Hazard: I’ve stopped enjoying football. I wasn’t enjoying coaching, and I wasn’t playing. I didn’t want to go anywhere just for the money

Eden Hazard used to be one of the best players in the world, but after joining Real Madrid, his career faded. Ten days ago, at the age of 32, he retired and he certainly doesn’t regret his decision.

16 goals, 14 assists, that was Eden Hazard’s league record in his last season at Chelsea. With the stamp of being the best player in the Premier League, he came to do great things at Real Madrid, but it didn’t work out at all and after four years he preferred to end his career.

On Wednesday, he took part in a charity match, after which he publicly explained his career ending to the press for the first time, which he has no regrets about.

“I always said I would finish my career when I stopped having fun on the field. I had some difficult years at Real Madrid. Moreover, I didn’t even enjoy coaching anymore. And I wasn’t even playing. The decision was easy and I can say that I played for Real Madrid, the biggest club in the world. I didn’t want to go elsewhere just for the money,” Hazard told French daily L’Avenir.

Hazard gave himself one last chance to kick-start his career at the World Cup in Qatar, where he captained Belgium. But his performance failed to convince, as did the team’s, and the Red Devils finished in the group stage.

Hazard then retired from the national team and spent the whole spring on the bench. This decision also led to the end of his career. “I’ve been thinking about quitting ever since I left the Belgian national team,” Hazard said.

“I still don’t miss football, now I’m taking time for myself. But I will miss it, of course. I watch the games on TV, my kids are playing, so I’m never completely away from football. It wasn’t a hard decision, it was a decision that matured over time. I am at peace with myself, I am calm,” says the Belgian.

Although some footballers start to miss football and it comes back after some time, this does not seem to be the case with Hazard.

Source: L’Avenir