Tottenham Player Review: Jan Vertonghen

When we talk about Tottenham on a player by player basis, we are essentially revealing one of the team’s most crucial advantages: versatility.

Jan Vertonghen came to Tottenham in 2012 as a promising centre-back right on the cusp of reaching his peak years.

Over the subsequent five seasons, Vertonghen weathered two failed managers, a handful of dramatic roster overhauls and several position changes.

It’s that latter bit that should be remembered as Vertonghen’s most important contributions. Vertonghen is in many ways the first seedling of outfield talent that slowly grew into today’s Spurs team, full of eminently adaptable players capable of fielding in multiple roles — sometimes over the course of just 90 minutes.

Vertonghen survived this last tumultuous half decade because there was always a use for him. Not only was he invariably among the most talented defenders at the club at any given moment, but he could field at either left-back or centre-back depending on the needs of the team.

Though the rise of Danny Rose and the arrival of Ben Davies more or less relieved Vertonghen of left-back duties, the experience there — and with the Belgian national team — added a dimension to his game that was fully brought to bear this season.

Mauricio Pochettino had dabbled with a three-at-the-back scheme before both early this season and on at least one occasion last term, but in December he leaned into it hard.

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To pull off what ultimately became a 3-4-2-1, Pochettino needed rangy and swashbuckling wing-backs, a mobile defensive midfielder, at least two creative players weaving between the lines and — of course — centre-backs who could cover the wings.

For the average Premier League centre-back, that might have proven a chore. Conventional centre-backs are conditioned to expect support and cover from the full-backs immediately to their left or right. Some never developed the mobility or talent with the ball at their feet to cover their own role as well as the space stretching to the touchline.

Vertonghen was no stranger to that area of the pitch though, and neither was Eric Dier on the opposite side of Toby Alderweireld in the middle. Indeed, he might have been better suited for that role than he was either as a straight-forward centre-back or full-back.

The position demanded much more of Vertonghen when the wing-back got caught high up the pitch or when Victor Wanyama was otherwise occupied in midfield. His pace and uncanny ability to chase down loose balls and runners was up to the task however.

Indeed, when possession was recovered Vertonghen had full license to press forward himself and add into Spurs’ efforts in midfield and, occasionally, attack.

Which isn’t to suggest that Vertonghen is a threat in the final third. He remained goalless in all competitions for the second consecutive season. His last success came against Sunderland in a 2-1 win in January of 2015.

Next: Tottenham Player Review: Kyle Walker

Goals are not what Vertonghen is to be judged on of course. Even entering his 30th year, he remains an asset to Spurs’ backline. It’s hard to imagine a scenario where the club does anything but let Vertonghen retire in Spurs colors.