Hans Vanaken

Hans Vanaken (; born 24 August 1992) is a Belgian professional footballer who plays as an attacking midfielder for Belgian Pro League club Club Brugge and the Belgium national team.

Club career Early career Vanaken began his career at the youth team of Lommel United before leaving the club to join the PSV Eindhoven academy in 2002 when the former declared bankruptcy. His maiden season at Club Brugge came with a spot in the starting line-up, where he proved instrumental in helping the club lift their 14th league championship.

In 2018, Vanaken scored 21 goals and provided a further 21 assists as he helped his team to its 15th league title and the Belgian Supercup. On 16 January 2019, Vanaken won the Belgian Golden Shoe award after having won the Belgian Professional Footballer of the Year award in May 2018.

Vanaken signed a new contract with Brugge on 9 August 2019, tying him to the club until 2024.

On 15 January 2020, Vanaken became the first player since Jan Ceulemans in 1986 to win back-to-back Belgian Golden Shoe awards. Vanaken won the award on the back of 20 goals and 7 assists during 2019. Club Brugge would win their third title in five seasons when the 2019-20 campaign was halted in March due to the COVID-19 pandemic, with one round to go in the regular season. The play-offs were cancelled, and the club were crowned champions by virtue of being top.

On 20 May 2021, Vanaken scored twice as Brugge drew 3–3 with rivals Anderlecht to retain the Belgian First Division A title, winning it for the fourth time in six years and 17th time overall.

Vanaken went on to help inspire Club to a third successive title in 2022, their first three-in-a-row since the 1970s, as they overhauled long-time leaders Union Saint-Gilloise in the play-offs, something that would happen again for Club's next title in 2023-24. On 6 November 2024, Vanaken scored the winning goal from the penalty spot in a 1–0 win over Aston Villa in the UEFA Champions League.

Vanaken won his third golden shoe in February 2025, which brought him level with Jan Ceulemans and Wilfried van Moer. Only Paul van Himst has won the award more times (4 times).

International career Vanaken made his debut for the Belgium national team on 7 September 2018, replacing Eden Hazard in a 4–0 victory against Scotland at Hampden Park.

He scored his first two goals for Belgium on 30 March 2021, coming in an 8–0 win over Belarus in qualifying for the 2022 FIFA World Cup.

On 17 May 2021, Vanaken was one of two Belgium-based players to be selected for the final 26-man squad for the UEFA Euro 2020, along with club teammate Simon Mignolet.

Vanaken was named in Belgium's squad for the 2022 FIFA World Cup. In May 2026, he was selected in the 26-man squad for the 2026 FIFA World Cup. He scored his first World Cup goal in a 4–1 Round of 16 victory over hosts the United States, finding the net from after capitalizing on an error by goalkeeper Matt Freese. At 33 years and 316 days old, he also became the second-oldest Belgian player to score at a World Cup, behind only Kevin De Bruyne, who had set the record earlier in the tournament.

Style of play Standing at 1.95m tall, Vanaken is an imposing presence on the pitch. Praised for his vision and intelligence, he is a ball-retaining midfielder who can score, too. Pep Guardiola, Vincent Kompany, and Hansi Flick have all described Vanaken as a great player. Former Belgian international, Radja Nainggolan has called Vanaken "The most intelligent player he has ever seen on the Belgian fields".

Vanaken also has great passing ability. He is renowned for his ability to make passes under high pressure. His combination of vision, intelligence and a "wand of a left foot", make of Vanaken a key player for Club Brugge. He is the orchestrator of the team, often dictating the pace.

Career statistics Club

International

Honours Lokeren 2019–20, 2020–21, 2021–22, 2023–24, 2025–26 Belgian Cup: 2024–25 Belgian Super Cup: 2016, 2018, 2021, 2022, 2025

Individual Belgian Professional Footballer of the Year: 2017–18, 2018–19 Belgian Pro League top assist provider: 2018–19 Honorary Citizen of Lommel, Belgium: 2021 UEFA Europa Conference League Team of the Season: 2023–24