Rookie of the season
The “Rookie of the Season” trophy, initiated by Prospect Belgium, rewards the best young Belgian player who has had the strongest season as a rookie. To determine the winner, Prospect Belgium consulted the opinions of sports journalists and community managers of X accounts specializing in Belgian football. These experts were invited to rank their top 5 rookies from a list of nominated players, selected based on specific criteria established by Prospect Belgium.
Winner by edition
| 2024/2025 | Jorthy MOKIO | AFC Ajax |
| 2023/2024 | Konstantinos KARETSAS | KRC Genk |
Nominees by edition
| Bilal BAFDILI | KV Mechelen |
| Kaïs BARRY | RSC Anderlecht |
| Jordy BAWUAH | PSV Eindhoven |
| Rayane BOUNIDA | AFC Ajax |
| Kobe CORBANIE | Royal Antwerp FC |
| Axl DE CORTE | Club Brugge KV |
| Martin DELAVALLÉE | Royal Charleroi Sporting Club |
| Kaye FURO | Club Brugge KV |
| Samuel GOMEZ VAN HOOGEN | PSV Eindhoven |
| Jorthy MOKIO | AFC Ajax |
| Benjamin PAUWELS | SC Cambuur |
| Matthias PIEKLAK | Lommel SK |
| Semm RENDERS | Royal Antwerp FC |
| Gassimou SYLLA | RSC Anderlecht |
| Wout VERLINDEN | Club Brugge KV |
| Andreas VERSTRAETEN | Royal Antwerp FC |
| Basile VRONINKS | RSC Anderlecht |
| Lorenzo YOUNDJE | KRC Genk |
| Noah ADEDEJI-STERNBERG | KRC Genk |
| Norman BASSETTE | KV Mechelen |
| Thomas CLAES | KRC Genk |
| Matteo DAMS | PSV Eindhoven |
| Nathan DE CAT | RSC Anderlecht |
| Tristan DEGREEF | RSC Anderlecht |
| Lohan DEWALQUE | RFCU Luxembourg |
| Thierno DIALLO | Royal Francs Borains |
| Nunzio ENGWANDA | RSC Anderlecht |
| Matias FERNANDEZ-PARDO | KAA Gent |
| Laurens GOEMAERE | Club Brugge KV |
| Konstantinos KARETSAS | KRC Genk |
| Josue KONGOLO | KRC Genk |
| Brad MANGUELLE | KRC Genk |
| Joseph NONGE BOENDE | Juventus |
| Arthur PIEDFORT | KVC Westerlo |
| Richie SAGRADO | OH Leuven |
| Ferre SLEGERS | MVV Maastricht |
| Youssuf SYLLA | Royal Charleroi Sporting Club |
| Zeno VAN DEN BOSCH | Royal Antwerp FC |
Who voted ?
Journalists:
| Alexandre BRAECKMAN | RTL |
| Colin DE COSTER | DAZN / Freelance |
| Mikey DELBEKE | Het Nieuwsblad |
| Maxime DÔME | DAZN |
| Thibault DRÈZE | VOO Sport / Box To Box |
| Lucie DRYGALSKI | RTBF / DAZN |
| Bob FAESEN | Het Laatste Nieuws |
| Christophe FRANKEN | La Dernière Heure |
| Florent MALICE | Walfoot |
| Jean-François PATTE | Sudinfo / Le Soir |
| Sacha TAVOLIERI | L’Équipe |
| Sven VAN LONDERSELE | Het Laatste Nieuws |
| Quentin WECKHUYSEN | RTBF / DAZN / Pickx |
| Loïc WOOS | Walfoot |
And also some CMs from different accounts related to Belgian football on X (ex-Twitter):
| 2 community managers | @joueursbe |
| 2 community managers | @belgiumtouch |
| 1 community managers | @diablesactu |
| 2 community managers | @belgianplayers |
| 2 community managers | @maproleague |
| 1 community managers | @min21foot |
Journalists:
| Alexandre BRAECKMAN | RTL |
| Colin DE COSTER | DAZN / Freelance |
| Mikey DELBEKE | Het Nieuwsblad |
| Maxime DÔME | DAZN |
| Thibault DRÈZE | VOO Sport / Box To Box |
| Bob FAESEN | Het Laatste Nieuws |
| Christophe FRANKEN | La Dernière Heure |
| Florent MALICE | Walfoot |
| Jean-François PATTE | Sudinfo / Le Soir |
| Claudio REULENS | Freelance |
| Sacha TAVOLIERI | L’Équipe |
| Sven VAN LONDERSELE | Het Laatste Nieuws |
| Quentin WECKHUYSEN | RTBF / DAZN / Pickx |
| Loïc WOOS | Walfoot |
And also some CMs from different accounts related to Belgian football on X (ex-Twitter):
| 4 community managers | @joueursbe |
| 2 community managers | @belgianplayer |
| 2 community managers | @maproleague |
| 5 community managers | @belgiumtouch |
| 3 community managers | @min21foot |
| 1 community managers | @belgiansplayers |
| 3 community managers | @diablesactu |
| 1 community managers | @supersubjpl |
A community vote was also held and more than 100 people were able to vote!
Eligibility criteria
Given the recent nature of this award, the eligibility criteria are expected to evolve over the years in order to adapt and optimize the selection process for the ‘Rookie of the Season,’ thereby ensuring an increasingly consistent and relevant shortlist.
- Be Belgian and born in 2004 or later
- Not represent any national team other than Belgium.
- Play in a professional league and have logged at least 500 minutes during the season.
- Have accumulated fewer than 500 minutes of professional football before the start of the season.
- Be Belgian and 23 years old or younger at the start of the season.
- Not represent any national team other than Belgium.
- Play in a professional league and have logged at least 500 minutes during the season.
- Have accumulated fewer than 500 minutes of professional football before the start of the season.