Eden Hazard gets a devilish farewell during Belgium-Austria

On Saturday 17 June 2023, icon Eden Hazard will receive a diabolical farewell during the Belgium-Austria match. The stadium will be transformed into a red-hot arena that day. On the programme: a DJ who gets the party going, a stadium-sized tifo consisting of 45.000 red cards, the honouring of Thibaut Courtois and Kevin De Bruyne, a lap of honour by Hazard and a frenzied red legion of supporters. The debut of national coach Domenico Tedesco on Belgian soil promises to become a stunner. Supporters who don't want to miss this special evening know what to do: buy a ticket quickly and come to the stadium in red.  

Goodbye Eden Hazard 

November 19, 2008 went down in history as Eden Hazard's debut with the Red Devils. This was followed by 125 caps, 3 World Cups, 2 European Championships and 33 goals. Hazard wore the captain's armband 59 times, a record in the history of Belgian football. The supporters took Hazard to their hearts and elected him 'ultimate icon' in 2021, or most iconic football figure from 125 years of Belgian football history. 

After the World Cup in Qatar, Hazard decided to put an end to his international career. On 17 June 2023, he will say goodbye to the supporters during the Belgium-Austria match. The presence of Hazard completes the red party in the King Baudouin Stadium that evening. As part of the #WirSchaffenDas campaign, the RBFA and fan club 1895 are calling on the support of supporters to transform the stadium into a red-hot arena and make Domenico's first home match Tedesco unforgettable. 

The RBFA provides a DJ and a red sign on every seat in the stadium. With these signs, the fans create a stadium-sized tifo when the players arrive. During halftime, former captain Eden Hazard takes a lap of honour through the King Baudouin Stadium in a BMW convertible. After the game, he and the Red Devils will kick 33 balls into the crowd, one for every goal he scored in the national shirt. The evening ends with a word from Hazard to the fans. 

“An icon like Eden Hazard deserves an iconic farewell. He has given our country so many beautiful moments. We want to give something back to the fans. We give him a dignified farewell in his Red Devil home, the King Baudouin Stadium. So forget July 21, this year the national holiday will be celebrated on June 17. With, and for, the king of Belgian football.”

– Michael Schockaert, marketing manager RBFA 

“I am really looking forward to seeing the Belgian fans who have always supported me. I am now one of them: a proud supporter. The Red Devils have made a fantastic start to the new campaign. Hopefully they will contribute to the party on June 17 with a resounding victory against Austria. It won't be easy, but the slogan is #WirSchaffenDas these days, isn't it?"

– Eden Hazard, former captain of the Red Devils 

Honouring Kevin De Bruyne and Thibaut Courtois 

Eden Hazard is not the only one to be celebrated on June 17, 2023. Generation mates Thibaut Courtois and Kevin De Bruyne are being honoured by UEFA and the RBFA for their 100th cap for the Red Devils. Courtois achieved that hundredth cap during the World Cup in Qatar. De Bruyne reached - without unforeseen circumstances - the same milestone during the match against Austria. 

Those who want to attend the festivities before, during and after the game should hurry as the King Baudouin Stadium is almost full. https:// tickets.rbfa.be/