Belgium is famous for its art, beautiful historic cities, canals, beer, chocolate, waffles, mussels and fries but also for its football.
Belgium have an excellent football tradition. The national team, the "Rode Duivels" (Red Devils) have taken part in 14 world cups. The best result was a 3rd place in 2018. Belgium have also participated in 7 European Championships and were runners-up in 1980.
Belgium were rated as the best team in the world by FIFA from March 2015 to March 2016 and again from September 2018 to March 2022.
They have been tipped by many in the last decade to win a major tournament but have so far always fallen short. In the 2024 edition of the Euros they went out in the last 16, losing 0-1 to France. Belgium are currently ranked 3rd in the world by FIFA but that will change after another disappointing campaign.
At club level the most successful club domestically is Anderlecht (Brussels) with 34 league titles, followed by Club Bruges with 18, Union Saint-Gilloise (Brussels) and Standard Liege 10. The reigning champions are Royal Antwerp.
In Europe Belgian clubs have won 7 cups, 5 by Anderlecht (Cup Winners Cup 1976, 1978, Super Cup 1976, 1978 and UEFA Cup/Europa League 1983), 2 by Malines (Cup Winners Cup 1988, UEFA Super Cup 1988).
The best players in their history include Robert De Veen, Raymond Braine, Bernard Voorhoof, Joseph Mermans, Paul Van Himst, Jan Ceulemans, Timmy Simons, Frank Vercauteren, Michel Preud'homme, Jean -Marie Pfaff, Eric Gerets, Eden Hazard plus current players Dries Mertens, Romelu Lukaku and Thibaut Courtois. The most capped player is Jan Vertonghen.
Some of these and more have played or are playing in Italy. Lazio have had four Belgian players.
1900
Leon Chaudoir - forward (Napoli 1910-11). He then left for Standard Liege.
Louis Van Hege - forward (Milan 1910-1917, 88 league games with 97 goals). He then won Olympic gold at the 1920 Antwerp games. He was nicknamed "The Pale bolt" and won 12 Belgium caps
Maurice Tobias - midfielder (Milan 1910-12, 16 games with 11 goals). He left for Malines. He won 7 Belgium caps.
Camille Nys - forward (Milan 1912-13, 18 league games with 5 goals). He returned to Standard Liege. He won 4 caps for Belgium.
1980's
René Vandereycken -midfielder (Genoa 1981-83, 28 league games). He left for Anderlecht. He won 50 caps for Belgium with 3 goals.
Eric Gerets - defender (Milan 1983-84, 13 league games with 1 goal). He then spent 7 seasons with PSV Eindhoven, winning European Cup. He won 86 caps for Belgium. He is now a manager.
Ludo Coeck - midfielder (Inter 1983-84, Ascoli 1984, 9 league games). He left for RWD Molenbeek. He won 46 caps for Belgium with 4 goals. He died in a car crash in 1985 at 30.
Vincenzo Scifo - midfielder (Inter 1987-88, Torino 1991-93, 90 league games with 20 goals and winning a Coppa Italia with Torino in 1993). He then went to Monaco before returning to Anderlecht. He won 84 Belgium caps with 18 goals. One of the talents of the 80-90's.
Francis Severeyns - forward (Pisa 1988-89, 26 league games with 0 goals). He left for Malines. He won 7 Belgium caps with 1 goal.
Stéphane Demol - defender (Bologna 1988-89, 21 league games with 2 goals). He left for Porto. He won 38 caps for Belgium with 1 goal. He is now a manager
1990's
Georges Grün - defender (Parma 1990-94, Reggiana 1996-97,132 league games with 9 goals and winning a Coppa Italia in 1992, a UEFA Cup and a UEFA Super Cup in 1993 with Parma). He returned to Anderlecht. He won 77 Belgium caps with 6 goals.
Patrick Vervoort - midfielder (Ascoli 1991-92, 17 league games). He left for Bordeaux. He won 32 Belgium caps with 3 goals.
Luis Oliveira - forward (Cagliari 1992-96, Fiorentina 1996-99, Cagliari 1999-2000, Bologna 2000-01, then Como, Catania, Foggia Venezia, Lucchese, Nuorese and Derthona). He played a total of 607 games in Italy with 203 goals, in A he played 257 games with 71 goals. He won 31 caps for Belgium with 7 goals.
Bertrand Crasson - defender (Napoli 1996-98, 44 league games). He left for Anderlecht. He won 26 caps for Belgium with 1 goal
Michaël Goossens - forward (Genoa 1996-97, 36 league games with 12 goals). He left for Schalke 04. He won 14 Belgium caps with 1 goal.
Régis Genaux - defender (Udinese 1997-2002, 51 league games with 1 goal. He won 22 caps for Belgium. He died in 2008 at 35.
Johan Walem - midfielder (Udinese 1997-99, Parma 1999-00, Udinese 2000-01, Torino 2003-04, Catania 2004-05, 133 league games with 7 goals). He won 36 caps for Belgium with 2 goals. He then became a manager (Udinese U19's 2001-12), he is currently Anderlecht female team coach.
Bruno Versavel - midfielder (Perugia 1997 -98, 16 league games with 1 goal). He left for Herentals. He won 28 caps for Belgium with 4 goals.
Roberto Bisconti - midfielder (Monza 1997-98, 18 league games with 1 goal). He returned to Standard Liege. He won 13 caps for Belgium.
Kevin Van Dessel - midfielder (Genoa 1998-99, 0 league games). He then played 8 seasons for Roda JC in Holland, winning a Dutch Cup in 2000.
Gilbert Bodart - goalkeeper (Brescia 1998-2000, Ravenna 2000-2001, 68 league games). He left for Beveren. He won 12 caps for Belgium.
Jean -Francois Gillet - goalkeeper (Monza 1999-2000, Bari 2000-03, Treviso 2003-04, Bari 2004-11, Bologna 2011-12, Torino 2012-15, Catania 2015, 504 league games - 353 with Bari where he won a Serie B). He left for Mechelen. He won 9 caps for Belgium. In Italy he was accused of match fixing and banned for 13 months.
Olivier Renard - goalkeeper (Udinese 1999-2000, 2001-04, Modena 2004, Napoli 2005, 8 league games). He left for Standard Liege.
2000-2024
Walter Baseggio - midfielder (Treviso 2005-07, 28 league games with 1 goal). He then returned to Anderlecht. He won 27 caps for Belgium with 1 goal.
Gaby Mudingayi - midfielder - Lazio
He arrived at Lazio in 2005 from Torino. He stayed three seasons.
In 2005-06, under manager Delio Rossi, Lazio finished 6th but were demoted to 16th place due to alleged involvement in the Calciopoli scandal. Mudingayi played 14 league games with 1 goal (Ascoli) and 3 games in Coppa Italia.
In 2006-07, despite a 3-point docking, Lazio finished 3rd and qualified for a Champions League preliminary round. Mudingayi played 28 league games and 3 in Coppa Italia. He made up a solid midfield with Massimo Mutarelli, Valon Behrami, Cristian Ledesma and Stefano Mauri. The highlight of the season was defeating Roma 3-0.
The 2007-08 was his last in Rome. Lazio won the Champions League preliminary and then finished 12th in Serie A. In Champions Lazio drew 2-2 with Real Madrid but went out in the group stage. Mudingayi played 27 league games, 1 in Coppa Italia and 7 in the Champions League. The highlight of the season, apart from playing Real Madrid, was beating Roma 3-2 with a 92nd minute winner.
Mudingayi then joined Bologna where he stayed for four seasons. He played a total of 128 games with 2 goals (Parma and Lazio, but in 1-3 defeat). Bologna finished 17th, 17th, 16th and 9th.
In 2012 he joined Inter for two seasons. He played a total of 17 games. Inter finished 9th and 5th.
He then spent a brief period with Elche in Spain before returning to Cesena in February 2015. The Bianconeri were in Serie A but were relegated. Mudingayi played 9 league games.
In 2016-17, until January, he joined Pisa in Serie B. He only played 2 league games and then retired due to recurrent physical problems.
In Italy he played a total of 315 games with 4 goals. He also played 17 times for Belgium.
Mudingayi was a central midfielder. He was not particularly skilful but he was a ball winner, solid, strong and hardworking. At Lazio he was very well liked by the fans. He played a total of 83 games for the Biancocelesti.
Radja Nainggolan - midfielder (Piacenza 2005-10, Cagliari 2010-14, Roma 2014-18, Inter 2018-19, Cagliari 2019-20, Inter 2020-21, Cagliari 2021, SPAL 2023, 451 league games with 53 goals). He won 30 caps for Belgium with 6 goals.
Luis Pedro Cavanda - defender- Lazio
Cavanda arrived at Lazio's youth academy in 2007 from Standard Liege. He spent two years with the U19's before joining the first team squad.
In 2009-10 the manager was initially Davide Ballardini and then, from February, Edy Reja. Lazio won the Supercoppa in August, surprisingly beating Inter 2-1 but then struggled in the league and finished 12th. Cavanda played only 1 game, in the Europa League against Levski Sofia.
In 2010-11 Reja stayed on and Lazio finished 5th (Europa League). Cavanda played 3 league games and 2 in Coppa Italia before going to Bari in Serie B on loan in January.
In Bari he played 8 league games, under Vincenzo Torrente and the Galletti finished 13th.
In 2012-13 he was back at Lazio. The manager was now Vladimir Petkovic and Lazio finished 7th (Europa League). They however triumphed in the Coppa Italia, beating eternal rivals Roma in a historic final. Cavanda played 14 league games, 3 in Coppa Italia and 7 in the Europa League.
In 2013-14 Petkovic started but was replaced by Reja in January. Lazio finished 9th. Cavanda played 19 league games with 1 goal (Chievo), 2 games in Coppa Italia, 7 in Europa League plus the Supercoppa (lost 0-4 to Juventus).
In 2014-15 Stefano Pioli was manager and Lazio had a good season, finishing 3rd (Champions League preliminary). Cavanda played 16 league games and 2 in Coppa Italia.
Cavanda then left Lazio and went to Turkey. He played a season for Trabzonspor and one for Galatasaray before returning to Belgium and Standard Liege for three seasons. His last club was Neuchâtel Xamax in 2022-23 but injury interrupted his season.
He won 2 caps for Belgium.
Cavanda played a total of 91 games in Italy.
He was a right full-back with good athleticism but also some defensive weaknesses. At Lazio he had some good spells but never really became a regular.
Anthony Vanden Borre - defender (Fiorentina 2007-08, Genoa 2008-09, 33 league games). He left for Portsmouth, he also played for Genk, Anderlecht, Montpellier and in Congo. He won 29 caps for Belgium with 1 goal.
Dries Mertens - forward (Napoli 2013-22, 295 league games with 113 goals). He left for Galatasaray where he still plays. He has 109 Belgium caps with 21 goals.
Maxime Lestienne - forward (Genoa 2014-15, 23 league games with 1 goal). He left for PSV Eindhoven and now plays in Singapore.
Xian Emmers - midfielder (Inter youth academy 2015-18, Cremonese 2018-19, 20 league games and 1 goal). He left for Waasland Beveren. Now plays in Romania.
Samuel Bastien - midfielder (Avellino 2015-16, Chievo 2016-18,63 league games. He went to Standard Lieges and now plays in Turkey. He also has Democratic Republic of Congo nationality.
Senna Miangue - defender (Inter 2016-17, Cagliari 2017-2018, 18 league games). He left for Standard Liege and now plays for Cercle Bruges. He is also of Republic of Congo nationality.
Dennis Praet - midfielder (Sampdoria 2016-19, Torino 2021-22,121 league games with 6 goals). He left for Leicester City where he had already played between 2019-21. He has 15 caps for Belgium with 2 goals.
Jordan Lukaku - defender- Lazio
Jordan Lukaku arrived at Lazio from Oostende in 2016. He stayed six years with one year away on loan.
In 2016-17 the manager was Simone Inzaghi and Lazio finished 5th (Europa League). The Biancocelesti were losing finalists in the Coppa Italia (Juventus 0-2). Lukaku played 16 league games and 4 in Coppa Italia.
In 2017-18 Lazio finished 5th again (Europa League). Lukaku played more regularly, 30 league games with 1 goal (Crotone), 4 in Coppa Italia, 8 in Europa League plus the Supercoppa. In the Super Coppa he was a protagonist, setting up Lazio's 3-2 winner against Juventus in the 93rd minute.
In 2018-19 he played less due to constant injuries. Lazio finished 8th but won the Coppa Italia beating Atalanta 2-0. Lukaku played 7 league games and 1 in Coppa Italia.
In 2019-20 he still struggled physically but played 13 league games. Lazio finished 4th (Champions League) but until late February were flying and considered favourites for the Scudetto before Covid-19 changed everything.
In 2020-21 he went to Antwerp on loan before coming back to Lazio in 2021-22. The manager was now Maurizio Sarri but Lukaku got no playing time in any competitions and left in January. Lazio finished 5th (Europa League).
In January 2022 he joined Vicenza in Serie B where he played 7 league games plus 2 in relegation playoffs (lost to Cosenza). One of his managers was former Lazio player Cristian Brocchi.
He then spent a year in Spain with Ponferradina in the second tier and is currently in Turkey with Adanaspor.
Lukaku played 94 games in Italy. He also has 8 caps for Belgium where he played with his more famous brother Romelu.
Lukaku is a left full-back. He is strong, athletic and fast. Unfortunately, his career has been hindered by injuries.
At Lazio he played 85 games (66 in A) with 1 goal. He will always be remembered for his brilliant, devastating run down the left wing and his assist for Murgia in the last gasp Supercoppa triumph against Juventus.
Thomas Vermaelen - defender (Roma 2016-17, 9 league games). He returned to Barcelona and then ended his career in Japan. His teams included Ajax and Arsenal. He won 85 caps for Belgium with 2 goals
Timothy Castagne -defender (Atalanta 2017-20, 97 league games with 8 goals). He left for Leicester City and now plays for Fulham. He has 41 caps for Belgium with 2 goals.
Silvio Proto - goalkeeper- Lazio
Silvio Proto arrived at Lazio in the summer of 2018 from Olympiakos. He had previously played for La Louviėre, Anderlecht, Germinal Beerschot, Anderlecht again (372 games) and Oostende.
He was born in Charleroi but has Italian origins as his grandfather had left Sicily to go and work in the mines in Belgium. Proto played 13 times for Belgium.
He stayed at Lazio for two and a half seasons. He was signed to be the reserve keeper to Thomas Strakosha and that's what he was. In the first, under Simone Inzaghi, he played 2 league games, 1 in Coppa Italia and 4 in the Europa League. Lazio finished 8th and won the Coppa Italia.
In 2019-20, still under Inzaghi, he made no league appearances but played 1 game in Coppa Italia and 2 in the Europa League. Lazio challenged for the title until Covid-19 ended their hopes but they qualified for the Champions League finishing 4th and won the Italian Supercoppa beating Juventus 3-1 in Riyadh.
In 2020-21 Lazio signed Pepe Reina from Milan and Proto became third choice keeper. In January 2021 he terminated his contract by mutual consent and retired.
Proto had a good club career especially in Belgium. He won 6 league titles, 2 Belgian Cups and 6 Supercups. He played a total of 603 professional games and conceded 599 goals.
At Lazio he arrived late in his career. He played 9 games and won a Coppa Italia and a Supercoppa Italiana.
Kevin Mirallas - forward (Fiorentina 2018-19, 27 league games and 2 goals). He also played for Everton and left for Antwerp. He won 60 caps for Belgium with 10 goals.
Artur Theate - defender (Bologna 2021-22, 31 league games with 2 goals). He left for Rennes. He has 15 Belgium caps.
Zinho Vanheusden - defender (Inter 2021, Genoa 2021-22, 14 league games). He has returned to Standard Liege on loan. He has 1 Belgium cap.
Divock Origi - forward (Milan 2022-23, 27 league games with 2 goals). He arrived from Liverpool and is now at Nottingham Forest on loan. He has 32 caps for Belgium with 3 goals.
Cyriel Dessers - forward (Cremonese 2022-23, 26 league games with 6 goals). He left for Rangers. He also has Nigerian nationality.
2023-24
There were currently 8 Belgian players in Serie A: Charles De ketelaere (Atalanta), Romelu Lukaku (Roma-on loan), Cyril Ngonge (Napoli), Koni De Winter (Genoa), Alexis Saelemaekers (Bologna), Leander Dendoncker (Napoli), Christian Kabasele (Udinese), Ahmed Touba (Lecce-on loan).
In Serie B there are 6: Jari Vandeputte (Catanzaro), Samuel Ntanda-Lukisa (Sampdoria), Daouda Peeters (Südtirol), Mats Lemmens (Lecco), Akpa-Chukwu Hemsley (Bari), Lukas Mondele (Modena)
Plus, in lower divisions:
Benjamin Mokulu Tembe (Matera, previously Avellino, Frosinone, Cremonese, Carpi, Juventus U23, Padova, Ravenna, Trapani). He is also Congolese.
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