Tottenham favourite Jan Vertonghen has decided to end his career at the end of the season, to avoid becoming dependent on painkillers.
DH cover comments from the former Tottenham defender today in which he explains his decision to retire at the age of 37.
The Belgian defender currently plays for Anderlecht in his homeland after joining them in 2022 on a free transfer from Benfica.
They’ll be the final step in what has been a varied career for him that started in Belgium and saw him play for Ajax, Tottenham and Benfica before his return home three years ago.
His time at Tottenham will be the most fondly remembered, with him playing 315 games for the club over an eight-year spell and proving to be a bargain purchase given he cost €12.5m to sign from Ajax.
The last few years have been somewhat injury plagued for the defender, who has suffered with various ankle problems and an Achilles tendon problem that saw him miss 27 games across 2024.
Sprained ankles have seen him miss ten games this year alone and it those problems which have now pushed him to call an end to matters, before something worse happens.
“During all those months on the sidelines, I had time to reflect,” he said.
“I quickly came to the conclusion that I wouldn’t be able to play a full year at the level I wanted. I constantly suffer from ankle pain, so the decision was quite easy to make.
“I’ve seen about ten specialists this year who assured me the pain would go away. But the pain is daily, and just walking up the stadium stairs hurts. I have to warm up for a very long time before I can play.
“I take painkillers and have had several injections, but I’m not a fan of that kind of shock treatment. I don’t want to be dependent on painkillers.
“I feel like I’ll still be welcome at every club I’ve played for, and that makes me proud, as does the fact that I’ve been able to discover many different countries and cultures.”
