26 Facts About Vertonghen

Jan Bert Lieve Vertonghen was born on 24 April 1987 and is a Belgian professional footballer who plays for Belgian club Anderlecht and the Belgium national team.

Vertonghen began his senior career at Dutch club Ajax in 2006 and totalled 220 games and 28 goals for them across all competitions, serving as their captain from 2011 to 2012.

Vertonghen won two Eredivisie and two KNVB Cup titles during his time at the club, and in 2012 he was named Dutch Footballer of the Year.

Vertonghen transferred to Tottenham Hotspur in July 2012, and made the PFA Team of the Year in his first Premier League season.

Vertonghen made 315 appearances for Spurs over eight years, and won their player of the year award in 2018.

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Vertonghen made his international debut for Belgium in 2007 and his 141 caps are the most in the history of the national team.

Vertonghen was part of Belgian squads that came fourth at the 2008 Olympics, reached the quarter-finals of the 2014 FIFA World Cup, UEFA Euro 2016 and Euro 2020, and finished in third place at the 2018 World Cup.

Vertonghen was born in Sint-Niklaas, Belgium, to Ria Mattheeuws and Paul Vertonghen.

Vertonghen has two brothers, Ward and Lode; both have played football.

Vertonghen began as a midfielder but then became a regular at centre-back for Ajax.

Vertonghen had attempted a back pass to the Cambuur goalkeeper while a teammate was receiving treatment but instead the ball went into the goal.

On 23 August 2006, Vertonghen made his first team debut in the Champions League third qualifying round against Copenhagen.

Vertonghen was named Premier League Player of the Month for March 2013, making himself the second Belgian and the 12th Spurs player to win the award.

On 11 April 2013, Vertonghen was sent-off against Basel during Tottenham's Europa League quarter-final second leg.

However, in mid January 2017, Vertonghen suffered an ankle ligament injury that would see him out of action for five weeks.

Vertonghen was considered then one of the best defenders in the Premier League.

Vertonghen received wide praise for his performance in this game, and he was named the Champions League Player of the Week by UEFA.

Vertonghen returned to play in the leg in Amsterdam wearing a protective mask, and helped the team to a dramatic win against Ajax that sent Tottenham to their first Champions League final.

Vertonghen later revealed that the collision left him with symptoms of concussion such as dizziness and headaches for nine months afterwards, which affected his performance in the following and final season with Tottenham.

Vertonghen became a free agent after the club's last game of the season against Crystal Palace.

On 3 December 2020, Vertonghen scored his first goal for Benfica in a home match against Lech Poznan in the group stage of the Europa League.

On 2 September 2022, Vertonghen signed with Belgian club Anderlecht on a free transfer, after he and Benfica agreed to the termination of his contract.

Vertonghen made his international debut at the under-21 level in 2006 and played in the 2007 UEFA U21 Championships.

Vertonghen was selected for the 2008 Olympics and played in every match as the Belgians unexpectedly took fourth place.

On 13 May 2014, Vertonghen was named in Belgium's squad for the 2014 FIFA World Cup.

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Eleven years to the day on from his international debut, against the same opposition Vertonghen won his 100th cap, which was presented to him by his mother.