Former Tottenham Hotspur and Belgium defender Jan Vertonghen is set to retire from professional football at the end of the season.
Vertonghen is Belgium’s most-capped player
With 157 appearances, Vertonghen, 37, is Belgium‘s most-capped player and has had a great career playing for Anderlecht, Ajax, Tottenham, and Benfica.
The center-back was also a member of Belgium’s legendary “Golden Generation,” who advanced to the World Cup finals three times in a row in 2014, 2018, and 2022.
After being sidelined by injuries at Anderlecht, he opted to end his club career and retired from international football last year.
Tottenham fans will remember him from his Centre-back partnership with Toby Alderwiereld
Football fans will remember him from his Centre-back partnership with Toby Alderwiereld from Belgium and as well as Tottenham Hotspurs. The duo was famous for being the wall in front of the goal as they were impenetrable due to excellent defending abilities and their aerial presence.
“I have noticed that it is becoming more and more difficult to prepare myself physically for training sessions and matches and to show myself as the player I want to be,” he said.
“Not only towards the fans and my fellow players, but also towards myself. That is why I will be stopping after this season.”
Vertonghen has battled ankle problems and an Achilles tendon injury
Vertonghen has battled ankle problems and an Achilles tendon injury over the past few years and has been limited to just five matches for Anderlecht this season. One of his reasons for retiring is a concern about his growing dependence on painkillers and injections just to play football.
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“During all those months on the sidelines, I had time to reflect,” he added. “I quickly came to the conclusion that I wouldn’t be able to play a full year at the level I wanted. I constantly suffer from ankle pain, so the decision was quite easy to make.
“I’ve seen about 10 specialists this year who assured me the pain would go away. But the pain is daily, and just walking up the stadium stairs hurts. I have to warm up for a very long time before I can play.
I take painkillers and have had several injections
“I take painkillers and have had several injections, but I’m not a fan of that kind of shock treatment. I don’t want to be dependent on painkillers. I feel like I’ll still be welcome at every club I’ve played for, and that makes me proud, as does the fact that I’ve been able to discover many different countries and cultures.”
In a post on the club website, Tottenham noted: “Not only was he a great player, but he was also a man that embraced the community and was keen to help the less fortunate, which saw him give up his time to support the North Enfield Food Bank on a number of occasions. He was undoubtedly a fan favourite.”
