Zeno Debast #2

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One of the many excellent products of Anderlecht’s academy, Debast had been hoping to become the next Kevin De Bruyne, playing as an attacking midfielder until he was 15. But then, partly due to his growth spurt, he was moved back, and excelled in his new role. He says he learned a lot from the current Wales manager Craig Bellamy, who was then coach of Anderlecht’s Under-21s: “Before I worked with him, I had never tackled a player in my life”, he said. “He also taught me to be meaner.” Now, with his great long-range passes and growing physical power, he is the leader of Belgium’s back line. That’s despite facing big competition for places at club level, with Sporting sometimes deploying him as a holding midfielder instead. Everyone in Belgium has the feeling he has a big career ahead of him. He’s known by his nickname, Scampi, which was given to him as a child by his mother. It fell out of use until a teammate, Benito Raman, discovered it on Facebook and eagerly brought it back into circulation.

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