Jan Vertonghen

• Full name: Jan Bert Lieve Vertonghen
• Date of birth: April 24, 1987
• Place of birth: Sint-Niklaas, Belgium
• Height: 1.89 m (6 ft 2 in)
• Position: Centre-back (can also play as left-back or defensive midfielder)
• Nationality: Belgian

Club career (highlights)

• Ajax (2006–2012) — Broke into the first team, became a key defender and earned a transfer to the Premier League.
• Tottenham Hotspur (2012–2020) — Regular starter, club captain for periods, integral to Spurs’ defense during several top-table finishes and their run to the 2019 UEFA Champions League final.
• Benfica (2020–2022) — Joined the Portuguese side, contributed experience and defensive stability.
• Royal Antwerp (2022–2023) — Returned to Belgium and finished his professional career at Antwerp (club and date ranges approximate to last known seasons).

International career with Belgium

• Made his senior debut for Belgium in 2007.
• Caps: Over 140 appearances (one of Belgium’s most-capped players).
• Goals: Scored several international goals, including key strikes at major tournaments.
• Major tournaments: Played at UEFA European Championships and FIFA World Cups — notably part of Belgium’s squads at the 2014 and 2018 World Cups (Belgium finished third in 2018) and multiple EURO tournaments.
• Role: Long-serving central defender and regular captain/vice-captain for the national team across his later years.

Playing style and strengths

• Comfortable on the ball with good passing range for a defender.
• Strong positional sense, reading of the game, and aerial ability.
• Versatile: capable of playing left-sided center-back or at left-back when required.
• Leadership qualities and high tactical intelligence.

Honours (selected)

• Domestic cup and league titles with Benfica and/or Antwerp (depending on season).
• Individual: Included in various team-of-the-season lists during his time at Ajax and Tottenham; widely respected as one of Belgium’s top defenders of his generation.

Status: Retired from international football after a long and decorated Belgium career; club retirement status reflects his most recent seasons (ended career at Royal Antwerp in domestic football).