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Belgium and Chelsea FC’s star midfielder Eden Hazard is back in training, and the Belgian’s much-anticipated return to pitch coincides with the debut of the all-new Nike Mercurial Ultra Flyknit Vapor. This is fitting, given that the evolution of the Nike Mercurial and emergence of unique aesthetics in football boots has paralleled Hazard’s career highlights.
“I’ve played with Mercurials for 15 years, and they have always been good. There hasn’t been a colourway I didn’t like,” he says. “I actually haven’t had a lot of bad moments in my career — only good memories.”
Here, Hazard, who is taking time out from his rigorous routine, discusses his career-long relationship with the iconic boot’s dynasty.
Eden Hazard’s Top Mercurial Moments
Origins
Hazard’s mother bought him a version of the original Mercurial, which was worn by the legends he worshipped.
“From that day, I started playing with them on the pitches in my neighborhood and in my club, Braine-le-Comte,” he recalls. “Before that, I didn’t have football boots. And since then, more or less, I have been wearing Mercurial.”
International Debut
After moving to northern France at 15 to start his career with Lille via the club’s academy system, it didn’t take long for Hazard to get an international senior side call up at the distinctly un-senior age of 17. With only a couple of professional games under his belt, that first cap came as a substitute in November 2008 with the Mercurial Vapor IV on his feet. “I think I got 15 minutes in the end, and it was a great experience for a 17 year old – to get to join all the big names from your country,” he says. “The first game for your country is always special.”
Last Game for Lille
Having developed into a budding world-class player during a seven-year stint in France, Hazard was voted player of the year in his final season. Wearing the mango makeup of the Mercurial Vapor VIII for his last game, he scored a memorable hat trick for Lille. “I wanted to finish in a good way because everyone knew I was leaving after the season,” he said. “The game started, and I think I got three goals already in the first half. In the end, when I was substituted, I saw a lot of Belgian flags in the stands and I saw all the people who came to see me.”
According to legend, that match was played after some premature celebrations the night before. Hazard laughs at the memory. “It wasn’t a party but we knew we’d finish third, so we said we would go for an evening together. It’s true that I didn’t sleep a lot before the game!”
Chelsea Debut
Despite a nerve-wracking relocation to London, Hazard scored in the first exhibition game and first league game wearing the unmistakable contrast of the Clash Mercurial Vapor VIII. He remembers those summer 2012 moments vividly. “In general, that time was like a dream, to play at Stamford Bridge, to score and to see all the fans — not just in the stadium but also after the game. To see the fans in the streets celebrating the game was something very good for me.”
Hattrick for Chelsea
Another benchmark with Chelsea arrived when a more experienced Hazard scored his first Premier league hat trick for a 3-0 victory in early 2014 while wearing the Speed Control assisted Mercurial Vapor IX. “I’ve only scored one hat trick with Chelsea, so I remember it well. We were playing at home and everything worked out for me. I was flying on the pitch. Everything I tried seemed to work.”
Title Winning Goal
For Chelsea fans, bright red on a Mercurial X might represent glory, but for the self-critical Hazard, even 2015’s league title the winning goal didn’t meet his standards. “Yes, I scored the goal for the title, but before the goal, I missed the penalty,” he notes. “I took it but I missed, but I got lucky that the ball bounced back to me and I finished with my head. It was not the most beautiful of goals, but the goal was important.”
That penalty technique is still very much in development. “I have my style — waiting for the goalkeeper to make a move first,” he says. “I think now I need to change my penalties a little bit because all goalkeepers know how I shoot.”
The Favorite Goal
Despite his exacting standards of what constitutes a glorious goal, Hazard has his favorites and notes one stunning shot during a London derby as a standout. That February 2016 masterpiece captured the player’s style and technique and showcased the Mercurial Vapor XI. “That is always a massive game,” he says. “They are a good club. We lost the first game we played against them so we needed to get revenge, and we won 3-1.”
He explains: “I tried to bring the ball forward. I dribbled some players and then I just tried to finish. I was a bit lucky in the end with the finish, but the most important thing is that the ball went in.”
