Hans Vanaken, Club Brugge's black pillar who even outshines Eden Hazard

In the dressing room of Club Brugge, Hans Vanaken is preparing to face Inter Milan, while the media remind that even Eden Hazard remains far behind him in the Champions League. The captain, an indispensable figure in Zwart, bears the responsibility of a team that aims to repeat its European feat.

Statistics that speak for themselves

In the main phase, Vanaken has accumulated 61 matches, 12 goals and 6 assists. He started 59 times and has logged 5,274 minutes of play, equivalent to more than 58 full ninety‑minute matches. None of these figures result from an isolated exceptional season, but from consistency since 2016.

He holds the Club Brugge record with those 61 appearances, followed by Brandon Mechele with 48 matches and Ruud Vormer with 24. Among Belgian players, only Romelu Lukaku, Kevin De Bruyne and Dries Mertens have scored more, while Eden Hazard has found the net only ten times.

Club Brugge, the Blue and Black, on track in Europe for the Club World Cup

Impact on the European campaign

The club reached the round of 16 in 2022/23 and then replicated the same performance in 2024/25, playing twelve matches before being eliminated by Aston Villa. Those campaigns allowed Vanaken to add two goals and three assists in 2025/26, after already scoring three times in the 2020/21 and 2021/22 seasons.

His contribution goes beyond simple game distribution: he steps in during decisive phases, providing calm and impetus when the opponent presses. This constant presence makes him one of the most recognizable faces of Club Brugge in Europe.

In comparison, compatriots such as Vincent Kompany, Axel Witsel and Kevin De Bruyne have amassed a rich European experience, but always with foreign clubs. Vanaken, however, has written his entire Champions League story with Club Brugge, further highlighting the uniqueness of his Belgian journey.