Kevin Nolan offers Eden Hazard a trial at West Ham after Chelsea legend announces retirement

Eden Hazard announced his retirement from football this week, leaving Real Madrid at the end of last season and without signing for a new club. The 32-year-old had a superb time at Chelsea from 2012-19, but something of a disastrous spell at Real Madrid after his big-money move to the Santiago Bernabeu, making just 76 appearances for the Spanish giants in four seasons, scoring seven goals.

West Ham coach Kevin Nolan feels Hazard still has the ability to compete at the highest level and would love to take him on trial at West Ham. The former Bolton standout reckons Hazard will be tempted out of retirement at some point in the coming months, given that he doesn’t even turn 33 until January.

Nolan: ‘I’d have the Hazard of Chelsea at West Ham’

“I’d have the Hazard of Chelsea at West Ham,” Nolan told talkSPORT. “I’m sure if he wanted to come and trial we’d, I mean, I’d certainly be willing to. I don’t know about the gaffer [David Moyes]. But I’d certainly want to trial him!

“Some of the best years in the Premier League, he’s been part of and some of the best goals. It’s sad that at 32 he’s decided to bow out in all honesty because I believe someone of his calibre of play could play at the top level for plenty more years. I wouldn’t be surprised if we got a little bit of a reverse on that in the next six months to a year.”

Hazard’s Career Highlights

Hazard began his career with Lille in 2007, where he won two Ligue 1 titles and was named Ligue 1 Player of the Year twice. In 2012, he joined Chelsea for a fee of £32 million and went on to become one of the club’s greatest ever players.

During his seven years with Chelsea, Hazard won two Premier League titles, two Europa League titles, an FA Cup and a League Cup. He was also named the PFA Players’ Player of the Year in 2015 and was voted into the PFA Team of the Year four times.

Hazard also made over 100 appearances for Belgium, scoring 31 goals and helping them to third place at the 2018 World Cup. He was named Belgium’s Player of the Year five times and was voted into UEFA’s Team of the Year three times.

Will Hazard Make a U-Turn?

It remains to be seen whether Hazard will make a U-turn on his retirement decision, but Nolan believes it is possible given his age and pedigree. There is no doubt that Hazard is one of the greatest players of his generation and it would be a shame to see him hang up his boots so soon.

For now, it looks like Hazard will remain retired, but with Nolan offering him a trial at West Ham, it could be just the incentive he needs to make a return to football.

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