9 of Eden Hazard’s most memorable moments for Chelsea: Ballboys…

Planet Football • 04 Jun 2023

Eden Hazard was responsible for countless memorable moments at Chelsea, whether that be goals, assists, pieces of skill or fights with ball boys.

Hazard helped the Blues win two Premier League titles, an FA Cup and a Europa League trophy in his seven years at Stamford Bridge, establishing himself as one of the world’s best players in that time.

Purchased for £32million from Lille in 2012 and sold to Real Madrid for an initial £89million in 2019, here are a few of the attacker’s most memorable moments for Chelsea.

Wigan Athletic

Hazard immediately provided a sign of things to come on his debut, setting up Branislav Ivanovic and winning a penalty which Frank Lampard converted – as the Blues beat Wigan 2-0.

The Belgian later named this game as one of his top three moments in a Chelsea shirt.

On this day in 2012, Eden Hazard made his Premier League debut.

He got both assists in a 2-0 win over Wigan, winning the MOTM award – a sign of what was to come. pic.twitter.com/hF9zF0Voeu

— LDN (@LDNFootbalI) August 19, 2020

Sparta Prague

Later in the 2012-13 season, Hazard’s splendid individual goal in stoppage time sent Chelsea through to the round of 16 in the Europa League.

Running towards the defence, Hazard cut inside, taking out three players simultaneously, before slamming the ball into the back of the net with his weaker foot.

The west London side went on to win the competition, beating Benfica 2-1 in the final with Rafa Benitez as interim manager.

Manchester City

Hazard dropped the Man City defender to the floor with this turn in the 2013-14 season.

This wasn’t the aging right-back who’s currently at West Ham, this was Zabaleta in his prime, a man considered a legend at the Etihad.

But Hazard made him do the splits with this dazzling spin on the wing – a moment that Zabaleta will most likely want to forget.

One of the most iconic ones, Hazard vs Zabaleta. pic.twitter.com/KU812XVIPA

— Yahya (@CFCYahya) November 5, 2020

Tottenham

After a difficult 2015-16 season, Hazard popped up to score the goal which shattered the slim chance Tottenham had of winning the Premier League title.

Eight points behind Leicester, Spurs had to win at Stamford Bridge or else the title would belong to Leicester City.

Mauricio Pochettino’s men went 2-0 up in a fiery encounter, but the home side pulled one back through Gary Cahill before Hazard stepped forward as Chelsea’s – and Leicester’s – hero.

While it wasn’t the best season for Chelsea, who finished 10th, or Hazard, the forward served a timely reminder of his class – made all the sweeter by the hurt it caused the Blues’ London rivals.

Arsenal

Arguably Hazard’s most breathtaking goal in a Blues shirt came against the Gunners during the 2016-17 season.

Collecting the ball on the halfway line, the Belgian drifted forwards, shrugging off challenges from Arsenal defenders before feinting left once he reaches the box and then directing the ball past Petr Cech in goal.

But the real highlight of this clip is Francis Coquelin haplessly collapsing after he attempted to barge Hazard off the ball.

The 3-1 win in February tightened Chelsea’s grip at the top of the table, and it proved a key moment as Chelsea went on to win the league in Conte’s inaugural season.

Bournemouth

OK, so this one didn’t actually go in, but it was still a quite brilliant moment from the 2016-17 season when the 27-year-old ever so nearly pulled off one of the greatest Premier League goals of all time.

We’re going to hold this against Artur Boruc for a long time.

Remember when Eden Hazard did this against Bournemouth? A different breed of a player. Can’t believe this man played for my Club for 7 years pic.twitter.com/LrPIcqwCVX

— Nuwaha™️ (@Nuwaha17) July 14, 2020

Manchester United

Hazard’s penalty was the difference between Manchester United and Chelsea in the 2018 FA Cup Final.

Chelsea had stuttered all season in Antonio Conte’s final campaign, but Hazard produced the game’s decisive moment of quality to secure a 1-0 victory – and condemn Phil Jones to a lifetime of nightmares about the forward.

Two years ago today, @hazardeden10's penalty v Man Utd secured another FA Cup trophy for the Blues! 😎 pic.twitter.com/9x6r16slsm

— Chelsea FC (@ChelseaFC) May 19, 2020

Liverpool

Liverpool were serious challengers by this point, but Hazard ended their hopes in the League Cup in 2018 with another brilliant solo goal.

The Blues ran out 2-1 winners to hand the Reds their first defeat of the season, and it was the Belgian who came up with an unstoppable moment of quality.

“It’s a fantastic goal. Not only the beauty of it but for the time he scored it,” Gianfranco Zola said after the game.

“Not only is Hazard one of the best in the Premier League – if not the best – but he is one of the best in Europe and the world.”