Kevin De Bruyne is widely regarded as one of the greatest midfielders of his generation. Throughout his career with Belgium, Manchester City, and later SSC Napoli, his performances have earned worldwide admiration. While his football achievements have often dominated headlines, one chapter of his personal life also attracted enormous public attention.
Before marrying Michèle De Bruyne, the Belgian football star was in a long-term relationship with Caroline Lijnen. Their breakup in 2013 became one of the most discussed stories in Belgian football after details of a personal dispute involving fellow international teammate Thibaut Courtois emerged.
Here’s everything known about Kevin De Bruyne’s ex-girlfriend, the events surrounding their separation, and how the midfielder moved forward.
Who Is Caroline Lijnen?
Caroline Lijnen is a Belgian woman who became known publicly because of her relationship with Kevin De Bruyne during the early years of his professional football career.
Before attracting media attention, she lived a largely private life. However, following her relationship with De Bruyne and the publicity surrounding their breakup, her name became familiar to football fans across Europe.
Despite the widespread interest, Lijnen has generally stayed away from the spotlight in the years since.
Their Relationship
Kevin De Bruyne and Caroline Lijnen reportedly dated for around three years.
Their relationship began while De Bruyne was establishing himself as one of Belgium’s brightest young football talents. As his career progressed through club football and international competition, the couple frequently appeared together during the early stages of his rise.
For a time, many believed their relationship would continue alongside De Bruyne’s growing success.
Instead, the couple separated in 2013.
The Breakup
Following the breakup, reports emerged claiming that Caroline Lijnen had begun a relationship with Belgium goalkeeper Thibaut Courtois, who was also De Bruyne’s national teammate.
The situation quickly attracted significant media attention because both footballers were key members of Belgium’s national squad.
According to De Bruyne, learning about the relationship was deeply painful and left him feeling emotionally devastated during that period of his life.
The story became one of the biggest off-field talking points involving Belgium’s national team.
Caroline’s Response
In a 2014 interview, Caroline Lijnen offered her own perspective on the breakup.
She claimed that her relationship with Courtois came after discovering that De Bruyne had been unfaithful to her with one of her former close friends during the previous year.
According to Lijnen, her actions were influenced by the emotional impact of those events.
Neither side’s account has been independently verified beyond the public statements made at the time, and both individuals have since moved on with their lives.
Team Impact
The personal dispute naturally created questions about whether the relationship would affect Belgium’s national team.
Given that Kevin De Bruyne and Thibaut Courtois were both essential players, many wondered whether tensions between them would carry onto the pitch.
Despite the personal disappointment he experienced, De Bruyne reportedly made it clear that football should remain the priority. He supported keeping Courtois in the national squad, believing the team’s success was more important than personal disagreements.
That decision demonstrated a professional approach during a challenging period.
Moving Forward
Over time, Kevin De Bruyne chose to leave the controversy behind.
Rather than continuing to discuss the events publicly, he focused on developing into one of the world’s finest midfielders.
His performances for club and country soon became the primary focus of football conversations, replacing attention on his personal relationships.
As his career flourished, he built a new chapter away from the earlier headlines.
Marriage to Michèle
After putting the past behind him, Kevin De Bruyne found lasting happiness with Michèle Lacroix.
The couple married in June 2017 and have since built a close-knit family together.
They are now parents to three children and frequently share family moments through social media while maintaining a healthy balance between public life and privacy.
Michèle has often been seen supporting Kevin during major club competitions and international tournaments.
Their relationship is widely regarded as one of football’s most stable marriages.
Career Success
While personal stories occasionally attracted media attention, Kevin De Bruyne’s football achievements ultimately defined his legacy.
His outstanding vision, passing ability, leadership, and consistency helped him become one of Manchester City’s greatest-ever players before beginning a new chapter with SSC Napoli.
He has also remained a central figure for Belgium throughout multiple major international tournaments.
Today, he is recognized more for his remarkable football career than for events from earlier in his personal life.
Quick Facts
- Caroline Lijnen was Kevin De Bruyne’s most widely known former girlfriend.
- The couple dated for approximately three years before separating in 2013.
- Their breakup became highly publicized because of reports involving Belgian teammate Thibaut Courtois.
- Caroline Lijnen later shared her own account of the breakup in a media interview.
- Kevin De Bruyne has said the experience was personally very difficult.
- Despite the controversy, he supported keeping Courtois in Belgium’s national team for football reasons.
- De Bruyne married Michèle Lacroix in June 2017.
- Kevin and Michèle are now parents to three children.
Final Thoughts
Kevin De Bruyne’s relationship with Caroline Lijnen remains one of the most talked-about personal stories in modern football. While the breakup generated widespread media attention and created uncomfortable moments within Belgium’s national team, it became only a small chapter in a much larger career.
Since then, De Bruyne has focused on football, family, and long-term success. His marriage to Michèle De Bruyne and his continued excellence on the pitch have demonstrated how he moved beyond earlier personal challenges to build a fulfilling life both on and off the field.
