Biography
Who is Jan Vertonghen?
Early life and background
Jan Vertonghen was born in Sint-Niklaas, East Flanders, Belgium, on April 24, 1987. His parents are Ria Mattheeuws and Paul Vertonghen. He grew up alongside his two brothers, Ward and Lode, both of whom have also played football. Before moving to the Netherlands to join a major club academy, Jan spent his early youth playing football at VK Tielrode and Germinal Beerschot.
His football path took a major step forward when he entered the youth academy of Eredivisie side AFC Ajax. Initially starting out as a midfielder, Jan eventually transitioned into a reliable centre-back. During his time in the Ajax reserves, he gained attention for a memorable incident in a 2006 KNVB Cup match against Cambuur Leeuwarden at the Amsterdam Arena, where an unintentional back pass resulted in a strange goal.
Career at Ajax
Jan made his first team debut for Ajax on August 23, 2006, in a Champions League qualifying match against Copenhagen. Following the winter break of that season, he spent a brief loan spell playing for RKC Waalwijk, where he made 12 appearances and scored three goals before the team suffered relegation. Upon returning to Ajax, he faced initial setbacks due to injuries and strong competition from defenders like John Heitinga and Thomas Vermaelen.
Under the guidance of coaches like Martin Jol and Frank de Boer, Jan eventually secured a regular spot in the starting lineup. He served as the team captain and led Ajax to consecutive league titles. His strong performances yielded eight goals during the 2011 to 2012 Eredivisie season, culminating in him being named the Dutch Footballer of the Year before his eventual departure to English football.
Tottenham Hotspur and later years
In July 2012, Jan completed a transfer to Tottenham Hotspur for a fee of around 12 million Euros. He quickly established himself in the Premier League, earning a spot in the PFA Team of the Year for his debut season and winning the Premier League Player of the Month award in March 2013. Over eight years with Spurs, he made 315 appearances and helped the club reach the 2019 UEFA Champions League final.
After his time in England, Jan spent two seasons playing for Portuguese club Benfica before returning to Belgium to join Anderlecht in 2022. At Anderlecht, he became the club's oldest player and surpassed club icon Olivier Deschacht before officially announcing his retirement from professional club football in 2025.
International career with Belgium
Jan made his international debut for the Belgium men's national football team in 2007. Throughout his long international career, he accumulated 157 caps, which stands as the most in the history of the national team. He represented his country at major international tournaments, including finishing fourth at the 2008 Olympics and third at the 2018 FIFA World Cup in Russia.
He also played a key role in helping Belgium reach the quarter-finals at both UEFA Euro 2016 and UEFA Euro 2020. After many years of service on the international stage, Jan officially announced his retirement from international football in July 2024, concluding a historic run representing the Belgian national side.
Birthday and age
Jan Vertonghen was born on April 24, 1987, which makes Jan 39 years old today. That birthday falls under the Taurus sign. Jan shares the date with 37 other famous people.
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