Kevin De Bruyne has been one of the star players at Manchester City since joining the team in 2015. He’s one of the most feared midfielders in the beautiful game and has won a few shelves’ worth of medals with Pep Guardiola’s all-star squad. Here’s some amazing facts about this international icon, from his start in Belgium to becoming one of the world’s most respected players.

1. He was born in Belgium!

He was born on June 28, 1991, in Drongen, Belgium. That’s part of Ghent, if you’re ever in the area.

2. He started his professional career at Genk!

In 2008, Kevin began his professional career with Genk in Belgium before moving over to the Bundesliga. While he was at Genk, he played an important role in their 2010-2011 Belgian Pro League-winning campaign!

3. He joined Chelsea in 2012!

De Bruyne signed with the Blues in 2012 but struggled to secure a regular spot in the starting line-up. We bet they wish they had in him the squad now!

4. He also played in the Bundesliga!

Kevin spent the 2012-2013 season on loan at Werder Bremen in Germany, where he gained valuable experience and showcased his potential.

5. He speaks several languages!

Apart from Dutch, Kevin also speaks three other languages: French, English, and German. Pretty handy when you play in a international team like Manchester City.

6. He became a feared opponent in the Bundesliga!

After his successful loan spell, De Bruyne moved to VfL Wolfsburg in 2014, where he truly flourished as a player. His performances with Wolfsburg earned him the Bundesliga Player of the Season award for the 2014-2015 season.

7. Manchester City knew a legend when they saw him!

In 2015, Manchester City secured his services, making him one of the most expensive transfers in English football at the time. Since then, he’s been a key figure for the Cityzens, and helped the team win the Premier League and many other trophies.

8. He’s one of the world’s best midfielders – fact!

Known for his exceptional vision, passing accuracy, and playmaking abilities, De Bruyne is often regarded as one of the best midfielders in the world. He’s also regularly ranked among the top assist providers in the Premier League, earning the nickname ‘Assist King’. He regularly appears in ‘World’s Best Football Players’ list.

9. He’s Belgium’s best player, obviously.

De Bruyne represents the Belgium national team and has been a key player in their midfield, participating in major tournaments like the FIFA World Cup and UEFA European Championship.

10. He’s an author!

His book, Keep It Simple, was co-written with Raoul De Groote was published in 2014. It’s the story of his rise to fame in the beautiful fame! The title is his motto for life.

11. He’s 181 Beanos tall!

Kevin measures at 1.81m in his socks – that’s 5′ 9″ – which makes him 3.5 year’s worth of Beanos tall!

12. He’s played in three World Cup tournaments!

De Bruyne has represented his home country three times. His first World Cup was at the 2014 FIFA World Cup in Brazil, where they topped Group H. They were knocked out in the quarter finals by Argentina. The next was at the 2014 FIFA World Cup in Russia, where they placed third! His most recent World Cup appearance was at the 2022 FIFA World Cup in Qatar, where the team fared less well, where they failed to progress from Group F.

13. He could have played for an African national team!

Because Kevin’s mother was born in the East African country of Burundi, that would have technically meant he was available for selection by their national team. The country has two capital cities – Gitega and Bujumbura – and has three official languages: Kirundi, French and English.

14. He’s an ornithologist!

That’s right, one of the world’s most-feared midfielders is a birdwatcher! He is also an ambassador for the Weltvogelpark bird sanctuary in Walsrode, Germany. When he was awarded the role in 2014, he said: ““I hope I can help the plight of endangered species of birds and bring more attention through my sponsorship.”

15. He’s a fan of Home Alone!

While we’re unsure whether Kevin was named after Kevin McAllister from the classic Christmas movie Home Alone – he was born a year after the film was released – he has recreated several classic scenes for a Manchester City video!