Jan Vertonghen

Jan Vertonghen

Personal information
Full name	Jan Vertonghen
Height	1.89 m (6 ft 2+1⁄2 in)
Position(s)	Defender
Team information
Current team	Ajax
Number	4
Youth career
1997–2000	VK Tielrode
2000–2003	Germinal Beerschot
2003–2006	Ajax
Senior career*
Years	Team	Apps	(Gls)
2006–	Ajax	148	(22)
2006–2007	→ Waalwijk (loan)	12	(3)
International career‡
2006–2009	Belgium U-21	23	(0)
2007–	Belgium	36	(2)
*Club domestic league appearances and goals, correct as of 18 December 2011 ‡ National team caps and goals, correct as of 14:28, 3 March 2012 (UTC)

Jan Vertonghen (Dutch pronunciation: [ˈjɑn vərˈtɔŋə(n)]) (born 24 April 1987) is a Belgian footballer who plays as a defender and occasionally as a defensive midfielder for Dutch club Ajax and the Belgian national team. A left-footed player who usually plays as a centre back, he is equally adept at playing anywhere on the left side or in defensive midfield and frequently joins in the attack from his centre back position. Although playing as a defender, Vertonghen is well known for his offensive prowess and powerful shooting ability.

Following the departure of Luis Suárez for Liverpool in January 2011, Vertonghen was appointed vice-captain of Ajax under Maarten Stekelenburg; following Stekelenburg's transfer to A.S. Roma, Vertonghen was made captain. In 2012, Vertonghen was named Dutch Footballer of the Year (for best player in the Eredivisie).

Club career

Vertonghen with Andriy Shevchenko

Move to the Netherlands

After spending time at VK Tielrode and Germinal Beerschot, Vertonghen moved to the Netherlands and signed a contract with the youth academy of Eredivisie side Ajax. He began as a midfielder but now he mostly plays at centre back for Ajax. During his time in the reserves, he became known for an incident in the 2006 KNVB Cup game against Cambuur Leeuwarden, his first ever home game at the Amsterdam ArenA, where he "scored" a bizarre goal to put Ajax 3–0 up. He had attempted a back pass to the Cambuur goalkeeper while a teammate was receiving treatment but instead the ball sailed past the shocked goalkeeper, much to the amusement of the spectators and the bewilderment of the players. Since the goal was obviously unintentional, in a remarkable display of sportsmanship Ajax allowed Cambuur to score a goal in return.

Loan to RKC & breakthrough at Ajax

On 23 August 2006, Vertonghen made his first team debut in the Champions League third qualifying round against Copenhagen. He made his first start and Eredivisie debut in a 6–0 win over Willem II in the Amsterdam ArenA. He would play another two matches for the first half of the season. After the winter break, he was sent on loan to struggling RKC Waalwijk for the remainder of the season. At RKC Waalwijk he would play 12 matches in which he scored three times, but he was unable to help them avoid relegation to the Eerste Divisie.

Vertonghen returned to Ajax for the 2007–08 season, where he was tipped for stardom, but was unable to break through, due to a bad injury as well as the presence of John Heitinga and Thomas Vermaelen. Johan Cruyff has made no secret of his admiration for the left-footed youngster who can handle any left-sided position in defence and midfield. On 26 September 2008 he extended his contract to 30 June 2013.

The 2008–09 season was a breakthrough season for the young defender. After Heitinga left for Atlético Madrid, Vertonghen became Vermaelen's first choice partner in central defence. He started in 23 of the 26 games he played and scored 4 goals. On 28 September, he scored a rare double against Vitesse in a 3–0 win. Although sustaining an injury from training during the week, he played in the 24 January match against FC Groningen, billed as a "must-win" match by coach Marco van Basten, and was unfortunate enough to be sent off for two yellow cards as Ajax lost 1–0. He was out for a month after sustaining a hamstring injury in the 1 March win away at Utrecht but his return lasted only several games as his season was prematurely ended after aggravating another injury.

Vertonghen (right) with Thomas Vermaelen.

Rising importance under Jol

Under new coach Martin Jol, Vertonghen retained his place in the starting line-up for the 2009–10 season. Despite injuring his toe while on international duty against Spain the previous week, he scored his first goal of the season, a free kick, in a 6–0 thrashing of NAC Breda on 13 September. With the departure of Thomas Vermaelen to Arsenal, he and fellow Belgian Toby Alderweireld become the first choice centre back pairing and soon became a firm fans' favourite. Despite Ajax's erratic form in the latter weeks leading up to the winter break, he turned in some strong performances and attracted the interest of a number of clubs including Barcelona but he played down the rumours, stating his intent to at least see out his contract with Ajax. After the winter break, Ajax went on a 9-game unbeaten streak in the league with Vertonghen playing a key role. Their run of 6 consecutive clean sheets was ended in a 4–1 home win over PSV when the visiting side were awarded a penalty. Vertonghen was linked with a move to Newcastle United, and later he was also linked with A.C. Milan, stating "I’ve heard Milan director Adriano Galliani talk about me after the Champions League match in San Siro and his words were very flattering".

Vertonghen (left) with Maarten Stekelenburg.

Vertonghen stated on numerous occasions late in the 2010-11 season that he was considering leaving Ajax at the end of that season. In May 2011 Frank De Boer confirmed Manchester City boss Roberto Mancini was present at the 2011 KNVB Cup Final held on 7 May 2011, where Vertonghen's side lost 3-2 to FC Twente. Mancini was reportedly scouting Vertonghen to strengthen his side after they had qualified for the UEFA Champions League 2011-12 campaign.

Breakout under de Boer

During the 2011-2012 Eredivisie campaign Vertonghen emerged as one of Ajax's best players, demonstrating his versatility to cover multiple positions after Ajax had let several regular players out on long-term loans. After an impressive season, including a performance for which he was singled out for praise against Manchester United in the Europa League Round of 16, he was named the 2011-12 Eredivisie Player of the Year.

On 8 May 2012, he stated his strong overwhelming preference was to join English Premier League club Tottenham Hotspur over their north London rivals Arsenal, and several other Premier League teams. He was then rumoured to have signed for Tottenham hotspur in a cut price 8.1 million pound deal.

International career

Vertonghen made his international debut at the U-21 level in 2006 and played in the 2007 UEFA U21 Championships. On 21 June 2007 he made his senior debut for the national team in a 2–1 loss to Portugal. He was also selected for the 2008 Olympics and played in every match as the Belgians unexpectedly took fourth place.

In the 2010 World Cup qualifying, he began to establish himself as a regular, initially at centre back as former Ajax teammate Thomas Vermaelen's partner. He scored the opening goal, also his first ever international goal, in an August 2009 friendly against the Czech Republic that ended in a 3–1 loss. On the 7 September 2009 qualifer against Spain, he injured his toe and had to be stretchered off and substituted in the 29th minute. Now he usually plays in the midfield as Vermaelen and Daniel Van Buyten are the preferred pairing in central defence. He was back in the starting eleven for the friendly against Hungary, a 3–0 win and the 1–0 loss to Croatia the following March.

Honours

Club

Ajax

• Eredivisie (2): 2010–11, 2011–12
• KNVB Cup (1): 2009–10

Individual

• Dutch Footballer of the Year: 2012
• AFC Ajax Player of the Year (1): 2011/12
• AFC Ajax Talent of the Year (1): 2007/08

Statistics

As of 30 march 2012

Vertonghen (top right) with Ajax teammates in 2010.

Club	Season	League		Cup		Europe		Other		Total
		Apps	Goals	Apps	Goals	Apps	Goals	Apps	Goals	Apps	Goals
Ajax	2006–07	3	0	0	0	3	0	0	0	6	0
Waalwijk (loan)	2006–07	12	3	2	0	-	-	6	0	20	3
Ajax	2007–08	31	2	3	0	1	0	2	0	36	2
	2008–09	26	4	2	0	7	1	0	0	35	4
	2009–10	32	3	7	0	10	0	0	0	49	3
	2010–11	32	6	6	1	13	1	0	0	51	7
	2011–12	24	7	2	2	8	0	1	0	35	9
Total		160	25	22	3	42	2	9	0	233	30

International goals

Goal	Date	Venue	Opponent	Score	Result	Competition
1	12 August 2009	Na Stínadlech, Teplice	Czech Republic	3 – 1	Lost	Friendly
2	29 March 2011	King Baudouin Stadium, Brussels	Azerbaijan	4 – 1	Won	Euro 2012 qualifying