Hazard wins Belgian player of the year award

London Jan 3 (IANS) For his sterling performances this season and the last one Chelsea star Eden Hazard has been named the Belgian football federation KBVB s "Devil of the Year" seeing off competition from Manchester City s Kevin De Bruyne and Manchester United forward Romelu Lukaku.

Hazard succeeded Dries Mertens earning 10 280 votes in an internet poll organised by his country s national federation to become Belgian national team s top man.

That put him well ahead of De Bruyne who polled 4 710 votes with Lukaku third on 3 223.

Hazard s Chelsea teammates Michy Batshuayi and Thibaut Courtois were also in contention for the award along with United s Marouane Fellaini Napoli s Dries Mertens Crystal Palace forward Christian Benteke Tottenham Hotspur defender Jan Vertonghen and West Bromwich Albion s Nacer Chadli.

--IANS
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