Hazard wanted to honour Zidane

New Chelsea signing Eden Hazard wanted to wear the number 10 shirt at Stamford Bridge so he could emulate his role model Zinedine Zidane.

Zidane wore the number for club and country, and although the Belgian wanted to pay the biggest compliment to the World Cup winner, he had to accept the number 17 shirt, with Juan Mata holding on to the number 10.

Speaking to the media last year, Zidane – who is now an advisor at Real Madrid – said he ‘would sign Hazard with (my) eyes closed’.

The 21-year-old returned the compliment, and said Zidane was a hero of his.

“I’ve always liked the number 10, because it is was worn by Zidane. He was my role model, I’ve always wanted to play like him,” Hazard told Champions Matchday magazine.

“When he started talking about me, I didn’t understand what was happening anymore. But he must have said that about other players, so I knew I had to keep on working.”

The attacking midfielder won France’s Young Player of the Year award in 2009 and 2010 and Player of the Year in 2011 and 2012, making him the first footballer to win both awards since Zidane.