Europa League final. Once again, Arsenal became the “victim” of Hazard with a brilliant performance, helping Chelsea become the first English team to win the Europa League.

John Terry wrote: “It was an honor to play with Eden, one of the best players on the ball.”

Even on Twitter, the club also wished Hazard all the best. The Belgian star previously scored to help Chelsea hold off Tottenham, thereby helping Leicester win the championship early in the 2015-2016 season. That was the first time Leicester won the English Premier League championship and the biggest shock of modern English football.