7 Interesting Facts About Kevin De Bruyne.
- Think Football Ideas
- Nov 9, 2022
- 5 min read
Updated: 21 hours ago
Full Name: Kevin De Bruyne
Date of Birth: 28 June 1991
Place of Birth: Drongen, Belgium
Height: 1.81 m (5 ft 11 in)
Position: Midfielder
Current Team: Napoli FC
7 Interesting Kevin De Bruyne Facts Every Football Fan Should Know
Unquestionably, Kevin De Bruyne, born on the 28th of June 1991 to parents Herwig and Anna De Bruyne, is considered one of the greatest attacking midfielders in world football.
Since arriving at Manchester City in the summer of 2015 for a then-£55 million club record fee, the Belgian has become a vital component of Pep Guardiola's title-winning sides and established himself as one of the greatest midfielders in Premier League history.
De Bruyne possesses a vast skill set - including long-range shooting, crossing, and accurate passing. But when it comes to possessing an immense vision to find his teammates, he has taken the 'art of assisting' to a new level.
But beyond the assists, trophies, and spectacular passing range, there are still plenty of interesting things many fans may not know about the Belgian playmaker
Here are 7 Interesting Kevin De Bruyne Facts Every Football Fan Should Know
1. He Could Have Played For Burundi
Kevin De Bruyne was born in Drongen, a district of Ghent in Belgium, just like his father Erwig De Bruyne. His mother, Anna De Bruyne, hails from the small East African country of Burundi.
This technically made him eligible to feature for the little-known region's national team. However, he eventually chose to play for Belgium, joining a cadre of generational talents, including Eden Hazard, Romelu Lukaku, and Vincent Kompany.
De Bruyne has represented 'The Red Devils' at every level, from the under-16s to the under-19s, making a total of 19 appearances and scoring twice before making his debut for the senior squad in 2010.
2. He is A Liverpool Fan
It's mainly thanks to his Grandfather's love of Liverpool that De Bruyne would grow up supporting the Merseyside club. The young Belgian was also in awe of a certain legendary Anfield striker.
"My favourite club is Liverpool," an eleven-year-old De Bruyne revealed in an interview as a Genk academy player. "And my favourite player is Michael Owen. I would love to play there one day." UK newspaper The Guardian later claimed that De Bruyne "slept in Liverpool bed linen, wore their tracksuit and described Owen's replica shirt as the 'pride of his collection.'"
3. He Nearly Joined Jurgen Klopp’s Borussia Dortmund
De Bruyne moved to Chelsea in 2012 but was immediately loaned back to his former club Genk and then sent out on a successful loan spell to Werder Bremen for the 2012/13 season.
At the end of that campaign, an opportunity arose to join Jürgen Klopp and his emerging Borussia Dortmund side. The German club's creative playmaker, Mario Gotze, had departed for Bayern Munich, and a replacement was needed.
De Bruyne was rumoured to be their first choice, and having even agreed personal terms with Dortmund, he looked ready to leave Stamford Bridge. That was until Chelsea manager Jose Mourinho intervened to block the move.
"He convinced me to stay," De Bruyne wrote in his autobiography, Keep It Simple. "I have to admit I barely challenged him." De Bruyne would stay in London, but a lacklustre debut season saw him appear only three times without scoring a single goal.
4. He Likes Birdwatching!
Kevin De Bruyne breaks many of the stereotypes you might expect of a 21st-century professional footballer. Rather than indulging in a celebrity lifestyle like many other Premier League stars, the Belgian spends much of his free time walking in the countryside and observing wildlife!
More specifically, De Bruyne has a passion for birdwatching and is an avid conservationist and an ambassador to the world's largest bird sanctuary in Walsrode, Germany. "I hope I can help the plight of endangered species of birds," De Bruyne explained back in 2014. "And that I can bring more attention through my sponsorship."
5. He Has His Own Book and Clothing Brand
De Bruyne has a biography, written in 2014 called "Keep It Simple," which he contributed to the writing of. The book provides a detailed account of his professional and personal life, with one highlight explaining how he became an Ambassador for the Special Olympics.
The Belgian also owns a clothing range called KDB and is somewhat of a fashion icon on Social media.
6. Kevin De Bruyne Has Just One Nickname
Footballers are usually given a variety of nicknames throughout their careers, and yet De Bruyne has just one. Amongst close friends, the Belgian's nickname is 'Tumble Dryer' due to his very dry manner when chatting via WhatsApp messages. "I get called Tumble Dryer," De Bruyne reveals. "Because whenever people text…I always reply with like two words."
7. His Assist Stats Are Even Better Than You Think
Kevin De Bruyne's prowess as an assist provider is nothing short of remarkable. By the time he left Manchester City, he sat second in Premier League history with an impressive 119 assists in 288 appearances.
Only surpassed by the legendary Ryan Giggs, who leads with 162 assists, De Bruyne's standing in the Premier League's all-time assist rankings is a testament to his exceptional playmaking abilities.
The Belgian also holds one of the best minutes-per-assist ratios in Premier League history, providing a goal every 180 minutes. Even with impressive records of their own, Arsenal legends Dennis Bergkamp (236 minutes) and Cesc Fàbregas (238 minutes) trail slightly behind him.
Moreover, De Bruyne has achieved over 10 assists in six separate Premier League seasons, tying with Cesc Fabregas for the most occurrences.
Additionally, he has equalled the record number of assists for a single season, racking up 20 assists during Man City's 2019/20 campaign, a feat matched only by Thierry Henry in 2002/03.
He also has the joint-most Premier League Player of the Season awards with two - in 2019-20 and 2021-22, alongside Thierry Henry, Cristiano Ronaldo and Nemanja Vidic.
Bonus - He Speaks Multiple Languages
Kevin De Bruyne's linguistic prowess extends beyond the pitch, as he is fluent in multiple languages. As a native Dutch speaker, he effortlessly communicates in English, French, and German. In his ongoing quest for linguistic mastery, De Bruyne has also developed some proficiency in Spanish.
His multilingual abilities enhance his interactions with teammates, coaches, and fans from diverse backgrounds. This showcases a broader cultural appreciation and underscores the global and interconnected nature of the sport in which he excels.
Kevin De Bruyne Major Honours
Genk
Belgian Pro League: 2010–11
Belgian Cup: 2008–09
Belgian Super Cup: 2011
VfL Wolfsburg
DFB-Pokal: 2014–15
DFL-Supercup: 2015
Manchester City
Premier League: 2017–18, 2018–19, 2020–21, 2021–22, 2022–23, 2023-24
FA Cup: 2018–19, 2022–23
Football League/EFL Cup: 2015–16, 2017–18, 2018–19, 2019–20, 2020–21
FA Community Shield: 2019
UEFA Champions League: 2022–23
Super Cup: 2023
FIFA Club World Cup: 2023
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