Eden Hazard, reflecting on a stellar career, pinpointed a teammate consistently overlooked despite possessing extraordinary talent. He wasn't discussing the usual suspects from Belgium's golden generation, but a player whose impact resonated deeply with those who truly understood the game.
Hazard believes Mousa Dembélé, the former Tottenham and Fulham midfielder, was among the very best of his era. Despite a single league title win with AZ in the Netherlands, Dembélé’s influence often went unacknowledged by the wider footballing world, largely because his brilliance wasn’t measured in goals.
“I always thought Mousa Dembélé was one of the best midfielders of that generation,” Hazard revealed. “People didn’t talk about him much because he didn’t score goals, but the fans in the Premier League know he was a top, top player.”
The praise didn’t stop with Hazard. Martin Jol, who managed Dembélé at Fulham, held an equally high opinion, making a bold declaration upon the player’s departure for Tottenham. He considered Dembélé to be the most gifted player he’d ever seen with the ball at his feet.
“Dembele is probably the best player on the ball I’ve ever seen, and we lost him,” Jol stated, highlighting the significant loss Fulham felt when Dembélé moved on. It was a testament to the Belgian’s unique ability to control and manipulate the game.
Hazard’s reflections extended beyond recognizing overlooked talent to recalling anecdotes from his time with Jose Mourinho at Chelsea. He described a youthful indiscretion – losing his passport on a trip to Lille – that landed him in the Special One’s stern gaze.
The incident resulted in a missed training session and a humbling apology to Mourinho. Initially dropped from the team as punishment, Hazard quickly regained his place, proving his worth on the pitch and earning back the manager’s favor.
Now, with five children, Hazard jokingly describes himself as “more of a taxi driver” than a footballer. Yet, his memories of the game remain vivid, filled with both challenging moments and the recognition of exceptional, often underappreciated, players like Mousa Dembélé.
