Belgian Football

[Stuttgart88]

It was mentioned in another thread a few months ago, ending in handbags between Bonnie Shels and Murfinator I think, but the rise to prominence of a new generation of Belgian footballers is a story worth following.

We all know about the EPL imports like Vermaelen, Kompany, Hazard, Fellaini, Dembele, Lukaku, Mignolet etc., but every time I read about transfer gossip there always seems to be a story about some young Belgian kid. I remember them getting to a U21 UEFa final a few years back but presumed it was a blip. Thibout Courtois is on loan from Chelsea at Atletico I think, another good young keeper.

And Anderlecht has just qualified for the EPL this season.

Anyone got the inside track on what has happened within Belgian football that has led to this? Presumably they are reaping benefits of changes made many years ago.

I tried googling but didn't find much. No mention of national academies or anything, only a suggestion that a new generation of kids born to immigrants has just come of age is probably a factor.

http://footballwonderkidscout.co.uk/#/the-rise-of-belgian-football/4539937311

http://rage.com.my/scored/2012/02/07/rise-of-the-belgians/

Edit: here's a recent story saying taht Belgian academies aren't up to much, it's more down to their young players learning at Dutch and French clubs' academies.


http://www.dailymail.co.uk/sport/football/article-2191648/The-Belgian-Invasion-Including-Eden-Hazard-Marouane-Fellaini-Vincent-Kompany.html

And here's a short article saying that the Belgians reacted well by developing elite coaches at the national association level, then planting them into the big clubs.

http://espn.go.com/sports/soccer/story/_/id/8041736/eden-hazard-axel-witsel-top-belgium-prosepects-season-espn-magazine

[BonnieShels]

Excellent thread Stutts.
I'll be back in here properly tomorrow after work to offer my two cents.

[Kingdom]

Yeah great thread man. All I know is when Hazard and Lukaku started coming through, a couple of us in the job started looking into their underage squads. Two of us have a nice bet on Belgium to get a place in the World Cup and a substantial bet on a place in Euro 16.

[Spudulika]

A colleague of mine here is Belgian, his ex-father in law is the Pres of Westerlo and a few years ago they set down an internal policy of managerial stability and fiscal responsibility, it worked until they dropped last year, but it seems to be a trend in Belgium. Since January he (my colleague) is working on a project between here and Lierse, and while they're owned by Egyptians, they're also concentrating on developing young local players and trying to raise the level in their youth section. The Beveren experiment seems to have been consigned to the dustbin and now many clubs are back to basics. Some cracking young lads coming through the ranks all over.

[irishultra]

First team to win in Serbia for over 10 years, 3-0 as well! They're the new Portugal/Holland.

Where did it come out of? Its not a big country, maybe 8 million yet every day it appears a young Belgian is being linked to a top team. Its like vincent kompany set the tone for future players, topped off by eden hazard.

[BonnieShels]

I know this might seem irrelevant but it took PES to alert me to the aspiring young Belgians about 2009 or so. Them and the Bosnians were highly rated everytime I went to offload players and bring in youth. So I investigated it a little online at the time and jokingly said to mates that they'd get to a final of a Euros or a World Cup in 2014 or 2016.

It truly is something that we as a nation should be looking at to aspire to. Like someone has said in other threads. Let's just start again and write-off 2014-2016. It will be workth it in the end.

[irishultra]

Coasting against Scotland and to qualification. They got a handy enough group though, considering they've been shocking for the last decade. A bit of luck for their golden generation.