Belgium's Golden Generation Trivia Quiz

Answer: Kevin de Bruyne

Stylish midfielder Kevin de Bruyne had early success in Belgium when his Genk side won the Belgian League in 2011. A year later he would move to England to join Chelsea but unfortunately the move did not work out. After two years he moved to Wolfsburg in Germany and won the German Cup (the DFB-Pokal) in his first season.

His excellent performances in Germany brought him to the attention of Manchester City who brought him back to England in 2015. Three years later he won the first of multiple Premier League titles with the club and in 2023 helped the club lift the UEFA Champions League for the first time.

Answer: Thibaut Courtois

Goalkeeper Courtois was part of the same Genk squad that won the Belgian league in 2011 as Kevin de Bruyne. Like de Bruyne, his performances there led to a move to Chelsea. Before his breakthrough at Chelsea he was loaned out to Atletico Madrid and picked up his second league title, La Liga in 2014 alongside the Copa del Rey and the Europa League.

After three seasons he came back to Chelsea and won two Premier League titles and an FA Cup. A big money move to Real Madrid saw him continue his trophy-winning ways with La Liga, Copa del Rey, Champions League and FIFA Club World Cup medals added to his collection.

Answer: Dries Mertens

After a brief loan spell at Belgian second division club Eendracht Aalst, winger Dries Mertens moved to the Netherlands. With his third club there, PSV Eindhoven, he won his first trophy, the Dutch Cup. A year later he was bought by Napoli in Italy. In his eight years there he won two Coppa Italia and became the club's all-time top scorer but moved to Turkey the year before Napoli won their historic third title in 2023.

But Mertens did not miss out as his new club, Galatasaray, won the Turkish Super Lig in the same season.

Answer: Eden Hazard

Attacking midfielder Eden Hazard began his career not in Belgium but in France with Lille. He made his first team debut at just 16 and in 2011 was instrumental in the club winning the league and cup double. A move to Chelsea came a year later and Hazard won both team and individual trophies - two Premier League titles and an FA Cup as well as PFA Young Player of the Year and the PFA Player of the Year.

After seven seasons in London, Hazard was sold to Real Madrid. His time there was unhappy with injuries severely disrupting his career but he was still able to pick up two La Liga titles before he retired. Hazard played over 100 times for the Belgian national side, having made his senior debut at 17 years of age.

Answer: Axel Witsel

Axel Witsel won five domestic trophies with Standard Liege in Belgium before moving to Benfica in Portugal, where he won the Portuguese League Cup. After just one season in Portugal he moved to Zenit St Petersburg in Russia where he won the league in 2015 and the Russian Cup a year later.

He then spent a season in China before moving to Borussia Dortmund in 2018, winning the German Cup and the German Supercup there. Witsel has won more than 100 caps for the Belgian national side, initially as a winger but mainly as a defensive midfielder.

Answer: Romelu Lukaku

Powerful striker Romelu Lukaku won his first trophy aged just 17 when Anderlecht won the Belgian League in 2010. After one more season in Belgium, he was bought by Chelsea. He spent many years in England with Chelsea, West Bromwich Albion, Everton and Manchester United but after nine seasons he left the country having scored plenty of goals but without adding any trophies to his collection.

It was at his next club, Inter Milan, that success finally came with the club winning Serie A in 2021. Lukaku returned to Chelsea after this title but had another frustrating season in England, although he did at last claim a trophy there when the club won the Club World Cup.

He was loaned back to Inter after a year and claimed another trophy with victory in the Coppa Italia.

Answer: Thomas Meunier

After two trophy-winning seasons in his native Belgium with Club Brugge, Meunier was bought by Paris St. Germain to compete for the right back spot with Serge Aurier. After a trophyless first season, Meunier made nearly 100 first team appearances as PSG won three league titles in a row and two French Cups.

He moved on a free transfer to Borussia Dortmund in 2020 and won the German Cup in his first season.

Answer: Marouane Fellaini

Box-to-box midfielder Fellaini made his professional debut with Standard Liege and was part of the squad that won the Belgian League in 2008. A move to England soon followed with Everton paying a record fee to secure his signature. When Everton's manager David Moyes was appointed manager of Manchester United, Fellaini soon followed him there and although the both of them struggled, Fellaini would eventually find success with the club, winning the League Cup, the FA Cup and the Europa League. After more than five years in Manchester, Fellaini left to move to the Chinese Super League with Shandong Taishan.

He won the Chinese FA Cup three times and the Super League once before announcing his retirement in 2024.

Answer: Vincent Kompany

Central defender Vincent Kompany won two Belgian League titles with Anderlecht before moving to Germany to play for Hamburg. Two seasons later he was signed by Manchester City and began his very successful career at the club. He won his first trophy with the 2011 FA Cup before being appointed captain the next season.

He led the side to the Premier League trophy that year for the first of four title wins under his captaincy. His final season saw him not only lift the Premier League trophy again but also score the winning goal in the decisive title winning game, lift the League Cup and, in his last game for the club, lift the FA Cup to complete a domestic treble, a feat never before achieved in English football.

Answer: Toby Alderweireld

Toby Alderweireld is unusual among the golden generation in not starting his career in his home country. He was invited to join the Ajax academy in the Netherlands as a 15-year-old and made his professional debut for the Dutch club. He won three league titles in a row before leaving Ajax to join Atletico Madrid. His trophy-winning habit continued there with a La Liga title in his first season. His success came to an end when he joined Tottenham in 2015. In his six years in north London, he played in a League Cup final and a Champions League final but left the club without adding to his trophy haul.

After a season in Qatar, Alderweireld would finally make his Belgian League debut at the age of 33 with Royal Antwerp. His time in Belgium would see him return to his trophy-winning ways with both the Belgian Cup and League titles coming in his first season.