Thorgan Ganael Francis Hazard (born March 29, 1993) actively plays as an attacking midfielder and winger for Belgian Pro League club Anderlecht and the Belgium national team.
Hazard initiated his professional career at Lens in Ligue 1 before transferring to Chelsea in 2012, shortly after his older brother’s signing.
PHOTO Courtesy | Sky Sports
However, he did not feature in any competitive matches for Chelsea, instead being loaned out for two years to Zulte Waregem.
During his time there, he received the Belgian Golden Shoe in January 2014, awarded to the best footballer in the Belgian Pro League, and the prize for the best professional football player in May 2014.
He then moved to Borussia Mönchengladbach in 2014, initially on loan, where he accumulated over 100 appearances before joining Borussia Dortmund in 2019.
Having progressed through all levels of the Belgian national youth team system, he earned his first senior international cap against the United States in May 2013.
He was also part of the Belgian squad that secured third place at the 2018 FIFA World Cup.
Thorgan Hazard Early Life
Hazard was raised in Braine-le-Comte, a small town in the Wallonia region, although he was born in La Louvière.
He derived his first name from the Belgian comic strip Thorgal and grew up in a football-centric family. Both his parents, Carine and Thierry, were footballers in Belgium.
Thierry primarily played at a semi-professional level with Louviéroise in the Belgian Second Division, mainly as a defensive midfielder.
Carine played as a striker in the Belgian Women’s First Division but stopped playing when she was three months pregnant with Hazard’s older brother, Eden.
Following their football careers, both parents became physical education teachers, with Thierry retiring from his position in 2009 to focus more on his children.
Hazard has three other siblings. His older brother, Eden, notably played for Lens’ main rivals Lille before achieving great success with Chelsea and later Real Madrid.
Hazard’s other younger brothers are Kylian and Ethan. In 2013, Kylian joined White Star Bruxelles, and in August 2017, he signed to join Chelsea’s development team, although he currently plays for RWDM.
Ethan is enrolled in the youth academy of Eden’s former club, Tubize.
The family provided a comfortable environment for Hazard and his brothers, ensuring they had all they needed to succeed.
Their home was conveniently close to a football training ground, with the brothers often accessing a training pitch through a small hole to practice and refine their skills.
Thorgan Hazard Career
Lens
Thorgan Hazard’s club career began with hometown club Royal Stade Brainois at age five before he followed his brother Eden to Tubize.
At 14, he was scouted by French club Lens while playing in a local tournament for Tubize.
He joined the Lens youth academy, wearing the number 22 shirt when he was promoted to the senior team for the 2011–2012 season.
However, his opportunities were limited, making only 14 league appearances that season.
Chelsea confirmed Hazard’s transfer from Lens on 24 July 2012, following his brother Eden’s move to Chelsea from Lille.
However, Thorgan’s stint with Chelsea was brief, and he made only one appearance in an Under-21 Premier League match against Manchester City before being sent on a season-long loan to Zulte Waregem in the Belgian Pro League on 30 August 2012.
Chelsea
On July 24, 2012, Chelsea announced the agreement with Lens for Hazard’s transfer, shortly after the signing of his brother Eden from Lille.
He made his debut on August 17, 2012, in an Under-21 Premier League match against Manchester City, his sole appearance for Chelsea.
Zulte Waregem
On August 30, 2012, Hazard was loaned to Belgian Pro League club Zulte Waregem for the season to gain first-team experience.
He made his debut on September 15, 2012, in a 1–0 away win against OH Leuven, scoring his first goal on October 31 in a 4–1 home win against Charleroi.
Hazard put in an impressive performance on May 16, 2013, scoring a goal and providing two assists in a 5–2 defeat of Club Brugge.
Chelsea and Waregem agreed to extend his loan for another year until the end of the 2013–14 season.
Hazard was named the club’s player of the season, scoring 17 goals in 53 matches across all competitions and winning the Belgian Player of the Year Award.
Borussia Mönchengladbach
On July 5, 2014, Hazard was loaned to Borussia Mönchengladbach for the 2014–15 season.
During his loan spell, he made notable contributions, scoring twice in a UEFA Europa League match against FK Sarajevo and agreeing to sign permanently for Borussia Monchengladbach in February 2015.
He scored on his debut for the 2015–16 season in a 4–1 win against FC St.
Pauli in the first round of the DFB-Pokal.
Hazard’s successful spell with the club continued, with highlights including a hat-trick in a UEFA Champions League play-off round match against Young Boys and notable performances in the Bundesliga, including goals against Werder Bremen and Bayern Munich.
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