Simon Mignolet had plenty of disappointments at Liverpool before becoming a Champions League winner, but the Belgian has taken that winning mentality with him since leaving Anfield in 2019.
The former Sunderland goalkeeper left Liverpool as a European champion, having been one of Jurgen Klopp's unused substitutes for the victory over Tottenham Hotspur in Madrid. He might not have stuck around for the title win the following season, but the spirit of that squad appears to have rubbed off on him.
Belgium international Mignolet joined Club Brugge in his homeland in 2019, having accepted he faced a tall order to supplant Alisson as the Liverpool number one. Three years on, with three league titles to his name, he can't have too many complaints.
"I knew that the opportunity existed [to win the Premier League with Liverpool," Mignolet told Het Belang van Limburg (via Sport Witness ). in November 2019. "I haven’t thought once: ‘S**t, now Liverpool is in the Premier League race and I’m gone.
"Of course, I could have stayed with Liverpool to earn my money, challenge for the league title and the Champions League. However, as long as you are not on the starting XI yourself, a price feels different. So I would rather play in the starter at Club Brugge than grabbing the English title as a substitute at Liverpool.”
Not only has Mignolet won titles with Brugge, but he's done so as first choice. And the latest triumph was perhaps the toughest of the lot.
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Belgium's league system sees the top four sides from the regular season play off for the title, with each side carrying half of their regular season points through. Those points are added to the points gained in six play-off games - three at home and three away - to decide the champions.
There were no play-offs in 2019-20, with Club Brugge comfortably clear at the top when the season ended early due to the Covid-19 pandemic. In 2020-21, their 16-point lead in the regular season meant they only needed six further play-off points to clinch the title.
This season was different, though. Union SG were five points clear after the 34 regular season games, but home and away play-off wins for Brugge - with clean sheets for Mignolet in both - saw the positions flip and the reigning champions defend their title with a game to spare.
"There is a title to be won and you have to enforce it yourself," Mignolet said after the win, as reported by Club Brugge's website. The 34-year-old had not conceded a single play-off goal before travelling to Antwerp, but Michael Frey gave the opponents a half-time lead before Brugge came storming back through Hans Vanaken, Jack Hendry and Sargis Adamyan.
"It's not easy with a lot of young players, so I'm very happy that we were able to rectify that at half-time. Everyone played football again and won duels and then you see that we are the better team.”
At one point, Club Brugge were 12 points adrift of Union SG in the regular season standings. However, eight victories from the last eight games saw them enter the play-offs with a chance, and they took it in style.
When Mignolet left Liverpool in 2019, Klopp was full of praise for a man who he trusted in his first European final against Sevilla in 2016. “If you were to ask me to write a list of the most standout professionals I’ve worked with in the game – in a career of well over 30 years – Simon Mignolet would be competing for the number one spot,” the manager told Liverpoolfc.com.
“The service he has given this club during his time here means I cannot ignore an opportunity for him that will impact so positively on his future. I think what he has done for LFC means he earns the right to do something that helps him in this moment.
“Brugge are so lucky to have him. The shape he is in – the quality he has – he could play 10 years for this team if both want that."
While Mignolet might end up playing a full 10 years for the Belgian champions, he's certainly in no mood to step away right now. At least not when he has unfinished business after a cup final defeat in 2020.
“The hunger is still great," he said. "I now have three titles in a row, but I have not yet won the cup. That's something I still want.
"Celebrating a title with fans was something I also wanted, after it happened twice in a special way because of corona. I am therefore happy that we can now celebrate the title with them.
"Three in a row doesn't mean I don't want four in a row. I will be there again next year to win something again. I went through a difficult period, but then you have to bite through that sour apple and show how hard you want something. For myself, I'm glad I succeeded, although I don't care what others think about me."
The title win ensures Club Brugge will go straight into next season's Champions League group stage. After playing matches against Manchester United and Manchester City since returning to Belgium, another thing missing for Mignolet is a chance to take on his former employers. And if he does get the chance to return to Anfield, he's sure to get a fantastic reception.
