Former Tottenham defender Vertonghen to retire

Former Tottenham Hotspur and Belgium defender Jan Vertonghen will retire from professional football at the end of the season.

The Anderlecht captain, 37, made 315 appearances for Spurs between 2012 and 2020 - twice being named in the PFA Premier League Team of the Year - as well as helping the club reach the Champions League final in 2019.

He retired from international football last year as the record appearance holder for Belgium with 157 caps.

Injury has limited the centre-back to just five games for Anderlecht this season.

"I have noticed that it is becoming more and more difficult to prepare myself physically for training sessions and matches and to show myself as the player I want to be," he said.

"Not only towards the fans and my fellow players, but also towards myself. That is why I will be stopping after this season."

Vertonghen joined Spurs from Ajax, where he won the Eredivisie and Dutch Cup twice, and after leaving north London he won the Portuguese league with Benfica.