Jan Vertonghen
Encyclopedia
Jan Vertonghen (ˈjɑn vərˈtɔŋə(n); born 24 April 1987) is a Belgian
footballer who plays as a defender
and occasionally as a defensive midfielder for Dutch
Eredivisie
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. 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.
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.
. 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 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 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 has been linked with a move to Arsenal FC to aid the defence through injuries as well as to partner former team mate and best friend Thomas Vermaelen. Recently, the defender has been linked to AC Milan as well, but more on this subject will probably be heard during the summer.
Vertonghen stated on numerous occasions late in 2010-11 that he is considering leaving Ajax at the end of the 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, with Vertonghen's side lost 3-2 to FC Twente
. Mancini was reportedly scouting Vertonghen to strengthen his side for their upcoming UEFA Champions League
qualifying for the 2011-12 campaign.
. 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.
Belgium
Belgium , officially the Kingdom of Belgium, is a federal state in Western Europe. It is a founding member of the European Union and hosts the EU's headquarters, and those of several other major international organisations such as NATO.Belgium is also a member of, or affiliated to, many...
footballer who plays as a defender
Defender (association football)
Within the sport of association football, a defender is an outfield player whose primary role is to prevent the opposition from attacking....
and occasionally as a defensive midfielder for Dutch
Netherlands
The Netherlands is a constituent country of the Kingdom of the Netherlands, located mainly in North-West Europe and with several islands in the Caribbean. Mainland Netherlands borders the North Sea to the north and west, Belgium to the south, and Germany to the east, and shares maritime borders...
Eredivisie
Eredivisie
The Eredivisie is the highest football league in the Netherlands. The league was founded in 1956 two years after the start of professional football in the Netherlands. It is currently ranked the ninth best league in Europe by UEFA....
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. Following the departure of Luis Suárez
Luis Suárez (Uruguayan footballer)
Luis Alberto Suárez Díaz , commonly known as Luis Suárez and nicknamed "El Pistolero" , is a Uruguayan footballer who plays for Liverpool and the Uruguayan national team...
for Liverpool
Liverpool F.C.
Liverpool Football Club is an English Premier League football club based in Liverpool, Merseyside. Liverpool has won eighteen League titles, second most in English football, seven FA Cups and a record seven League Cups...
in January 2011, Vertonghen was appointed vice-captain of Ajax under Maarten Stekelenburg; following Stekelenburg's transfer to A.S. Roma
A.S. Roma
Associazione Sportiva Roma, commonly referred to as simply Roma, is a professional Italian football club based in Rome. Founded by a merger in 1927, Roma have participated in the top-tier of Italian football for all of their existence but one season in the early 50s...
, Vertonghen was made captain.
Ajax
Move to the Netherlands
After spending time at VK Tielrode and Germinal Beerschot, Vertonghen moved to the NetherlandsNetherlands
The Netherlands is a constituent country of the Kingdom of the Netherlands, located mainly in North-West Europe and with several islands in the Caribbean. Mainland Netherlands borders the North Sea to the north and west, Belgium to the south, and Germany to the east, and shares maritime borders...
and signed a contract with the youth academy of Eredivisie
Eredivisie
The Eredivisie is the highest football league in the Netherlands. The league was founded in 1956 two years after the start of professional football in the Netherlands. It is currently ranked the ninth best league in Europe by UEFA....
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
KNVB Cup 2005-06
The KNVB Cup 2005–06 started on August 2, 2005. The tournament was held for the 88th time. The final was held on May 7, 2006: Ajax beat PSV 2–1 and won the trophy for the sixteenth time.-Teams:* All 18 participants of the Eredivisie 2005-06...
game against Cambuur Leeuwarden
Cambuur Leeuwarden
SC Cambuur , formed on June 19, 1964, is a Dutch football club from Leeuwarden, currently playing in the Eerste Divisie. The club's home ground is the 10,250 seater Cambuur Stadion and they play in yellow shirts and blue shorts. The club's emblem originates from the coat of arms of the House of...
, his first ever home game at the Amsterdam ArenA
Amsterdam ArenA
Amsterdam Arena is a stadium in Amsterdam, Netherlands. It is the largest stadium in the nation and it was built from 1993 to 1996 at a cost of €140 million, and was officially opened on 14 August 1996. It has been used for association football, American football, concerts, and other events...
, 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.
Loan to RKC & breakthrough at Ajax
On 23 August 2006, Vertonghen made his first team debut in the Champions League third qualifying round against CopenhagenF.C. Copenhagen
F.C. Copenhagen is a professional Danish football club in Copenhagen, Denmark. It is part of the Parken Sport & Entertainment....
. He made his first start and Eredivisie debut in a 6–0 win over Willem II
Willem II Tilburg
Willem II , also known as Willem II Tilburg, is a football club based in Tilburg, North Brabant, Netherlands. The team was founded on 12 August 1896 as Tilburgia...
in the Amsterdam ArenA
Amsterdam ArenA
Amsterdam Arena is a stadium in Amsterdam, Netherlands. It is the largest stadium in the nation and it was built from 1993 to 1996 at a cost of €140 million, and was officially opened on 14 August 1996. It has been used for association football, American football, concerts, and other events...
. 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
RKC Waalwijk
RKC Waalwijk is a football club currently playing in the Eredivisie. Its name is derived from 'Rooms Katholieke Combinatie' and was a fusion club of HEC, WVB and Hercules.-History:...
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
Eerste Divisie
The Eerste Divisie is the second-highest division of football in the Netherlands. It is linked with the top-level Eredivisie via a promotion/relegation system. It is also known as the Jupiler League due to sponsorship, which is the same name as the top league in Belgium...
.
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
John Heitinga
John Gijsbert Alan "Johnny" Heitinga is a Dutch footballer who plays as a defender for English Premier League club Everton and the Dutch national team. A product of Jong Ajax, he previously played for AFC Ajax and Atlético Madrid, before signing for Everton in 2009. Heitinga previously represented...
and Thomas Vermaelen. Johan Cruyff
Johan Cruyff
Hendrik Johannes Cruijff OON , known as Johan Cruyff, is a retired Dutch footballer and is currently the manager of the Catalan national team as well as a member of the AFC Ajax board of directors. He won the Ballon d'Or three times, in 1971, 1973 and 1974, which is a record jointly held with...
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
Vitesse Arnhem
Stichting Betaald Voetbal Vitesse is a Dutch football club from Arnhem, which was founded on 14 May 1892. Vitesse has had considerable success in the Eredivisie, and featured in the UEFA Cup competition, but has never been considered a close competitor of the top three clubs of Netherlands...
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.
Rising importance under Jol
Under new coach Martin JolMartin Jol
Maarten Cornelis "Martin" Jol is a Dutch football manager and former midfielder who currently manages Fulham in the Premier League. Jol played over 400 games during his career which included spells in the Netherlands, Germany, and England, as well as earning three caps with the Dutch national team...
, 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
NAC Breda
NAC Breda , simply often known as NAC, is a Dutch professional football club, based in Breda, Netherlands. NAC Breda play in the Rat Verlegh Stadium, named after their most important player, Antoon 'Rat' Verlegh. They play in the Dutch Eredivisie and are known by the fierce and fanatic support of...
on 13 September. With the departure of Vermaelen to Arsenal, he and fellow Belgian Toby Alderweireld
Toby Alderweireld
Tobias "Toby" Albertine Maurits Alderweireld is a Belgian football defender who currently plays for Ajax.An all-round defender, Alderweireld is mostly known for his long passes and physical strength...
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
FC Barcelona
Futbol Club Barcelona , also known as Barcelona and familiarly as Barça, is a professional football club, based in Barcelona, Catalonia, Spain....
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 has been linked with a move to Arsenal FC to aid the defence through injuries as well as to partner former team mate and best friend Thomas Vermaelen. Recently, the defender has been linked to AC Milan as well, but more on this subject will probably be heard during the summer.
Vertonghen stated on numerous occasions late in 2010-11 that he is considering leaving Ajax at the end of the season. In May 2011 Frank De Boer
Frank de Boer
Franciscus "Frank" de Boer is a Dutch former professional footballer, and the younger twin brother of Ronald de Boer. Since 6 December 2010 he is the Manager of AFC Ajax.-Club career:...
confirmed Manchester City boss Roberto Mancini
Roberto Mancini
Roberto Mancini is an Italian football manager, formerly an international player and current manager of Premier League club Manchester City.As a player Mancini was best known for his time at Sampdoria, where he played more than 550 matches, and helped them win the Serie A league title, four Coppa...
was present at the 2011 KNVB Cup Final held on 7 May 2011, with Vertonghen's side lost 3-2 to FC Twente
FC Twente
FC Twente is a Dutch professional football club from the city of Enschede, playing in the Eredivisie. The club was formed in 1965 by the merger of 1926 Eredivisie Champions, Sportclub Enschede and Enschedese Boys...
. Mancini was reportedly scouting Vertonghen to strengthen his side for their upcoming UEFA Champions League
UEFA Champions League
The UEFA Champions League, known simply the Champions League and originally known as the European Champion Clubs' Cup or European Cup, is an annual international club football competition organised by the Union of European Football Associations since 1955 for the top football clubs in Europe. It...
qualifying for the 2011-12 campaign.
International career
Vertonghen made his international debut at the U-21 level in 2006 and played in the 2007 UEFA U21 Championships2007 UEFA European Under-21 Football Championship
The UEFA U-21 Championship 2007 were held from 10 June 2007 to 23 June 2007. It is the 16th staging of UEFA's European Under-21 Football Championship....
. On 21 June 2007 he made his senior debut for the national team in a 2–1 loss to Portugal
Portugal national football team
The Portugal national football team represents Portugal in association football and is controlled by the Portuguese Football Federation, the governing body for football in Portugal. Portugal's home ground is Estádio Nacional in Oeiras, and their head coach is Paulo Bento...
. 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
2010 FIFA World Cup qualification (UEFA)
The European zone of qualification for the 2010 FIFA World Cup saw 53 teams competing for 13 places at the finals. The qualification process started on 20 August 2008, after UEFA Euro 2008, and ended on 18 November 2009. The qualification process saw the first competitive matches of...
, 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.
Club
Ajax- EredivisieEredivisieThe Eredivisie is the highest football league in the Netherlands. The league was founded in 1956 two years after the start of professional football in the Netherlands. It is currently ranked the ninth best league in Europe by UEFA....
(1): 2010-11 - KNVB CupKNVB CupThe KNVB Cup is a competition in the Netherlands organized by the Royal Dutch Football Association since 1899. It was based on the format of the English FA Cup. Outside of the Netherlands, it is often referred to as the Dutch Cup...
(1): 2009-10
Statistics
| Club | Season | League | Cup KNVB Cup The KNVB Cup is a competition in the Netherlands organized by the Royal Dutch Football Association since 1899. It was based on the format of the English FA Cup. Outside of the Netherlands, it is often referred to as the Dutch 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 |
| RKC Waalwijk RKC Waalwijk RKC Waalwijk is a football club currently playing in the Eredivisie. Its name is derived from 'Rooms Katholieke Combinatie' and was a fusion club of HEC, WVB and Hercules.-History:... (loan) |
2006–07 | 12 | 3 | 2 | 0 | ||||||
| 6 | 0 | 20 | 3 | ||||||||
| Ajax | 2007–08 Eredivisie 2007-08 The 2007–08 Eredivisie was the 52nd season of the Eredivisie, the top division of association football in the Netherlands. The season began in August 2007 and ended on 18 May 2008, with defending champions PSV retaining their title with 72 points.... |
31 | 2 | 3 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 36 | 2 |
| 2008–09 Eredivisie 2008-09 The Eredivisie 2008–09 is the fifty-third season of Eredivisie since its establishment in 1955. PSV were the reigning champions. The season began on 29 August 2008 with a game between Vitesse and FC Groningen and ended on 10 May 2009. A total of 18 teams take part in the league, consisting of 16... |
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 | 50 | 7 | |
| 2011–12 | 8 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 3 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 12 | 1 | |
| Total | 144 | 19 | 21 | 1 | 37 | 2 | 8 | 0 | 210 | 22 | |
| Goal | Date | Venue | Opponent | Score | Result | Competition |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 12 August 2009 | Na Stínadlech Na Stínadlech Na Stinadlech is a multi-purpose stadium in Teplice, Czech Republic. It is currently used mostly for football matches and is the home ground of FK Teplice. The stadium holds 18,221 and was built in 1973. The Czech Republic national football team often plays qualification games at the stadium and... , Teplice Teplice Teplice , Teplice-Šanov until 1948 is a town in the Czech Republic, the capital of the Teplice District in the Ústí nad Labem Region. It is the state's second largest spa town .... |
3 – 1 | Lost | Friendly Exhibition game An exhibition game is a sporting event in which there is no competitive value of any significant kind to any competitor regardless of the outcome of the competition... |
|
| 2 | 29 March 2011 | King Baudouin Stadium King Baudouin Stadium The King Baudouin Stadium is a sports ground in north-west Brussels, Belgium. It was inaugurated on 23 August 1930 as the Stade du Jubilé or Jubelstadion in the presence of Prince Leopold. It was built to embellish the Heysel plateau in view of the Brussels International Exposition... , Brussels Brussels Brussels , officially the Brussels Region or Brussels-Capital Region , is the capital of Belgium and the de facto capital of the European Union... |
4 – 1 | Won | Euro 2012 qualifying |