End of an era for Club legend Vertonghen

Tue 25 March 2025, 12:00|Tottenham Hotspur

Club legend Jan Vertonghen has announced he intends to retire from professional football at the end of the season.

After enjoying an action-packed career that has stretched almost 20 years, the Belgian defender has decided to hang up his boots this summer at his current club RSC Anderlecht.

A player whose career began at Ajax as a youth in the mid-noughties, Jan joined us in the summer of 2012 and went on to have eight unforgettable years in Lilywhite.

Wearing the number five shirt, the versatile defender was a key component in a side that enjoyed an incredible period of growth in N17.

From League Cup finals in 2015 and 2021, to our highest-ever Premier League finish in 2017 to our maiden UEFA Champions League Final in 2019, the Belgium international was a central player in an incredible Tottenham Hotspur side.

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 Foodbank on a number of occasions.

He was undoubtedly a fan favourite.

Belgium's record appearance maker with 157 games, he was also part of a golden generation for his country, helping them to qualify for three consecutive World Cup finals (2014, 2018 and 2022) after the Red Devils had missed the 2002 and 2006 editions. They finished third at Russia 2018.

He also helped them qualify for three consecutive European Championship finals from 2016 to 2024, most recently starting in their Euro 2024 quarter-final defeat to France.

Congratulations Jan on a fantastic career!