page_title: Jan Vertonghen
section_title: Rising importance under Jol
hierarchical_section_title: Jan Vertonghen / Club career / Ajax / Rising importance under Jol
caption_attribution_description: Nederlands: Basis elftal van Ajax tegen Olympique Lyon op 14 september 2011.English: Starting eleven of Ajax against Olympique Lyon on September 14th, 2011. Line-up: Kenneth Vermeer, Siem de Jong, Toby Alderweireld, Kolbeinn Sigþórsson, Theo Janssen, Jan Vertonghen, Miralem Sulejmani, Derk Boerrigter, Christian Eriksen, Gregory van der Wiel, Nicolai Boilesen
context_page_description: Jan Bert Lieve Vertonghen is a Belgian professional footballer who plays for Primeira Liga club Benfica and the Belgium national team. Mainly a central defender, he can also play as a left back.
  He began his senior career at Dutch club Ajax in 2006 and totalled 220 games and 28 goals for them across all competitions, serving as their captain from 2011 to 2012. He won two Eredivisie and two KNVB Cup titles during his time at the club, and in 2012 he was named Dutch Footballer of the Year. Vertonghen transferred to Tottenham in July 2012, and made the PFA Team of the Year in his first Premier League season, going on to make over 200 appearances for Spurs and winning their player of the year award in 2018.
  Vertonghen made his international debut for Belgium in 2007 and his 118 caps are the most in the history of the national team. He was part of Belgian squads that came fourth at the 2008 Olympics and reached the quarter-finals of the 2014 FIFA World Cup and the UEFA Euro 2016 as well as third place at the 2018 FIFA World Cup.
context_section_description: 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 nine-game unbeaten streak in the league, with Vertonghen playing a key role. Their run of six 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 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 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 Twente. Mancini was reportedly scouting Vertonghen to strengthen his side after they had qualified for the UEFA Champions League 2011–12 campaign.
caption: Vertonghen (top right) captaining Ajax.
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