Biography
Who is Hans Vanaken?
Early football career
Hans began playing for the Lommel United youth team. He moved to the PSV Eindhoven academy in 2002 after Lommel United went bankrupt. He eventually returned to a new version of Lommel in 2008 and played his first senior match for the club in the Belgian Second Division in 2010.
His performances at Lommel led to a move to Lokeren in 2013. He scored two goals during his top flight debut against Anderlecht on 28 July 2013. During his time with Lokeren, he helped the team reach the Belgian Cup final and finished third in the Belgian Golden Shoe voting.
Club Brugge career
In May 2015, Hans Vanaken joined Club Brugge after an agreement was reached with Lokeren. He helped the club win its 14th league championship during his first season. In 2018, he recorded 21 goals and 21 assists, which contributed to the team winning its 15th league title and the Belgian Supercup.
He won the Belgian Professional Footballer of the Year award in May 2018. He later received the Belgian Golden Shoe in 2019. On 11 December 2019, he scored an equalizing goal against Real Madrid in the Champions League. He won another Belgian Golden Shoe in 2020 after scoring 20 goals and providing 7 assists during 2019.
International career
The Belgian national team called him up for his debut on 7 September 2018 in a match against Scotland. He scored his first two goals for the country on 30 March 2021 during an 8-0 win over Belarus. He was selected for the UEFA Euro 2020 squad alongside teammate Simon Mignolet.
Hans was part of the squad for the 2022 FIFA World Cup and the 2026 FIFA World Cup. During the 2026 tournament, he scored a goal from 31.1 metres in a 4-1 win against the United States. At age 34, he became the second oldest Belgian player to score at a World Cup.
Physicality and playing style
Standing at 194 cm, he is a tall presence on the pitch. He is known as a ball-retaining attacking midfielder with strong passing skills. He is capable of dictating the pace of a match and making passes even when under high pressure.
Several managers, including Pep Guardiola and Vincent Kompany, have described him as a great player. He is recognized for his vision and intelligence while playing in the midfield. His left foot is considered a major asset for the Club Brugge team.
Birthday and age
Hans Vanaken was born on August 24, 1992, which makes Hans 34 years old today. That birthday falls under the Virgo sign. Hans shares the date with 36 other famous people.
Explore more
