Manchester City’s Belgian midfielder Kevin De Bruyne said on Tuesday that he was “honoured” to be named Belgium captain following Eden Hazard’s retirement from international football. Hazard, who turned 32 in January, ended his Belgium career after last year’s World Cup, prompting Red Devils coach Domenico Tedesco to appoint De Bruyne as his successor.
Tedesco, who took over from Roberto Martinez after the tournament, has already begun reshaping the squad, calling up 19‑year‑olds Zeno Debast and Romeo Lavia to an otherwise ageing team. “It’s an honour for me to be named and represent the country in this way,” De Bruyne told RTL‑TVI. “I’m almost 32. I’ve never considered international retirement. I think I can still bring something to the table and help the youngsters,” he added.
Madrid goalkeeper Thibaut Courtois and Chelsea striker Romelu Lukaku will serve as De Bruyne’s vice‑captains. Although De Bruyne faced criticism after Belgium’s group‑stage exit in Qatar, he has amassed 97 caps and 25 goals for his country. He will make his debut as skipper in a Euro 2024 qualifier against Sweden on Friday, with further matches against Austria, Azerbaijan and Estonia in the campaign for the tournament scheduled to be held in Germany next summer.
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