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Copy linkFacebookXPinterestEmailShare this article 0Join the conversationFollow usAdd us as a preferred source on GoogleNewsletterSubscribe to our newsletterJeremy Doku step up from being a promising youngster at Anderlecht to a key player for both Manchester City and Belgium has been largely built on the strongest part of his game: his ability to beat defenders with the ball at his feet.Right from his days playing on the streets of Antwerp, it quickly became clear that the winger had a dribbling style that set him apart from his contemporaries.Doku himself believes that this natural gift has been shaped by family influences and his idols within the game.Doku on his childhood dribbling abilityIts a gift, I didnt train it, the Manchester City winger admits to FourFourTwo. I realised that football was the purpose that the Lord has put on my life. Its a talent that has been given to me.Sometimes, when he was growing up, that talent manifested itself in humorous ways. At a young age, I liked to dribble, and I got a lot of criticism from other parents because I didnt pass the ball to their children! he smiles. You may like When I look at Raheem Sterling, the amount of tap-ins he scored, just because he was in that position, thats something I really look up to How Jeremy Doku has been inspired by the former England man That game changed my life. After, people would come up to me on the street, they recognised me and I became more popular Jeremy Doku on his first tournament experience with Belgium I dont remember Pep Guardiola telling me before a game, Jeremy, when you have the ball, do this and do that. He has given me a lot of freedom Jeremy Doku on the advice his former Manchester City boss handed him That was sometimes frustrating for my parents as well, on the side watching the game, because the other parents were always complaining. But then they saw that I was helping the team, that I was just using the talent thats been given to me, and that it was working out.Doku is the biggest star of Belgiums next generation and continues to play with the same passion and joy that hes had since childhood.Get FourFourTwo NewsletterThe best features, fun and footballing quizzes, straight to your inbox every week.Contact me with news and offers from other Future brandsReceive email from us on behalf of our trusted partners or sponsorsBy submitting your information you agree to the Terms & Conditions and Privacy Policy and are aged 16 or over.I used to play a lot on the street with my brother I played futsal too, and it all contributed to who you see now, he explains. Now I try to reproduce that on the pitch. With my soul.Doku is of Ghanaian descent, and it was during a family trip to the West African country that his love for football began. I think I was five years old, we were in Ghana and my brother was playing with some people, he explains.I wanted to play, but they said that I was too young and Id hurt myself, so I was crying and angry. But my dad told me, Dont worry, when were back in Belgium, Ill put you in a team.The neighbourhood I grew up in was a bit rough he didnt want me to go onto the streets and do bad stuff. But he saw I was quite good, and I started to love playing.Dokus heroes were two of the best dribblers of the past couple of decades. My favourite was always Messi to this day, I love the way he plays, he tells us.In Belgium, Eden Hazard was the guy I could see some of myself in I wanted to have that role in the national team.TOPICSBelgiumWorld CupJoe MewisSocial Links NavigationFor more than a decade, Joe Mewis has worked in football journalism as a reporter and editor. Mewis has had stints at Mirror Football and LeedsLive among others and worked at FourFourTwo throughout Euro 2024, reporting on the tournament. In addition to his journalist work, Mewis is also the author of four football history books that include times on Leeds United and the England national team. Now working as a digital marketing coordinator at Harrogate Town, too, Mewis counts some of his best career moments as being in the iconic Spygate press conference under Marcelo Bielsa and seeing his beloved Leeds lift the Championship trophy during lockdown.With contributions fromChris FlanaganSenior Staff Writer
