Youri Tielemans' former coach at Anderlecht's academy has revealed how the midfielder was once used as a 'secret weapon' in youth games, long before his £35million move to Manchester United this summer.
From Secret Weapon to First Team
Gunter Van Handenhoven, who coached Tielemans for five years at Anderlecht, recalled how the young player would be called over from the Under-15s to play for the Under-16s if they were losing. "The opposition's parents would say 'oh f***, it's Youri Tielemans' when he came over," Van Handenhoven said, adding that Tielemans would "make the difference" and was their "secret weapon."
Tielemans' talent quickly became known across Europe after his first-team debut just before his 16th birthday. He won the FA Cup with Leicester, the Europa League with Aston Villa, and was appointed Belgium's national team captain last year. He described his transfer to United as the "culmination of years of dedication."
Natural Talent and Hard Work
Van Handenhoven, now assistant manager of KV Mechelen, praised Tielemans' natural passing ability. "His passing was always a strength because he's one of the few midfielders who are always looking for a forward solution," he said. "He could see the spaces, make switches of play to change sides, and had the ability to execute those passes. This is what makes him special."
Tielemans' game has evolved over the years, according to Van Handenhoven. "He's not the guy who's just asking the ball, no, no, he's running a lot, covering a lot of distance, and you see his game has changed," he said.
Early Records and Character
Tielemans broke records at Anderlecht, becoming Belgium's fourth-youngest top-flight debutant aged 15 and the youngest Belgian to play in the Champions League. Van Handenhoven noted that Tielemans' physical maturity was aided by judo, which he practiced to an orange belt level. His parents were "brilliant," never pushing him to play in higher age groups, trusting the club with his development.
Van Handenhoven also shared a story about Tielemans' short-lived rebellious streak as a teenager, when he failed to bring in homework. After his father threatened no football at the weekend, "everything changed." He described Tielemans as having a "Colgate smile" but with a strong character. "That's why wherever he played, he became captain," he said.
Memorable Goals and Career Path
One of Tielemans' most memorable moments came when he scored two world-class goals in 129 seconds as a substitute against Oostende. Van Handenhoven recalled the coach's instruction: "get me Youri," leading to goals from outside the box with both feet.
Despite interest from Barcelona and Real Madrid, Tielemans moved to Monaco for €25m (£21.6m). After a challenging period there, he was loaned to Leicester City in January 2019. Van Handenhoven believes this was the right path: "He is now where he should be. With all due respect to Aston Villa, Leicester City, and Monaco, I think it was the best path to travel for him to arrive at Man United now at this level and age."
A Role Model for Young Players
Van Handenhoven still uses Tielemans as an example in his coaching. "The young players see the end product," he said. "They see Youri playing at the World Cup wearing the armband, they see him make 70-metre passes, breaking the lines, but it's not something that falls out of the sky."
He added: "I think a lot of people who worked with him in Anderlecht are very proud because of the way he composes himself towards the outside world, he's an example and a role model. Everything everybody said about him came true. We are very proud of what he's doing."
