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The AFC Leopards coach, who once worked with Eden Hazard at youth level in Belgium, has explained why the former Chelsea and Real Madrid man's career was destined for disaster.
Belgian coach Luc Eymael has weighed in on Eden Hazard’s decision to retire at the age of 32, attributing it to the player’s lack of commitment and his transfer from Chelsea to Real Madrid in 2019.
Hazard, who had an illustrious career with Lille, Chelsea, and Real Madrid, announced his retirement at the end of last year after a 16-year professional journey.
Despite his numerous accolades, including Premier League, Europa League, and La Liga titles, Hazard’s stint at Real Madrid was marred by limited appearances and underwhelming performances.
He called time on his career last October after being released by Real Madrid, a team he only made 76 appearances for.
Eymael, who has had the privilege of working with Hazard and other prominent Belgian players like Axel Witsel and Christian Benteke, believes that the move to Real Madrid was a pivotal factor in Hazard’s early retirement.
“Real Madrid was too big for Hazard, and I think his motivation was less high than when he was at Chelsea,” Eymael told SportsBoom.com.
He added that Hazard’s career at Real Madrid, where he made only 76 appearances in all competitions, was not as successful as his time at Chelsea due to a lack of motivation and the overwhelming environment of the Spanish giants.
Moreover, Eymael highlighted a significant aspect of Hazard’s professional life—his approach to training.
According to Eymael, Hazard lacked the discipline seen in other football greats that would have taken his game to another level.
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"Hazard has always been a very talented player, but he is not like Cristiano, Ibrahimović, or Giroud, who are very disciplined in matters of training and lifestyle,” Eymael explained.
He noted that Hazard’s aversion to intense training sessions was a major drawback. “Hazard doesn’t like too much training, and unfortunately, that is the truth.”
Eymael pointed out the stark contrast between Hazard and Ronaldo. “When you see Ronaldo, he comes first to training and leaves last.
"He is rich and doesn’t need any more money, but he wants to show everybody that he is still hungry for football,” he said.
The coach further elaborated on how this attitude affected Hazard’s performance.
“If you lose motivation or commitment, you automatically have a discipline issue, and you cannot perform at your best. That is why the Hazard at Real Madrid was so different from the Hazard at Chelsea.”
In conclusion, Eymael’s insights provide a deeper understanding of why a player of Hazard’s caliber struggled in his later years and chose to retire early.
His observations underscore the importance of discipline, motivation, and commitment in sustaining a successful football career.
As Hazard transitions into his post-playing days, Eymael’s reflections serve as a poignant reminder of the fine balance between talent and hard work in the world of professional sports.
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