Audio By Carbonatix
Former Tottenham Hotspur and Belgium defender Jan Vertonghen will retire from professional football at the end of the season.
The Anderlecht captain, 37, made 315 appearances for Spurs between 2012 and 2020, twice being named in the PFA Premier League Team of the Year - as well as helping the club reach the Champions League final in 2019.
He retired from international football last year as the record appearance holder for Belgium with 157 caps.
Injury has limited the centre-back to just five games for Anderlecht this season.
"I have noticed that it is becoming more and more difficult to prepare myself physically for training sessions and matches and to show myself as the player I want to be," he said.
"Not only towards the fans and my fellow players, but also towards myself. That is why I will be stopping after this season."
Vertonghen joined Spurs from Ajax, where he won the Eredivisie and Dutch Cup twice, and after leaving north London he won the Portuguese league with Benfica.
Latest Stories
-
Northern Region needs better conditions to retain nurses and midwives – UPNMG President
13 minutes -
Two Nigerians arrested over alleged murder of compatriot in Tamale
22 minutes -
Arthur Kennedy Writes: Rains, flood and sanitation
54 minutes -
US Senator and close Trump ally Lindsey Graham dies after ‘brief and sudden illness’
1 hour -
Nyinahin SHS teacher accused of assaulting student re-arraigned and granted GH₵80,000 bail
2 hours -
Akosua Manu urges NDC gov’t to prioritise real governance over publicity stunts
2 hours -
Okyenhene urges universities to prioritise innovation and entrepreneurship in graduate training
2 hours -
No more shoe and belt removal at checkpoints – GACL introduces new screening equipment
2 hours -
Abuakwa South MP condemns Kyebi Zongo incident involving youth and military personnel
3 hours -
Tano North MP Dr Gideon Boako congratulates newly elected NPP executives, calls for unity ahead of 2028
3 hours -
Dr Alex Ampaabeng congratulates Juaboso NPP executives, calls for unity after elections
4 hours -
Boakye Agyarko congratulates newly elected NPP constituency executives, calls for party rebuilding
4 hours -
Davis Ansah Opoku congratulates newly elected NPP Mpraeso constituency executives
4 hours -
Dennis Miracles Aboagye declares intention to contest NPP National Communications Director position
5 hours -
Gideon Boako hails Tano North NPP Constituency Organiser for exceptional political acumen
5 hours