The 37-year-old has called it quits after Die Roten Teufel were eliminated early from the ongoing UEFA Euro 2024 after losing 1-0 to France. Vertonghen called time on his 17-year-long International career, making 157 appearances.
New Delhi: Belgium and Tottenham Hotspurs legend Jan Vertonghen has announced his retirement from International duty following Belgium’s exit from the UEFA Euro 2024. The veteran defender was a part of the Belgium squad that travelled to Germany and exited the tournament after losing 1-0 to France where the 37-year-old was unfortunate enough to be credited with an own goal.
Vertonghen started his journey with the Belgium national team initially with the U-16 side back in 2002 and then progressed his way up to the U-21 in 2006. He finally made his first-team debut for Belgium in 2007 when he faced Portugal in a UEFA Euro 2008 qualification game.
I’m not crying, you are. 🥹 #MerciJan pic.twitter.com/7Tbzj54ziR
— Belgian Red Devils (@BelRedDevils) July 5, 2024
He ends his 17-year-long International career having made 157 appearances for his national team, making him the most-capped Belgium player of all time and scoring a total of 10 goals for the national side. The former Spurs defender went on to represent his country at six different International tournaments, including the 2018 FIFA World Cup where he helped the Belgium national team finish third, their best ever finish at the FIFA World Cup.
Vertonghen started his career at Ajax where he went on to make over 200 appearances before moving to Spurs in 2012. It was his stint at the North London club that turned him into the legend he is as he made over 300 appearances for Spurs across his eight-year spell with the club. He announced his retirement on his Instagram stating,”First one, last one. Thx for all the memories, I lived my dream!”
The Belgian defender recently returned home to Belgium as he joined RSC Anderlecht in 2022, before being named captain of the side ahead of the 2023/24 season. With his contract now up at Anderlecht, he remains a free agent now even though the Belgian side are willing to offer an extension to the defender, he hasn’t yet taken a call on that front. Could that be a signal towards complete retirement from the game? I’ll let you figure that out!
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