Mignolet Golden Boot strengthens Bart Verhaeghe and Club Brugge as a whole: “Recognition for his entire career”

After Joske, Ruud and Hans (2x), De Gouden Schoen is moving to Club Brugge again. Just like Izquierdo, Vormer and Vanaken, Simon Mignolet is a showcase for the resurgence of blue and black, which today under the rule of chairman Bart Verhaeghe at Belfius Base Camp is honoring a Golden Shoe award winner for the fifth time. The circumstances under which this happens are different this time. A glass of champagne for the occasion but few other bells or whistles. Verhaeghe also celebrated his goalkeeper trophy. Despite the club’s seven consecutive no-wins, the President was just as happy as the other recent winners: “As President I am very grateful – it’s a great honor to be able to do that again. It’s another player of ours – I’m proud of that. After those five titles, we now have five Golden Shoes. This is proof that we are doing a good job. For Simon, this is a culmination of the past year, but also of his entire career. After his time in Liverpool, he eventually returned to Belgium. In this respect, he is now being rewarded for it.”

Mignolet is much more than a goalkeeper for the club. Since his arrival he has been the undisputed leader on and off the pitch – especially since Ruud Vormer has ended up at the bottom. The Red Devil is also, in a sense, an extension of the technical staff and even the board. Club can’t think of a better ambassador. “Worth every penny,” agrees Verhaeghe: “That’s right, you can talk to Simon about anything. He has a good life, a wonderful wife and a stable family. His view of society is very good. Simon can classify everything well. He does this with a sober view of ups and downs. That makes him very valuable. We’re a hard work club and bluvn goan. Simon Mignolet radiates that enormously.”

As well as an award, the new Golden Boot is also a welcome distraction for Club Brugge. Blauw-Zwart has been in crisis since the Christmas season – after the resignation of Carl Hoefkens, it has not yet been his turn under Scott Parker. “I see that separately,” Mignolet rightly remarked in an interview with our newspaper earlier this week. “On Thursday, the focus immediately goes back to 2023.” Who knows, his victory will soon reignite the fire for the blue-blacks, who were properly represented yesterday by Casper Nielsen, Denis Odoi, Brandon Mechele and Mats Rits, among others . It remains to be seen to what extent Mignolet’s individual trophy can strengthen the national champions: “Simon winning this award will undoubtedly give him even more confidence as the leader of our team. He proves once again that you have to perform collectively before someone can win an individual award. In this respect, he is a role model for our entire group of players. I am convinced that we will see a better club in the coming weeks. Look, the conversations we’re having at all levels are quiet. We are all very calm about this situation.”