Chelsea legend Eden Hazard spent seven years of his career playing in England, and he certainly left an incredible mark on the Premier League. Without a doubt, the retired Belgian attacker is one of the most naturally gifted footballers to grace the division.
There was a lot of excitement when Chelsea won the race to sign Eden Hazard, who was aged 21, from Lille back in 2012. It turned out the magical left-winger was worth the hype, too.
He spent his prime years with the Blues as the club’s talisman, winning two Premier Leagues along with plenty of other team and individual achievements.
The legacy he left behind means he’s received widespread praise for his success in Chelsea colours.
For instance, Newcastle United star Anthony Gordon called Hazard the Premier League’s best-ever winger. Meanwhile, Brighton’s Danny Welbeck called Hazard his best opponent he’s come up against.
Roberto Di Matteo waxed lyrical about Eden Hazard after Premier League debut
On 12 August 2012, Hazard made his competitive debut for Chelsea when they lost the Community Shield 3-2 against Manchester City. He then made his Premier League debut seven days later in the season opener against Wigan Athletic.
The Blues kickstarted the 2012/13 league campaign with a 2-0 away victory against Wigan. Hazard beautifully assisted Branislav Ivanovic’s opener in the second minute before winning a penalty kick a few minutes later, which was dispatched by Frank Lampard.
Roberto Di Matteo, who was in the Chelsea manager’s dugout, was truly blown away by Hazard’s brilliance during his first taste of Premier League action.
After Hazard’s Premier League debut, Di Matteo said via BBC Sport: “Hazard was outstanding. He showed all his qualities and it was a pleasure to watch him. He was a big threat and difficult to mark.”
“He’s got great technical ability. He’s got a burst of pace as well. He can play with his back to goal and he’s got a lot that he can bring to our team.”
It’s fair to say Di Matteo was spot on with his assessment that Hazard could bring a lot to the Chelsea team. In fact, he scored 13 goals and created 23 assists across all competitions during his debut season in West London.
Pedro Neto named Hazard as his idol when he was growing up, and we suspect a lot of current wingers would say the same thing about the retired 34-year-old icon.
Cole Palmer on his way to emulating Eden Hazard at Chelsea
Cole Palmer needs more longevity and trophies at Chelsea before he’s held in the same regard as Hazard, but he’s the closest thing we’ve seen to the Belgian wizard at Stamford Bridge since his departure.
At times, Hazard carried a talented Chelsea side on his back with individual brilliance. It’s certainly something similar when Palmer stars in the current side, especially in the 2023/24 campaign.
Blues playmaker Palmer, 23, has a highlight reel in his first two years at Stamford Bridge that match the club’s greats/
| Appearances | Goals | Assists | Trophies |
| 97 | 43 | 29 | 2 |
In a few years time, there could be a fascinating comparison between the Chelsea careers of Hazard and Palmer. For now, we’re enjoying the latter play with the kind of skill, freedom and creativity that is harder to find in the modern day.
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