Next month, the Golden Boot will be awarded to the best player of the year 2024. And if you’re looking for the most consistent man of the year at the highest level, there’s one you shouldn’t forget: Hans Vanaken.
Hans Vanaken has already won the Golden Shoe in 2018 and 2019, but he could well add a third row to his list of achievements at the end of the year. Blauw & Zwart became champions, gave everything for their team, scored in the Champions League and simply continues to maintain their level.
The second half of last season was a little less successful for him in terms of statistics, but Vanaken sacrificed himself to initiate Bruges’ comeback in the league. The usual attacking midfielder had gone a little lower in the game to distribute it better.
The meaning of sacrifice
Despite only providing one assist in the Champions Play-Offs, which saw Club Brugge unexpectedly win the title, Vanaken was invaluable. He was the key player for Blauw & Zwart, even at 32 years old. And this season, he continues to impress.
In 23 matches, Vanaken has already scored seven times and provided eight assists. In 16 championship matches, he has five goals and six assists to his name. No one else in the Pro League is capable of putting up such statistics year after year. He remains the pivot around which the entire Club revolves.
Will that be enough to give him the Golden Shoe once again? The major question is rather who could compete with him. Kévin Denkey, who won the title of top scorer last season and led Cercle to fourth place? The Togolese is also on nine goals this season, but he will leave soon and Cercle are at the bottom of the table.
Kasper Dolberg? One exceptional month won’t make the difference. Cameron Puertas left the Union this summer and will only have points for half a season. And after that, it already becomes difficult to find a serious competitor.
In the legend of Belgian football?
Will Vanaken receive his third award in January? He would thus rise to a group of legends alongside Wilfried Van Moer and Jan Ceulemans. And would that be unfair? We’ll let you form your own opinion.
