74 THE PREM ERA
Olivier Giroud
Six of the Best, September 2010Thibaut Courtois
Talent Scout, September 2011At his most comfortable in a central
playmaking role, Granit Xhaka made his
Switzerland debut against England inJune’s
Euro 2012 qualifier at Wembley. With his
cultured left foot, athleticism and energy
he looks set for a golden future in the game.
With Basel since the age of ten, he was
an influential member of the Switzerland
side that won the Under-17 World Cup in
Nigeria and has been on a roll ever since,
scoring on his club debut in a Champions
League tie at Debrecen last year. Since then
he has made an eye-catching contribution
to his club’s domestic league title last term
and forced his way into the plans of national
team coach Ottmar Hitzfeld.
The only concern is his injury record,
which is not unblemished. Xhaka spent six
months out with damaged cruciate ligaments
as a junior, and then sat out the opening
month of this season following more knee
trouble during the summer. After covering so
much ground in the last couple of years, the
occasional pause may actually be helpful.
Level-headed to a fault, he dismisses talk
of a move abroad: “I don’t see the point in
going overseas to sit on the bench,” he says.
Nick BidwellGranit Xhaka
Talent Scout, September 2011Thankssstto hissyouthfulfeattuurreessaannd spikyy
blonde hair, Kevin De Bruyne is a spitting
image of Belgium’s most famous son Tintin.
And, like the cartoon-character sleuth,
the19-year-old Genk attacking midfielder
could soon be the subject of an adventure
of his own, with Chelsea and Bayern
Munich among those on his case.
Part of an impressive new wave of
Belgian talent, De Bruyne only became a
regular starter for Genk in the second half
of last season, but has already made his
international debut.
Whether on the left or through the
middle, his technique, explosive energy- particularly when cutting in and letting
fly with a powerful right-foot shot – and
insatiable desire to be in the thick of the
action sparked the club’s domination
of the Europa League play-offs.
Previous coach Hein Vanhaezebrouck
brought De Bruyne along gently, but his
successor Franky Vercauteren saw no
need and within days of being appointed
in December last year installed him in
his first XI.
Despite being tracked by Europe’s big
boys, De Bruyne extended his contract
until 2015; not that he is likely to stay. As
his value rises with each brilliant display
this term, Genk will be unable to resist
bids of £10 million.
Nick Bidwell
Talent Scout, November 2010
This summer, Chelsea signed the goalkeeper
they expect to one day take over the gloves
of Petr Cech. Within days of Belgian Thibaut
Courtois completing his £8m move from
Genk, the new arrival was sent out on
loan to Atletico Madrid.
Also tracked by the likes of Tottenham
Hotspur, Newcastle United, Napoli, Valencia
and Schalke, Courtois’ move was anything but
straightforward. Genk had hoped to convince
a buyer to loan him back, but, much to their
chagrin, Courtois demanded a clean break.club. Last season, his first as a professional,
his form helped Genk to the domestic
league title. In the final game of the play-
offs against Standard Liege – a match that
Genk needed to draw to clinch the title –
he made three superb late saves to keep
the score at1-1.
Considered the best Belgian keeper
sinceJean-Marie Pfaff in the1970s, the
19-year-old played at the back or as a
left-sided midfielder in his early days at
Genk. Aged12, he was told to settle in
oneposition–andhistorywillnotehe
chose correctly.
Nick BidwellTop scorer in Ligue 2 last season with 21
goals for Tours and voted the division’s best
player by his fellow professionals, the tall
and powerful striker could do absolutely no
wrong last term and the step-up to Ligue1
was inevitable, with Montpellier seeing off a
number of top-flight outfits – among them
Monaco, Sochaux and Celtic – to secure
the 23-year-old’s signature.
His choice of new employer seems
a good one as, homegrown or not, the
southern club has a messianic zeal for
cramming youngsters into their side –
not for nothing is former France Under-21
coach Rene Girard in charge – and, usually
served by two wingers, Giroud will rarely
be deprived of service.
With loan spells at Grenoble, and Istres
prior to joining Tours, Giroud is good in the
air, has the rippling carcass of a boxer and
yet still manages to be mobile. In the debit
column, he is not particularly explosive or
quick. Once a member of the same France
Under-16 side as Yoann Gourcuff, he had
the critics purring in admiration when
scoring four times in one game against
Arles-Avignon a year ago.
Nick BidwellAfter he refused to take part in a pre-season
game against Lyon, the dye was cast.
He will be sorely missed at the Belgian