Chelsea legend Eden Hazard has been inducted into the Premier League Hall of Fame, becoming the 26th recipient of the highest individual honour awarded by the League.
Marking the moment, he answered questions about his football journey….
How do you feel joining the Home of the Greats alongside the other Hall of Fame members?
"Thierry Henry is also there you know. I grew up watching France so players like [Zinedine] Zidane and Henry were my idols. So being there with them is special.
"It means a lot to join the Premier League Hall of Fame. I’m very proud to join this group of players and I think we could make a good squad!
"I just wanted to have fun on the pitch and entertain the fans who bought tickets or watch on TV. Being recognised in this way is special for me and my family. My parents were both footballers and now my children love the game too."
How do you describe your playing style?
"My playing style is just to have fun on the pitch. I don’t think about it too much, I like to take the ball and go straight for the goal.
"I know the people pay for their tickets to go to watch a show, so that’s my job, to go for 90 minutes and show them what I can do. That was always in my head. When you look at my career, I think I did it well. I always try and give the fans a fun feeling and some entertainment, even opposition fans."
Watch Hazard's Premier League highlights
How do you sum up the connection you had with the Chelsea supporters?
"From the first day to the last, it was like a love story with the fans. Even now, when I'm walking on the street in London, six years after I moved to Real Madrid in 2019, people come up to me and say I gave them so much happiness on the pitch, and that gives me a good feeling."
How did it feel to win the Premier League?
"My first Premier League trophy was special. In a club you see people coming and going and when Didier Drogba came back to Chelsea (in 2014), one of my dreams was to play with him.
"He is the 'King of Chelsea', so when he came back, we were all thinking 'we have to show him the "new generation" is okay.' I think we did that well because we won the Premier League together and I got the Player of the Season award that year.
"Celebrating in the dressing room with JT (John Terry), with Drogba, gives you the confidence for the future to give more and to score more goals."
Is it true that, when he joined Lille, Joe Cole played a big part in you joining Chelsea?
"I remember Rudy Garcia [Lille coach] telling me we're going to sign a Chelsea legend, so if I wanted advice about the Premier League and what Chelsea is about, I was lucky to have him on my side.
"At that time, my English was so bad, so I couldn't talk to him! He did tell me that I have to go to Chelsea, and I also had Didier on the phone maybe a year before that, because I was playing with Gervinho and he was playing with Didier in the national team.
"So in my head there was already a bit of Chelsea (before Cole). But after one year with him, I told him 'thank you for the advice, I'm going for the Blues!'"
At Chelsea, you played for Jose Mourinho, Maurizio Sarri and Antonio Conte. Which manager gave you the best advice?
"They're all different, you know? Some managers, they don't talk to you so much, but they still give you the confidence on the pitch.
"For example, in my last year with Sarri, I can tell you I didn't enjoy training with him, it was hard, but when you get to the weekend, you have to play, and Sarri made you feel you were the best player in the world.
"Conte asks a lot of you in training and asks a lot of you in the game in terms of jobs to do. Of course, we won the Premier League together.
"Mourinho is like that as well, he's not talking so much during the week, but when he's talking to you, he gives you the confidence to play. Sometimes just a 'good game, kid' gave me extra motivation.
"So they're all good in different ways, but all gave me good advice for my career."
Watch John Terry and Jose Mourinho pay tribute to Hazard
What are your earliest memories of football?
"Playing in the garden with my brothers. I've been lucky that I have three little brothers. My dad used to play football, my mum as well. So growing up in a family just talking football and playing football, my line in life was already made for me!
"I was just focused on playing football every day with my brothers. Then I moved really early to France at 14, and then that's where I started to think about wanting to be a professional."
For a small Belgian guy from Braine-le-Comte playing for fun, being inducted into the Premier League Hall of Fame with these greats of the game at 34 years old is crazy. Thank you to all of you; I will see you soon, my friends! 💙 https://t.co/NOanNA3LZf
— Eden Hazard (@hazardeden10) October 29, 2025
What was it like growing up in a sport-loving family?
"I was always around a football pitch. Our house was just five minutes from a pitch, so after school we were straight there playing football.
"My dad was always teaching us things to do in the game but also giving us freedom to do what you want and enjoy life playing football.
"With my brothers now, I've been lucky to play with Thorgan in the national team, and Kylian is also pro in Belgium now, so we made it all together. And that's a really good feeling."