Toby: “Spurs will be with me forever”

A popular Belgian now in Qatar will have a knowing smile as we step out against Manchester City at Tottenham Hotspur Stadium on Sunday.

Toby Alderweireld scored his first Spurs goal against City back in September, 2015. It was a defining moment, a convincing 4-1 victory against Pep Guardiola’s new-look team, a performance that opened the eyes of the rest of the Premier League.

“We had some great results against City,” reflected Toby, now fully in pre-season preparations with his new club, Al-Duhail SC. “Of course, that first one for me in 2015, followed by a 2-0 win at White Hart Lane the next season, the Champions League quarter-finals in 2019, Steven Bergwijn’s debut and the win in 2020, last season’s win, the 2-1 win at the Etihad in 2016 when Christian scored. Unfortunately, we lost the League Cup Final last season, but overall, yes, good memories.

“If I think about that time, that goal against City in 2015, I wouldn’t think about myself, I would think about the team, the feeling at White Hart Lane where we were so strong, so dynamic. The season after (2016/17) we went unbeaten at home. Hopefully the team can do it again on Sunday. That would be the perfect way to start the season.”

Having joined us from Atletico Madrid in July, 2015, Toby went on to make 236 appearances in six years at Spurs, forming a formidable central partnership with fellow Belgian Jan Vertonghen, the pair providing the backbone of our Champions League qualification in 2015/16 and our best-ever defensive record in a league campaign (26 goals conceded) on our way to second place in 2016/17.

He started both legs of the quarter-final, semi-final and then the final in our Champions League run of 2018/19. At the same time, he racked up 113 international caps for Belgium.

“We conceded 26 goals in 2016/17, the best in the Club’s history, so maybe when I finish my career, I’ll look back at that as a very special time,” he reflected. “I was part of it as we wrote our names in Club history, great days.

“I’ve only good memories. There are not a lot of players who stay at a club for six years now. I’m always very loyal, always happy to play. I never talk about myself, but maybe now is the moment... I always did my best, and I hope people see that every time I stepped onto the pitch, I gave 100 per cent for the shirt.

“I always wanted to be part of the Club’s history and the Club will be with me forever.”

As for his new life in Qatar, Toby added: “It’s a new adventure for me. Okay, people will say, ‘money, money, money’, but that’s not true at all. This club is very ambitious and it’s a good moment for me to go for an adventure. I have two small children and if I wanted that adventure, it’s now or never.

“It just felt right. I didn’t want to join another Premier League club. I don’t want to be too romantic, but this is totally different to Spurs. That’s why it feels right. It’s so different, so I can do it.”