'I thought I was having a heart attack and was not going to make it' - Belgium and Tottenham legend Toby Alderweireld reveals reasons for international retirement

Belgium and Tottenham Hotspur legend Toby Alderweireld has revealed that health concerns were the main reason behind his retirement from international football. Alderweireld formed a crucial partnership with Jan Vertonghen at the heart of the defence and was integral to Belgium's 'Golden Generational' that were among the best teams in the world from 2014 to 2022, although they failed to win any major trophies.

Alderweireld made his debut for the Belgian national team on May 29, 2009, and played his final game at the 2022 World Cup. The 35-year-old announced his retirement in March 2023 with 127 caps to his name.

He appeared in three World Cups (2014, 2018, 2022) and two European Championships (2016, 2020) and is Red Devils' third-highest appearance maker for all-time.

“After the lost cup match against Union I was angry and frustrated,” Alderweireld told Belgian media outlet VRT (h/t Sporza). "I couldn't sleep that night and went to the club early the next morning to do a strength session. Before I left, I took a caffeine pill because I don't like coffee.

"When I was in the car, my heart suddenly started beating at a rate of a thousand an hour. I thought: I'm going to have a heart attack. I'm done for, I'm never going to see my children again. I pulled over, walked into a furniture store and asked if they could call 911.

"It turned out that all the stress made my heart pound. That gave me a panic attack, which made my heart beat even faster. You actually drive yourself crazy. And at a certain point you think you're going to have a heart attack and die.

"We did a lot of tests, but everything was okay. Then I started talking to people and they said it was due to too much stress. Purely a panic attack. Now I still suffer from that sometimes, but I can accept that because I know it's nothing.

"That's why I quit the national team. I had a great time there with five major tournaments and was able to close that chapter."

Alderweireld returned to Belgian Pro League side Antwerp in 2022 and led them to their first league title at the end of the 2022-23 after 66 years, scoring a stunning last-minute winner. Antwerp next take on Dender in Belgium's top-flight on Friday, November 22.