Eden Hazard has called his seven years at Chelsea the “best memory” of his career, pinpointing his second season at the club under Jose Mourinho as the pinnacle of his time in the game.
Hazard announced his retirement from football aged just 32 in October 2023.
The final few years of his career proved to be bitterly disappointing, with injuries preventing the wide forward from making any sort of impact at Real Madrid following his £100m switch from Chelsea four years earlier.
Prior to the disastrous move to Madrid, however, Hazard was utterly sublime during a seven-year stint with Premier League giants Chelsea.
Speaking to the Standard after announcing he will partake in Soccer Aid at Chelsea’s Stamford Bridge stadium this year, Hazard looked back on the highlights of his time with the Blues.
“I spent seven years there… it was the best memory of my football career,” said Hazard.
“My best season was the second season with Mourinho when we won the Premier League and League Cup.
“The manager was the Special One and it’s so hard to explain the feelings after games with the fans all happy.”
Hazard’s 19-goal campaign under Mourinho led to him winning individual awards as well as team accolades.
The Belgian picked up the FWA Footballer of the Year, PFA Players’ Player of the Year and Premier League Player of the Season awards for his exploits in the 2014/15 campaign.
Although Hazard’s self-proclaimed best season of his career came while working with Mourinho, the Chelsea legend has previously stated that it was Antonio Conte who he enjoyed working under the most during his time in west London.
“I think my best time at Chelsea was with Antonio Conte,” revealed Hazard earlier this year.
“All the week training. I was going out Saturday, I need to enjoy a little bit because I know the day after is going to be back on the training ground. I have to do something, it’s my only 90 minutes I can enjoy. You remember him, stopping, tactics, ‘no we have to do that’. Saturday was the best day for me.”
What we know
- Hazard has spoken about his seven years at Chelsea
- Belgian winger retired from football in October 2023 after battling injuries
- The Chelsea legend is set to play in Soccer Aid at Stamford Bridge.