Toby Alderweireld has spent majority of his club career at Tottenham Hotspur between 2015 and 2021.
The defender left Spurs for Qatari side Al-Duhail SC in the summer of 2021, before joining Royal Antwerp a year later. He played a vital role in helping the Belgian club win the title last season, as well as the two domestic cup competitions.
Het Laatste Nieuws have published a detailed chat between the former Tottenham star and current Royal Antwerp manager, Mark van Bommel.
It was the Dutchman who brought the 34-year-old to the club, and the manager has now revealed Alderweireld was crucial to Royal Antwerp’s success last season.
Prior to his arrival at Royal Antwerp, the centre-back never played at the highest level in Belgium. When asked about the importance of dedication, Alderweireld talked about his time at Ajax and Spurs.
“I used to be completely different. When I still lived in Belgium, I didn’t think about school again until Monday morning. (laughs) In Amsterdam it is completely reversed. ‘First do what you have to do.’ Although this is now turning into something unpleasant. It’s becoming increasingly difficult for me to let things go,” he said.
Mauricio Pochettino was in charge at Spurs when Alderweireld arrived in north London. He played under Pochettino’s orders until November 2019 and even reached the Champions League final earlier that year. José Mourinho had also managed him at Spurs.
Despite this, the Belgian has picked Van Bommel as the best manager he’s ever played under in his career.
When asked if Royal Antwerp would have been successful last season without the Dutchman, Alderweireld explained: “No. And I’ll say more: I’m worried about next season. I would be very sad if Mark and the rest of the coaching staff were no longer there.”
“Because when a coach does well, he is naturally pulled. Look, Mark is the best trainer I’ve ever had. In all its facets.”
