Leandro Trossard
Country: Belgium
Age: 31
Club: Besiktas
League: Turkish Super League
Position: Left Winger
Club History: KRC Genk, Lommel United (loan),KVC Westerlo (loan), OH Leuven (loan), Brighton, Arsenal, Besiktas
Major Honours: 1 X Premier League (Arsenal FC), 1 X Belgian Pro League (KRC Genk) 1 X Belgian Cup (KRC Genk)
"There are players who play for 90 minutes and change nothing, and there are players who need just 5 minutes to make history. Trossard belongs to that second category—a true footballing joker."
— Ian Wright
Owen Humphreys | Alamy
A Master Born in the Shadows: The Magical Chronicles of Leandro Trossard
In modern football, where the spotlight is primarily on multi-million-euro transfers and media stars, there are players who step onto the pitch quietly, almost unnoticed—yet decide the fate of a match with a single touch. Leandro Trossard is one such player, A footballer whose career spanning from the misty pitches of a small Belgian town to the pinnacle of the Premier League is filled with dramatic, untold stories and underappreciated talent.
Trossard’s path to top-level football was not easy. While his talent was well-known at the Genk academy, coaches often harbored doubts about his physique and whether he could withstand the aggressive pace of senior football. Instead of handing him a spot in the first team, Genk loaned him out to clubs in lower divisions—such as “Lommel” and “Westerlo”
During one of his loan spells, while playing for Lommel, the team bus was traveling to an away game. After losing a bet to a teammate, the young Leandro spent the entire journey nearly two hours sitting on the floor by the bus exit so as not to take a seat away from the senior players. This small episode perfectly illustrates his character: boundless humility and a readiness to overcome any hardship to achieve success.
"The hardest thing in football is maintaining your composure when everyone around you doubts your abilities. Trossard has proven that character gives a player just as much strength as talent."
— Kevin De Bruyne
Upon returning from his loan spells, Trossard was a completely different player. physically stronger, tactically versatile, and incredibly composed. The 2018–19 season proved historic for Genk: the team won the Belgian championship, while Trossard serving as captain and the side's creative engine—announced himself to the world as the Player of the Season.
Before the decisive championship match, Trossard showed his teammates in the dressing room not a tactics board, but a small notebook in which he had written by hand at the age of 16: "I will become the captain of Genk and win the title." He fulfilled that promise.
Genk’s Triumph: The Championship That Introduced the Club to Europe
Moving to the Premier League in 2019 proved difficult for many Belgians, but not for Trossard. At Brighton, under Graham Potter, he developed the qualities of a tactical chameleon—playing on the left flank, as a central striker, and as a "false nine."
One of the most impressive chapters of his career is the hat-trick he scored at Anfield against Liverpool who would go on to reach the Champions League final—in a match that ended 3–3. Trossard became only the third visiting player in Premier League history to score three goals at Anfield. After the match, instead of taking the match ball home, he gave it to Brighton’s kit manager as a token of gratitude for always preparing his boots to perfection.
"Scoring a hat-trick at Anfield isn't just about skill; it’s about top-level footballing intelligence and courage. Leandro gave a footballing masterclass that night."
— Alan Shearer
"Arsenal" and the "Joker" Phenomenon: The Player Who Changes the Fate of the Game
Many viewed the move to Arsenal in January 2023 as a risk, yet Mikel Arteta knew exactly who he was bringing in. Trossard integrated seamlessly into the London side and became a key weapon for the club during the most critical moments. Whether coming off the bench or starting the match, he consistently leaves his mark on the outcome.
His trademark celebration—making a "binoculars" gesture around his eyes went viral during his time at Arsenal. Few people know that he dedicated this gesture to his son, Liam, who loves playing with binoculars at home and asked his father:
"Every time you score a goal, show me that you can see me too."
"Trossard is a player whose pulse never races. When he receives the ball in the box, time seems to stand still for him. Such composure is a rare gift."
— Martin Ødegaard
When Arsenal missed out on signing Mykhailo Mudryk in January 2023, many fans viewed the acquisition of Trossard as "Plan B." However, few are aware of what transpired just 24 hours before the transfer was officially announced. Mikel Arteta personally called Leandro and told him: "I don't need a player who is just coming in for rotation. I need someone who, in the fight for the title, can decide the fate of matches with a cool head." Trossard packed his bags that very evening.
Upon arriving in London, the Belgian established a peculiar yet strict ritual in the dressing room. Before every match, as the team prepared to take the field, Trossard would sit in the corner, put on his headphones, and listen to classical music. When Bukayo Saka asked him why he did this, Leandro replied: "There is chaos in the stadium, but I need complete calm in my mind so that I can make the right decision when I receive the ball."
Behind the Scenes: "Arteta's Secret Call" and the Dressing Room Ritual
Few players in Arsenal's modern history have fundamentally changed the perception of the substitute's role. For years, a myth persisted in the Premier League that a player coming off the bench needed at least 10–15 minutes to get into the rhythm of the game. Trossard simply shattered that theory.
Analysts from the London club noted that Leandro possessed a unique trait: while sitting on the bench, he did not watch the game merely as a spectator—he observed the opposing defenders' level of fatigue and the length of their stride. From the very first second he stepped onto the pitch, he knew exactly which defender had lost their balance and in which direction he should take the ball.
During a training session, when young players were expressing dissatisfaction about not playing in the starting lineup, Arteta pointed to Trossard: "Look at Leo. He can sit on the bench for 80 minutes, come on, and win the game in the 81st minute. Until you have that kind of mentality, don't come to me with complaints."
"There are players who play for 90 minutes and change nothing, and there are players who need just 5 minutes to make history. Trossard belongs to that second category—a true footballing joker."
— Ian Wright
If you ask Arsenal fans about Trossard’s most memorable moment, many will recall that dramatic match where his brilliance was on full display. In a tense encounter against „West Ham“—at a time when the team desperately needed a breakthrough, Leandro used remarkable individual skill to weave through a crowd of defenders and fire the ball into the net with pinpoint accuracy.
It wasn’t just a goal—it was a moment that made the stadium erupt. It proved that whenever the Gunners’ game stalled, Trossard was the "magic wand" Arteta turned to.
On top of that, there was the goal against Porto in the Champions League tie without his cool-headed finish, the team wouldn't even have reached the penalty shootout—as well as crucial away goals at Goodison Park and Old Trafford.
"When you see a player who can handle the ball with equal skill on both feet and make decisions in a split second, you realize you are witnessing a true artist."
— Thierry Henry
When news of his transfer broke, it came as a real shock to Arsenal fans. Although he had joined the team relatively late, the fans saw in him a player who never complained about sitting on the bench; instead, he would step onto the pitch and always give his all.
"Football history is written not only by those who win Ballon d'Or’s, but also by players like Trossard—unsung heroes without whom no great victory would be possible."
— Paul Scholes
"Some players disappear in big games, but Trossard comes alive just when the pressure is at its peak. He was the most underrated forward in the Premier League."
— Jamie Carragher
He proved that superstardom is not defined by transfer fees, the number of social media followers, or media attention. Superstardom is the ability to be the most reliable pillar when the fate of the entire team hangs in the balance.
Leandro Trossard is now officially a Beşiktaş player. A proven Premier League performer with composure, intelligence, and an eye for goal, the Belgian arrives in Istanbul ready for a new chapter. Beşiktaş have added experience, quality, and a player capable of making the difference when it matters most.
When he arrived at Besiktas with his family he was greeted as a hero, and the football world is watching on ready for more masterclasses from ‘Mr. Clutch’.
"Trossard doesn't play football with muscle or speed—he plays with his brain. When a player has such a high football IQ, it doesn't matter whether you give him 90 minutes or 9."
— Arsène Wenger
"With Leandro's departure, Arsenal lost not only an excellent player but also the soul of the team. You cannot replace such players with money—you earn them through love and respect."
— Ian Wright
Sports press photo / Alamy Images
Written by Nini Giorgadze