Wednesday, PSV host Hans Vanaken in an emotional return
Wednesday's match at PSV carries particular significance for Club Brugge captain Hans Vanaken. Long ago, the Bruges native spent several years in Eindhoven, from 2002 to 2006, between the ages of ten and fourteen, before returning to Belgium.
PSV Eindhoven recalled this past with an archive photo showing a young Vanaken, who wore his opponent's shirt in the Champions League this week. This period is little known to the Belgian public, as the player later made his mark at Lommel, then at Lokeren before establishing himself at Club Brugge. Coach Peter Bosz said he would “very much like” to have a player like Hans Vanaken in his squad. Vanaken acknowledged that the comments pleased him, but he does not know if he will ever return to PSV and that it is not on the agenda.
He said he feels good at Club Brugge and respects his contract. Returning to the Phillips Stadion twenty years later is “very nice”, he added, emphasizing everything he has learned on the technical side. He noted that he does not go to the stadium often, especially to the De Herdgang training complex. After two decades, PSV has naturally changed a lot.
Bosz praises Vanaken ahead of the clash with PSV in Eindhoven
“It would be great to see people I knew back then, I don’t know if I would recognize them,” Vanaken smiled. He did, however, indicate that he will have many friends and family in the stands, as Eindhoven is only twenty‑five minutes from Lommel.