Moroccan international Bilal El Khannouss was voted Belgian Pro League’s “Hope of the Year” for the second time at the 71st Soulier d’Or (European Golden Shoe) gala, held on Tuesday evening in Middelkerke (north-west Belgium).

El Khannouss, who left Belgian Pro League’s Genk to English club Leicester last August, scored 268 points. He succeeds Belgian player Arthur Vermeeren, who beat him to the award last year.

The 20-year-old attacking midfielder, who first won the award in 2022, becomes the third player after Youri Tielemans (2014 and 2015) and Charles De Ketelaere (2020 and 2021), to win the trophy twice.

As part of the same event, Belgium’s Hans Vanaken (Club Brugge) won the 71st Soulier d’O r, awarded to the best player of the year in the Belgian soccer championship. Charles De Ketelaere (Atalanta) was in turn voted best Belgian player abroad.

Voting for the Soulier d’O r takes place in 35 rounds, seventeen in July after the end of the season and eight in December. In January, the votes are summed up and the winner is announced on an evening television broadcast.