As of March 2016, the Belgium national team has been led by at least 89 different captains; [1] 86 different players started an international game as captain, [2] but due to substitutions the total number is higher. At least 15 pure forwards and eight goalkeepers have fulfilled this role but most often Red Devils in defensive positions and midfielders were assigned as captain, as is usually the case in association football. Until 2011 under Dick Advocaat and Georges Leekens the former Belgium U-23 captain Thomas Vermaelen was chosen as national squad's leader, but during an injury period he left the captaincy to Vincent Kompany, who became the new permanent captain. [3] After several periods of injuries and missing out UEFA Euro 2016, Kompany gradually lost his position as captain to Eden Hazard by 2017. [4]
The following table shows which Belgian footballers started international games as captain, and during which period. Players that received the captain's armband because of a substitution or expulsion during a match are not counted.
Last updated: Brazil vs. Belgium, 6 July 2018. Statistics include official FIFA-recognised matches only.
The Belgium national football team officially represents Belgium in men's international football since their maiden match in 1904. The squad is under the global jurisdiction of FIFA and is governed in Europe by UEFA—both of which were co-founded by the Belgian team's supervising body, the Royal Belgian Football Association. Periods of regular Belgian representation at the highest international level, from 1920 to 1938, from 1982 to 2002 and again from 2014 onwards, have alternated with mostly unsuccessful qualification rounds. Most of Belgium's home matches are played at the King Baudouin Stadium in Brussels.
The Luxembourg national football team is the national football team of Luxembourg, and is controlled by the Luxembourg Football Federation. The team plays most of its home matches at the Stade de Luxembourg in Luxembourg City.
Vincent Jean Mpoy Kompany is a Belgian professional football manager and former player who played as a centre-back and is the current manager of EFL Championship club Burnley. He most notably played for Manchester City for eleven seasons, where he was captain for eight of them and became widely regarded as one of the league’s greatest centre-backs. He also represented the Belgium national team for 15 years, seven as captain.
Thomas Vermaelen is a retired Belgian professional footballer who is currently an assistant coach for the Belgium national team. Being left-footed, he usually played as a left-sided centre-back and could play at left-back as well. His key attributes included aerial ability, leadership skills, and his quickness with the ball at his feet. He was also known for his goalscoring ability as a defender.
Jan Bert Lieve Vertonghen is a Belgian professional footballer who plays for Pro League club Anderlecht and captains the Belgium national team. Mainly a central defender, he can also play as a left-back.
In Sport, a Golden generation, or Golden team is an exceptionally gifted group of players of similar age, whose achievements reach or are expected to reach a level of success beyond that which their team had previously achieved. The term was first being cited by the media for Portugal's success during the FIFA Youth Championships in both 1989 and 1991. Below is a list of teams who have been referred to by the media as golden generations, most of which played in the 21st century.
Maarten Martens is a Belgian former professional footballer who played as a midfielder, either as an attacking midfielder or winger. Martens was known for his flair, dribbling and goalscoring ability as well as his precise passing and creativity. He previously played for Belgian clubs Anderlecht and Cercle Brugge, Dutch clubs RKC Waalwijk and AZ, as well as Greek club PAOK. At international level, he has represented the Belgium national team.
Dries Mertens, nicknamed "Ciro", is a Belgian professional footballer who plays as a striker or winger for Süper Lig club Galatasaray and the Belgium national team.
Eden Michael Walter Hazard is a Belgian professional footballer who plays as a winger or attacking midfielder for La Liga club Real Madrid. Known for his creativity, dribbling, passing and vision, Hazard is considered one of the best players of his generation.
Nacer Chadli is a Belgian professional footballer who currently plays as a winger for Belgian First Division A club K.V.C. Westerlo on loan from Turkish Super Lig club İstanbul Başakşehir and the Belgium national team.
Toby Albertine Maurits Alderweireld is a Belgian professional footballer who plays as a centre-back or right-back for Belgian Pro League club Royal Antwerp and the Belgium national team.
Thorgan Ganael Francis Hazard is a Belgian professional footballer who plays as an attacking midfielder and winger for Eredivisie club PSV Eindhoven on loan from Bundesliga club Borussia Dortmund and the Belgium national team. He is the younger brother of Eden and older brother of Kylian Hazard.
The 2012–13 football season in Belgium, which is the 110th season of competitive football in the country and runs from July 2012 until June 2013.
Koen Casteels is a Belgian professional footballer who plays as a goalkeeper for Bundesliga club VfL Wolfsburg and the Belgium national team.
Youri Marion A. Tielemans is a Belgian professional footballer who plays as a midfielder for Premier League club Leicester City and the Belgium national team.
This article lists various team and individual football records in relation to the Belgium national team. The page currently shows the records as of 1 December 2022.
Group G of the 2018 FIFA World Cup took place from 18 to 28 June 2018. The group consisted of Belgium, Panama, Tunisia, and England. The top two teams, Belgium and England, advanced to the round of 16, and went on to meet each other again in the third-place play-off.