'Just walking up the stadium stairs hurts' - Ex-Tottenham defender Jan Vertonghen announces retirement from football amid fear of becoming 'dependent on painkillers'

The centre-back revealed at a press conference on Tuesday he would hang up his boots at the end of the 2024-25 campaign having spent much of the last year sidelined with ankle and Achilles problems. He opened up on the daily struggle of simply walking and wants to call it quits while he is not "dependent on painkillers".

Vertonghen said: "During all those months on the sidelines, I had time to reflect. I quickly came to the conclusion that I wouldn't be able to play a full year at the level I wanted. I constantly suffer from ankle pain, so the decision was quite easy to make.

"I've seen about 10 specialists this year who assured me the pain would go away. But the pain is daily, and just walking up the stadium stairs hurts. I have to warm up for a very long time before I can play.

"I take painkillers and have had several injections, but I'm not a fan of that kind of shock treatment. I don't want to be dependent on painkillers. I feel like I'll still be welcome at every club I've played for, and that makes me proud, as does the fact that I've been able to discover many different countries and cultures."

Vertonghen began his career in Netherlands with Ajax having been picked up by Dutch scouts as a schoolboy. He won four trophies in Amsterdam, including back-to-back Eredivisie titles in his final two years at the club, before joining Tottenham in 2012. The defender instantly became a fan favourite in north London and he made 315 appearances across nearly a decade of service at Spurs, during which time he formed a formidable partnership with compatriot and ex-Ajax team-mate Toby Alderweireld and helped the club reach their first-ever Champions League final.

Vertonghen's contract at Tottenham expired in 2020 and he joined Portuguese side Benfica on a free transfer. He spent two years in the Primeira Liga, winning the title once, before deciding to play in his home country of Belgium for the first time with Anderlecht. At international level, Vertonghen is Belgium's most-capped player of all time having made 157 appearances between 2007 and 2024. He was part of the 'golden generation' which finished third at the 2018 World Cup.

Vertonghen made his return from injury for Anderlecht prior to the international break. The Purple & White have 11 games remaining this season and remain on the hunt for the Belgian Pro League title and Belgian Cup to give the 37-year-old a fairytale send-off.