Dedryck Boyata has decided to call time on his playing career, closing a chapter that began more than a decade and a half ago.
The 34-year-old defender leaves behind spells in England, Scotland, Germany and Belgium, and will now take his first steps into coaching with the Belgium Under-21 squad alongside Gill Swerts. [RTL]
The Brussels-born centre-half first broke through at Manchester City, making his senior debut in an FA Cup clash with Middlesbrough in 2010. During his time at the Etihad, he featured in 35 matches under Roberto Mancini and Manuel Pellegrini, also spending loan stints at Bolton Wanderers and Dutch club FC Twente to gain more first-team experience.
Celtic brought Boyata to Glasgow in 2015, with Ronny Deila the man who signed him. His early period at Parkhead had ups and downs, but when Brendan Rodgers took over a year later, Boyata’s influence grew.
Known for his strength in the air, he chipped in with 15 goals from 135 appearances, many from set plays. His time in green and white brought plenty of success, winning four league titles, two Scottish Cups and two League Cups. His last season in Glasgow was marked by a well-publicised fall-out with Rodgers before patching things up on the pitch.
In 2019, Boyata moved to the Bundesliga with Hertha BSC, becoming a regular in Germany’s top flight for three seasons. He returned to his homeland with Club Brugge in 2022, but after leaving the club by mutual consent in January this year, a new playing opportunity did not come. That led to his decision to hang up the boots.
On the international scene, Boyata represented Belgium 31 times over a 12-year span. He was part of the Red Devils squad at the 2018 World Cup in Russia, starting matches and helping his country secure a third-place finish, which remains their best ever at the tournament.
While his playing days are over, Boyata’s next chapter is already underway. His role with Belgium’s Under-21s will give him a chance to pass on his experience from domestic and international football as he looks to build a career in management.
