Former Tottenham Hotspur and current Anderlecht defender Jan Vertonghen has confirmed that he will be retiring from football at the end of the season.
The 37-year-old has spent the past two-and-a-half years on the books at Anderlecht but has only made five appearances in an injury-hit 2024-25 campaign, where he has suffered from Achilles and ankle problems.
Vertonghen is already due to become a free agent at the end of the season, but the former Belgium international has now confirmed that he will be hanging up his boots once the campaign is over.
“During the past weeks, months, I have been thinking a lot about how I want to continue or end my career,” Vertonghen said in a video on Anderlecht’s social media channels. “This past time has made it clear that it will be my last games. Not only at RSC Anderlecht, but in my career.
“I’ve realised that it’s becoming harder and harder, not only in games but also in training, to get ready physically. To show what I want. To be the player I want to be. Not only towards the fans, to my teammates, but mostly to myself as well.
“I’ve had the chance, when I was sitting in the stands, to reflect a lot, and I’m so proud of what I have achieved with everyone. For the next 11 games, these eight to ten weeks, I’ll try to give it my all and hopefully experience some beautiful moments together. But then, the journey ends.
“That hasn’t been an easy decision, but it’s a decision I have to take, and I feel it’s the right time. We’ll do everything we can to make it a fantastic ending.”
Jan Vertonghen’s legacy analysed as retirement confirmed
A reliable, no-nonsense defender who shone as both a centre-back and left-back in Tottenham colours, Vertonghen was a stalwart of the Mauricio Pochettino era at Tottenham after emerging through the famed Ajax academy.
Following his £10.5m arrival in 2012, Vertonghen gave Tottenham eight years of incredible service, during which time he formed a formidable partnership with compatriot Toby Alderweireld at the back.
The brilliant Belgian totalled 315 appearances for Tottenham, coming up with 14 goals and seven assists in that time, although he never succeeded in his quest to bring silverware to North London.
However, with Vertonghen and Alderweireld in front of Hugo Lloris, Spurs briefly became genuine Premier League title challengers, not to mention finishing as runners-up in the 2018-19 Champions League final after knocking out Vertonghen’s former club Ajax in the semi-finals.
Vertonghen was unable to enjoy the send-off that his Spurs career deserved, as his final few months at the club in 2020 came during the height of the COVID-19 pandemic, and he enjoyed a fruitful two years with Benfica before heading back to his homeland to finish his career.
Even in his late 30s, the 2012 Eredivisie Footballer of the Year still managed three goals and two assists in 27 Jupiler Pro League games last season, but as he alluded to in his retirement message, his body has simply failed him in 2024-25.
Away from his astounding club career, where his most significant honours were two Eredivisie titles with Ajax in 2011 and 2012, Vertonghen won 157 caps for Belgium, by far and away the most for the senior men’s team.
The versatile defender was a leader of the Red Devils’ so-called golden generation, but just like his time at Spurs, Vertonghen excruciatingly went trophyless in a Belgium kit and called time on his international career after Euro 2024.
Vertonghen’s Anderlecht side currently sit fourth in the Belgian Pro League Championship Round, eight points behind leaders Genk, but they were eliminated from the Europa League by Fenerbahce in the knockout round playoffs.
