Tubize: Manchester City’s Kevin De Bruyne has expressed his happiness and admiration at being named the captain of the Belgium national team. This decision was taken after former captain Eden Hazard’s retirement from international football.
Manchester City’s Kevin De Bruyne said on Tuesday he was “honoured” to be named Belgium captain following Eden Hazard’s retirement from international football.
Red Devils coach Domenico Tedesco selected playmaker De Bruyne for the position after Real Madrid’s Hazard, who turns 32 in January, ended his Belgian career after last year’s World Cup.
Tedesco, who took over from Roberto Martinez after the tournament, has called up 19-year-old Zeno Debist and Romeo Lavia in an aging squad.
“It’s an honor for me to name him and represent the country,” De Bruyne told RTL-TVI television.
He added that I am about 32 years old.
Madrid goalkeeper Thibaut Courtois and Chelsea striker Romelu Lukaku will be De Bruyne’s vice-captains.
De Bruyne was one of the players criticized after the Red Devils were knocked out in the group stage in Qatar.
De Bruyne has made 97 appearances for Belgium, scoring 25 goals, and will make his debut as captain in a Euro 2024 qualifier in Sweden on Friday.
They will also face Austria, Azerbaijan and Estonia in next summer’s tournament campaign in Germany.
