Courtois’ TV surprise for Hazard

Thibaut Courtois could not resist springing a surprise on Chelsea team- mate Eden Hazard as he presented the attacker with the Best Belgian Footballer Playing Abroad in 2017 award.

Hazard assumed he was being interviewed inside Stamford Bridge by young Belgian Antoine, an Under- 11 player at the Royal Stade Brainois, but both he and Courtois had agreed to stage the interview before announcing the forward had won the award, says the Daily Mail. The trophy is given to the best Belgian player abroad that year and has been won twice previously by Courtois and Manchester City’s Kevin de Bruyne.

“It’s my first trophy in Belgium, but certainly not my last,” Hazard told journalist Kristof Terreur. “I am aiming to win the World Cup or the European Championships with Belgium. I performed well with the national team.

“I think that might have made the difference in the votes. I’m happy with the trophy, but it’s not the most important thing. Football is a collective sport. I would like to thank all my teammates, the manager and also those who’ve helped me in the last year.”

For Hazard, it marks his first trophy in Belgium having won the Player of the Year award in France twice during his time at Lille and the PFA Player of the Year in 2015 with Chelsea.

The Blues star also received the PFA Young Player of the Year award in 2014.