Did Toby Alderweireld imagine becoming a Golden Boot when he arrived in Antwerp in July 2022? At most, on the day of his arrival, he would say half-heartedly: “It would be nice to win prizes.” He won two for the price of one, with the Belgian Cup then the championship, for an unprecedented double for the club and rare on a Belgian scale (this had not happened since Club Bruges in 1996). Everyone, especially, remembers how he, the defender, turned into attacking just long enough to send a shot into the top corner, at Genk (2-2).
Éric Van Meir, former Lierse defender, scorer in his spare time, and on the podium of the 1997 Golden Shoe, remarked that a defender “must be decisive to become Golden Shoe.” Alderweireld was in this memorable match in Limburg. He had also been there during the playoffs, in his defensive register, captain of a team which had only lost once during the Champions playoffs but had not won any of its last three matches.
Antwerp were made champions at the gong and Alderweireld contributed greatly. The landscape would obviously not be the same this Thursday morning, if the Union had not let a young unknown Japanese player from Club Brugge (Shion Homma) extinguish its hopes. The Unionists, once again defeated in the race for the title, risk once again being the magnificent losers of this Golden Shoe evening, the seventieth of its kind, which will take place… at Antwerp Expo, a few kilometers from Kiel, the Beerschot stadium, Toby Alderweireld’s first club. Like a symbol?
The Unionists as magnificent losers, again?
Last year, Simon Mignolet beat Casper Nielsen. If Alderweireld wins, it is possible that he will again precede a Union player. Victor Boniface was a very good candidate in the first round of voting (second part of last season) and Mohammed Amoura a very good candidate in the second round of voting (first part of this season). But none has played more than half the season, and the only Brussels player who has seemed the most consistent, from this point of view, is Cameron Puertas. And even…
The world of Belgian football will therefore probably honor a former Red Devil, as it did with Mignolet a year ago. Toby Alderweireld’s announced success is not just the reward for a successful year. It would also be recognition at its true value of a player who may have suffered from comparison, in the national team, with players of the caliber of Vincent Kompany or Thomas Vermaelen, more gifted but also more fragile.
Alderweireld, who will celebrate his 35th birthday at the beginning of March, is not the type to take the spotlight, but he will know how to receive the honors, without hiding a touch of pride. The Antwerp player, who returns home to win titles and lift a Golden Shoe, should not have thought too much about it in July 2022. More generally, it is the entire Antwerp club that could achieve a grand slam this Thursday evening.
It would be a huge surprise if Arthur Vermeeren was not crowned Best Prospect of the Year while Jean Butez has a real chance of winning the goalkeeper of the year title. Mark van Bommel will have his work cut out to be named coach of the year, even if a champion coach is often right. And the goal of the year could also be Antwerp. Guess who ? Alderweireld, obviously.
2024-01-17 17:31:00
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