On Wednesday in Stuttgart, Youri Tielemans will celebrate his 70th milestone. He will join Lorenzo Staelens and Marc Wilmots, the coach who launched him into the national team, in 23rd place in the history of the Devils. With, for example, thirteen months ahead of the passage time of Jan Vertonghen, the record holder with his 155 caps. When the Aston Villa midfielder made his debut with the selection in June 2015, his Euro teammate Arthur Vermeeren had just turned ten.

At 27 years old, he is an absolute executive who has spanned the ages without ever displeasing. Wilmots made him his debut at eighteen, Roberto Martinez made him his favorite and Domenico Tedesco understood his importance after first exploring other options. But all this does not prevent Tielemans from being the most discreet Devil off the field. Even though Belgium almost saw him born in Anderlecht when he was in fifth grade, we don’t know much about him.

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This Euro 2024, geographically close to Belgium, made it possible to see families up close. From the hugs of Kevin De Bruyne to his children in the stands to the kisses of the wives during the “family days” organized by Tedesco the day after each match. But nothing about the Tielemans. “Thursday after the match against Ukraine, I was invited to the hotel by Youri to greet him with his wife, his three daughters and his dad,” explains Bob Claes, his agent. But there will be no reunion photos. Yuri wants to preserve his privacy. He says his children will make their choice later but they prefer to protect them in the meantime.”

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When I told him he should be on social media, he said OK but nothing about family.

Too bad if the media coverage of family life has softened the image of some Devils, Tielemans does not deviate from his principles. “He must be the Belgian player at the Euro who is the least present on social networks,” laughs Jean-François Lenvain, who knew him at Anderlecht from the age of ten as an accompanist. He doesn’t need that because he doesn’t like the spotlight.”

Present on Facebook and Instagram (1.55 million cumulative followers), Tielemans would even have preferred not to exist on social media. “I don’t like it either but I explained to him that it was an important link for the supporters who appreciate it,” continues Claes. He understood and his accounts are topped up regularly. But with one condition: only football, nothing about his family. Even for the birth of his children, there was no post.”

Tielemans does not seek to put himself forward personally either. Even if the arrival of Les Diables in Tubize resembles fashion week, he does not participate in the parade. “He doesn’t care about his clothing style,” laughs Claes. He is in life as he is on the field: he does not try to please, he just thinks about the collective. Before the Euro, I gave him the book ‘Atomic habits’ by James Clear. Many would have put this on Instagram showing him delving into a book. Not Yuri. He just asked me to bring him another book on Thursday because he was already finished.”

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His wife Mendy told me that he watched Anderlecht matches on crutches and in sweat-soaked pajamas.

To understand why Tielemans goes against the grain, you have to get to know the man. Or even the little boy he was among the young people of Anderlecht. “While working at Sporting, I saw a lot of great talent,” remembers Lenvain. When asked what their life goal was, many said they wanted to become a star. Youri just wanted to be a great footballer. This may seem trivial but it makes a big difference. For Youri, football is not a social tool but a passion. He loves the game in a pure way.”

Youri Tielemans and his wife Mendy in 2017 during the Pro Footballer gala. ©Photo News

The Anderlecht trainers still remember it. When he was outclassed in the U16s, he asked to go out if the score was a given. He then sprinted like a child to join the U15s on another pitch in Neerpede and help them win. “He kept this passion when he moved to the pros, even if the environment resembles a jungle,” continues Lenvain. I had a good laugh with his wife Mendy a few years ago when we were almost neighbors in Ganshoren. Youri was still at Anderlecht but he injured his ankle in the middle of the playoffs. With his cast, he had to stay at home. She told me how he experienced the matches, with his crutches standing in front of the TV. Unable to stay still. He had to put his pajamas in the laundry afterwards because he had sweated so much. He is a lover of his sport.”

The difficult divorce of his parents also conditioned him

Mendy, the first name is launched. The first of four women in his life, before the arrival of their three daughters. He met the woman who would become his wife in 2017 about ten years ago. They were both still teenagers. “She is very important in his life. They started a family, explains Claes. For Youri, there is something more important in the world than football. This may seem logical but in high-level sport, it is not always so, believe me. Mendy is Youri’s pillar. She supports him and gives him strength.”

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Don’t look for an interview with Mendy Tielemans, there isn’t one. And theoretically there never will be. There is a refusal of media coverage, even at a time when we know many Devils’ wives. “Youri is like Eden Hazard and Remco Evenepoel, he met his future wife very young and she was a great support,” compares Lenvain. We never see Eden’s wife either. It’s an accepted choice.”

A choice that also finds its source in trauma. The subject is delicate for the Devil who suffered the full force of his parents’ complicated divorce after the explosion of his professional career. A divorce that still has consequences several years later. His relationship with his mother is non-existent today. Which has reinforced his desire to protect his family. To spare them a light that can burn. His 70th cap on Wednesday against Ukraine, he will celebrate it on the field with his teammates. Then with his family. Without ever mixing the two worlds.

2024-06-26 10:37:00
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