Hazard makes surprise claims as he breaks silence on retirement amid return hint

31 October 2023 , 10:55

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Eden Hazard attended the ceremony (Image: Pascal Le Segretain/Getty Images)

Eden Hazard has opened up on his “perfect life” since announcing his retirement from playing football – but has not entirely ruled out a future return.

The Belgian’s most successful spell came at Chelsea, where he spent seven years. The playmaker twice won the Premier League as well as the FA Cup and League Cup. In 2015 he was named the PFA Player of the Year having been named the PFA Young Player of the Year a year earlier.

Hazard left Stamford Bridge in 2019 to join Real Madrid in the Spanish giants’ club-record deal, but things did not go to plan. Hampered by multiple injuries and fitness issues, he started just 30 La Liga matches across four seasons – with just two of those coming in the 2022/23 campaign.

Having bagged 110 goals across his spell at the Blues – of which exactly half came in a prolific final three seasons in west London – he netted just seven goals across the entirety of his spell in the Spanish capital, where he was only a bit-part player across his spell.

The player’s contract at Madrid expired in the summer and he became a free agent, but he did not find a new club – despite having several offers on the table to return to professional football. He hung up his boots in October, aged just 32.

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Hazard presented the Kopa Trophy to Jude Bellingham during the Ballon d'Or 2023 ceremony. He was then asked by ceremony host Didier Drogba about his retirement and his thoughts on the decision, with the former player opening up honestly.

"I'm enjoying life, family and the kids," Hazard said. "I can do what I want. It's a perfect life. At the moment I don't miss playing football. Let's see in a few months. My kids asked me to come to the Ballon d'Or so I said, 'Okay, let's go and spend the night in Paris."

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Hazard had his best individual season at Chelsea in 2018-19 - bagging 21 goals (Chelsea FC)

Hazard continued: I'm at peace with myself. Now I'm happy. I have so many things to do outside of football that I was able to make a calm decision. I still watch football on television when I can. I also do other things, but at the moment I don't miss playing football.

"I did not want to go anywhere else just for the money. It was the best solution. I no longer enjoyed training…and I no longer was playing.”

On the international scene he helped Belgium finish third at the 2018 World Cup. France beat them in the semi-finals before they saw off England in the third-place play-off with Hazard scoring.

Colin Millar