Ibe Hautekiet has established himself as a starter at Standard since the start of the season. A recognition he had been waiting for for a long time.
Until this season, Ibe Hautekiet had only started five league games in a season and a half with Standard’s first team. It must be said that with Zinho Vanheusden, Kostas Laifis, Merveille Bokadi and Nathan Ngoy, the competition was great.
But the offseason saw him gain importance in the team’s elevenIvan Leko. Today, the 22-year-old defender no longer leaves the team and receives great confidence from the Croatian coach. A great reward for the one who initially strengthened the SL 16 from the Club Brugge U23s.
Lots of character
In Venice of the North, Hautekiet never played with the first team. However, he was considered a great promise: “I considered him a real hope of Belgian football. In the national team, he played with Killian Sardella in central defense and they had the same level as far as I was concerned” remembers Bob Browaeys, who knew him in national age teams.
The tall blond was selected until U19: “At 16 or 17 years old, Ibe had the same potential as Arthur Theate. I would even say that he was more advanced than the current Red Devil. He has a great mentality. If he finds a coach who believes in him, I am sure that the following steps will follow naturally” continues Browaeys, interviewed by La Derniere Heure.
Ibe Hautekiet indeed seems to be gaining confidence in recent months, with some well-intentioned initiatives. Will he continue his momentum?
