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“Give me a ball and I will be playing here for 5 hours.” said a 16 year old Belgian school boy, touring Stamford Bridge on a school field trip from the Saint-Guidon Institute. “What a stadium. The day I play here in this stadium, that will be the single time in my life that you will see me cry. I’m going to succeed.”
If the movie “Goal: The Dream Begins” would have been based on anyone else but a fictitious Santiago Munez, Romelu Lukaku would have been the ideal lad for it. No last minute goals to snatch a European slot from one of the top sides around, no direct free kick at the end of normal time on the final day of the season, but Lukaku’s story is pretty much what dreams are made up of. Just 2 years after the aforementioned incident, Lukaku found himself on the touchline at Stamford Bridge again, just this time, living his dream. Although now learning the tricks of the trade at West Brom, Lukaku believes that the dedication and unwavering passion that bought him from Andelecht to Stamford Bridge will one day make him a legend just like the man he idolizes and is so often compared to, Didier Drogba.
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Romelu Lukaku’s love for football began in his early years, a lethal combination of inspiration and aspiration. Roger Lukaku, his father, was a professional footballer and had played internationally for Zaire. Romelu joined his local club Rupel Boom at the age of just five, until being scouted by Belgian Pro League team SK Lierse in 2003. It would be a massive understatement to say that Lukaku had just a regular eye for goal, as he scored 121 times in 68 appearances. Anderlecht then swooped for his services, and Lukaku did not disappoint, scoring 131 times in 93 games for the youth team. After being eligible for a professional contract at the age of 16, Lukaku put pen to paper for a 3 year deal. It was here that his performances turned heads not just in Belgium, but also in international circuits. He made his international debut at an astounding young age of just 17, in February 2010. Just a few months later, he bagged his first two international goals in a friendly against Russia in November, again at the age of only 17.
Then in the summer of 2011, and as soon as he became eligible to sign a professional contract in England, Chelsea snapped him up for 18 million GBP and Lukaku’s dream was well and truly underway. Lukaku made his debut in the 83rd minute against Norwich City, spurring a couple of chances after impressive running down the right flank, before Chelsea’s other debutant Juan Mata scored in the 91st minute to make it 3-1 to the Blues. Lukaku then featured mostly for the reserves, enduring a rather frustrating start to life at the Bridge. At the end of the season, even as Chelsea lifted the UEFA Champions League, Lukaku refused to touch it, saying he did not do enough to feel like a winner. He did have his high points though too, as he shared the dressing room with his idol, Didier Drogba. But that got even more special when Drogba returned to Stamford Bridge from Shanghai Shenhua for a pre season game, and wore number 18 to show his faith in Romelu’s abilities. Lukaku finished the season on a high, assisting John Terry with a beautiful cross, where he also bagged the Man of the Match award.
Early this season, Lukaku was sent to fellow Premier League side West Bromwich Albion, to gain experience under one of Chelsea’s former coaches, Steve Clarke. Lukaku’s impact was instantaneous, as he scored after just a week after his move away from the Blues. He also scored the only goal of the game on his full debut against Reading, putting in impressive performances alongside a hard working strike force comprising of the tireless Shane Long and Peter Odemwingie. The qualities which made Lukaku a devastating prospect were often in display at the Hawthornes, as he notched 14 goals and 4 assists in his 34 appearances (14 of which came from the bench.) His physical and mental attributes were best summed by a special piece of play against Sunderland, where he collected the ball in his own half and ran with diabolical pace, beating two Sunderland challenges before reaching the Black Cat’s goal. Mignolet rushed out, but his kick only succeeded in hitting Lukaku, from where it rebounded into the net.
Romelu turned 20 yesterday, but as is evident from his staggering potential, is one to watch for the future. Although comparisons with Didier Drogba may be premature and harsh, early signs do suggest that with proper guidance and experience, Lukaku could touch the heights of his idol and become a legend at Stamford Bridge. And with the Belgium squad producing some of the hottest talents around, namely Eden Hazard, Thibaut Courtois, Jan Vertonghen, Marouane Fellaini, Vincent Kompany and Christian Benteke, Lukaku could well be, a part of something even bigger. Happy belated Birthday, Romelu Lukaku.
