Image source, Getty Images
Nicola Pearson, BBC Sport
As Eden Hazard brings to an end his playing career at just 32, it is worth stepping back and remembering how much of an impact the Belgium playmaker had at Chelsea.
After his infamous announcement tweet for joining the Blues in 2012 where he decided “I’m signing for the Champion’s League winner”, Hazard went on to become a fan favourite at Stamford Bridge with a host of scintillating displays and game-changing moments.
The midfielder played 352 times for the west London side, where he scored 110 times - becoming the ninth leading goalscorer for the club - and made 92 assists.
Despite managers coming an going during his seven year spell with the Blues, Hazard remained an integral player in the side and helped them to six major trophies in that time, including two Premier League’s and two Europa League’s.
Questions were often levelled at Hazard around his goalscoring and whether he should have scored more, but much of the work he did and his influence on games came from what he did for others.
His total of 595 chances created in the Premier League was more than any other player during the time he played in the league.
He also attempted (1441) and completed (909) more dribbles than any other player in the league during this time. This close control ability with his feet in fact meant he drew more fouls than any other player (638).
The former Belgium captain consistently contributed across a campaign and became one of only four players in Premier League history to score 15 or more goals and provide 15 or more assists in a single season when he scored 16 goals and made 15 assists in 2018-19.
Hazard was a player for a big-game-moment too. His goals were pivotal in two title races - scoring the only goal against Crystal Palace in 2015 to bring the trophy back to Stamford Bridge and then curling in the equaliser for Chelsea against Tottenham in the ‘Battle of the Bridge’ match that secured Leicester their unlikely league triumph.
While injuries may have hampered his career at Real Madrid, Hazard’s time in England will always be looked on fondly by the Chelsea fans who witnessed his many magic moments.
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