Hans Vanaken (born 24 August 1992) is a Belgian professional footballer who plays as an attacking midfielder for Belgian Pro League club Club Brugge and the Belgium national team.

Club career

Early career

Vanaken began his career at the youth team of Lommel United before leaving the club to join the PSV Eindhoven academy in 2002 when the former declared bankruptcy. He returned to a revamped Lommel in 2008 and made his senior debut for the club in the Belgian Second Division in 2010. He caught the eye of a number of top division clubs after a string of standout performances for Lommel and joined Lokeren in 2013.

He made top flight debut for Lokeren on 28 July 2013, when he scored two goals in a 3–2 win against defending champions Anderlecht. Vanaken was instrumental in Lokeren's run to the final of the 2013–14 Belgian Cup, playing in six of their seven matches and scoring one goal as his side edged out Zulte Waregem for the title. Vanaken further excelled in his second season in the top flight, scoring eight league goals and finishing third in the voting for the Belgian Golden Shoe award.

Club Brugge

It was announced in May 2015 that Lokeren had reached an agreement with Club Brugge over the transfer of Vanaken to the latter with the player signing a five-year deal subject to a medical. His maiden season at Club Brugge came with a spot in the starting line-up, where he proved instrumental in helping the club lift their 14th league championship.

In 2018, Vanaken scored 21 goals and provided a further 21 assists as he helped his team to its 15th league title and the Belgian Supercup. On 16 January 2019, Vanaken won the Belgian Golden Shoe award after having won the Belgian Professional Footballer of the Year award in May 2018.

Vanaken signed a new contract with Brugge on 9 August 2019, tying him to the club until 2024.

On 11 December 2019, Vanaken scored Brugge's equalizing goal in their Champions League home match against Spanish club Real Madrid; but Brugge would eventually fall to a 3–1 defeat and be parachuted into the UEFA Europa League Round of 32.

Vanaken with Club Brugge against Red Bull Salzburg in the 2018–19 Europa League

On 15 January 2020, Vanaken became the first player since Jan Ceulemans in 1986 to win back-to-back Belgian Golden Shoe awards. Vanaken won the award on the back of 20 goals and 7 assists during 2019. Club Brugge would win their third title in five seasons when the 2019-20 campaign was halted in March due to the COVID-19 pandemic, with one round to go in the regular season. The play-offs were cancelled, and the club were crowned champions by virtue of being top.

On 20 May 2021, Vanaken scored twice as Brugge drew 3–3 with rivals Anderlecht to retain the Belgian First Division A title, winning it for the fourth time in six years and 17th time overall. It was the first time since 1973 that Club Brugge had been crowned champions at Anderlecht's ground and the first time since 1976–77 and 1977–78 that Brugge had won back-to-back league titles.

Vanaken went on to help inspire Club to a third successive title in 2022, their first three-in-a-row since the 1970s, as they overhauled long-time leaders Union Saint-Gilloise in the play-offs, something that would happen again for Club's next title in 2023-24. On 6 November 2024, Vanaken scored the winning goal from the penalty spot in a 1-0 win over Aston Villa in the UEFA Champions League.

Vanaken won his third golden shoe in February 2025, which brought him level with Jan Ceulemans and Wilfried van Moer. Only Paul van Himst has won the award more times (4 times).

International career

Vanaken made his debut for the Belgium national team on 7 September 2018, replacing Eden Hazard in a 4–0 victory against Scotland at Hampden Park.

He scored his first two goals for Belgium on 30 March 2021, coming in an 8–0 win over Belarus in qualifying for the 2022 FIFA World Cup.

On 17 May 2021, Vanaken was one of two Belgium-based players to be selected for the final 26-man squad for the UEFA Euro 2020, along with club teammate Simon Mignolet.

Style of play

Standing at 1.95m tall, Vanaken is an imposing presence on the pitch. Praised for his vision and intelligence, he is a ball-retaining midfielder who can score, too. Pep Guardiola, Vincent Kompany, and Hansi Flick have all described Vanaken as a great player. Former Belgian international, Radja Nainggolan has called Vanaken "The most intelligent player he has ever seen on the Belgian fields".

Vanaken also has great passing ability. He is renowned for his ability to make passes under high pressure. His combination of vision, intelligence and a "wand of a left foot", make of Vanaken a key player for Club Brugge. He is the orchestrator of the team, often dictating the pace.

Career statistics

Club

As of match played 1 March 2026

Appearances and goals by club, season and competition
ClubSeasonLeagueBelgian CupEuropeOtherTotal
DivisionAppsGoalsAppsGoalsAppsGoalsAppsGoalsAppsGoals
Lommel United2010–11Belgian Second Division16100––161
2011–12Belgian Second Division321020––3410
2012–13Belgian Second Division321000––3210
Total802120––8221
Lokeren2013–14Belgian Pro League391161––4512
2014–15Belgian Pro League3783062104710
Total76199162109222
Club Brugge2015–16Belgian Pro League36106280105112
2016–17Belgian Pro League3992160104810
2017–18Belgian Pro League39115340004814
2018–19Belgian Pro League40141082115017
2019–20Belgian Pro League291360124–4717
2020–21Belgian Pro League36113263–4516
2021–22Belgian Pro League39115163005015
2022–23Belgian Pro League40142080105114
2023–24Belgian Pro League38550167–5912
2024–25Belgian Pro League391061121105812
2025–26Belgian Pro League2743014411459
Total40211244101012462552148
Career total55815255111062672725190

International

As of match played 18 November 2025

Appearances and goals by national team and year
National teamYearAppsGoals
Belgium201820
201920
202040
202193
202262
202592
Total327

As of match played 18 November 2025

Scores and results list Belgium's goal tally first, score column indicates score after each Vanaken goal.

List of international goals scored by Hans Vanaken
No.DateVenueOpponentScoreResultCompetitionRef.
130 March 2021Den Dreef, Leuven, BelgiumBelarus2–08–02022 FIFA World Cup qualification
28–0
32 September 2021A. Le Coq Arena, Tallinn, EstoniaEstonia1–15–22022 FIFA World Cup qualification
426 March 2022Aviva Stadium, Dublin, IrelandRepublic of Ireland2–12–2Friendly
529 March 2022Constant Vanden Stock Stadium, Anderlecht, BelgiumBurkina Faso1–03–0Friendly
615 November 2025Astana Arena, Astana, KazakhstanKazakhstan1–11–12026 FIFA World Cup qualification
718 November 2025Stade Maurice Dufrasne, Liège, BelgiumLiechtenstein1–07–02026 FIFA World Cup qualification

Honours

Lokeren

Club Brugge

Individual

External links