"Comparison with Ceulemans is an honour"

THURSDAY, 2 APRIL 2026, 14:42 - lajoya
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INTERVIEWS The young Anderlecht talent Nathan De Cat is regularly compared by analysts and supporters to a young Jan Ceulemans. It is especially his body language, style of play and physical presence that evoke the former Red Devil. Analyst Franky Van der Elst recently remarked that De Cat strongly reminds him of Ceulemans, although the latter used to play a little higher up the pitch. The Champions' Play-offs kick off on Monday with a big clash between Club Brugge and Anderlecht, and in the build-up to that match the striking comparison provoked plenty of debate.


The comparison divides opinion. Some find it apt, others disagree and point to clear differences between the two players. Still, there are obvious similarities: their build, playing style and even small details such as pulled-down socks attract attention. Notably, De Cat himself is hardly familiar with Belgian football history. “I've heard his name, but I haven't seen any footage,” the young midfielder admitted. Jan Ceulemans reacted positively to the comparison. He called it an honour and stressed that De Cat is currently one of the most talked-about young Belgian players.


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At the same time he added a caveat: he has seen De Cat play only briefly and therefore finds it hard to pass full judgement. Both players share several traits: they are tall, strongly built and have a distinctive running style that can look a bit heavy at times but proves technically strong. Their career starts also show parallels: both made their club debuts at a young age. There are, however, differences. Ceulemans was known for his scoring ability, while De Cat operates more as a midfielder. And it seems likely that De Cat will move abroad at some point in his career — something Ceulemans never did.

How justified the comparison is will become clearer as De Cat plays more matches. On Monday he will get another chance to prove himself against Club Brugge.

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