Much respect for Vertonghen - Acceptance speech

[MsLouMaria]

Acceptance speech not an interview. Can't work out how to change the thread name sorry.

“I miss my dad. I wish he could see where I am now. I wish he could see I am a player at Tottenham Hotspur, a massive club in the Premier League. He would be so proud and I can only hope he can see things from somewhere above."

http://www.mirror.co.uk/sport/football/news/jan-vertonghen-reveals-new-lease-1313397

 

[spursgirls]

Full article (Images removed in case of copyright issues.:

• By Bill Mills
• Comments
• 8 Sep 2012 22:30

Mourning has broken: Vertonghen reveals new lease of life at Spurs after the death of his dad

Dutch defender was reduced to tears as he revealed the personal heartache that will always be his inspiration for playing the game



Jan Vertonghen broke down in tears as he revealed the personal heartbreak that remains the inspiration to his football career.
Tottenham’s new £12million signing was receiving his Footballer of the Year trophy in Holland, an award that acknowledged his brilliant last season with Ajax.
Vertonghen, 25, was the Dutch champion’s outstanding player and captain. His sensational form paved the way for his move to White Hart Lane.
And there wasn’t a dry eye in the house when Vertonghen’s mum stepped forward to present Jan with his prize and the player revealed his heart-breaking past.
Vertonghen, born and raised in Belgium, revealed: “I have gone through difficult times. When I was 20, the manager at Ajax decided to loan me to a small club (RKC) and I felt I was not going to make it at the top level.
“Exactly at that time my dad became critically ill. I got a call from Belgium and they said it was urgent. I had to get home.”
Vertonghen’s father died and he and his two brothers were bereft. Jan went on: “I couldn’t care anymore about the football or the club where I was going to play. I said: ‘What the f***!’ I agreed to go on loan and leave Ajax.
“Nobody knew about my private situation. I am not the sort of guy who tells his manager that his dad is seriously ill.
“There was only one man at Ajax who knew that I was going through absolute hell.’’


Both Vertonghen and his mum cried on the stage in front of 800 guests, who were also wiping away tears. And the player dedicated the golden boot to his late father.
“I miss my dad,” he said. “I wish he could see where I am now. I wish he could see I am a player at Tottenham Hotspur, a massive club in the Premier League. He would be so proud and I can only hope he can see things from somewhere above.
“If your dad jumps off a roof and commits suicide, it must be a shock. In our situation it was the opposite.
“I was six when his illness was diagnosed. For 14 long years I knew he was going to die. And every day of those 14 years I had to live with those emotions. He was such a great dad, a wonderful bloke.
“There are days where I wonder why I am a catholic. My dad was such a good person. The way he lived his life… I find that good people seem to die earlier than bad people.
“Now I want to live life to the full. I want to get everything from my career possible. Nobody will fight harder in the team than me.”
Vertonghen is enjoying his new life in London and has tipped Spurs to mount a title challenge this season.
He said: “I developed in Amsterdam as a player and a person. I came out of my comfort zone.
“This is why I now love living in London and why I can easily talk to anybody.”

 

[Dare!]

That is heart-breaking.

R.I.P. Jan's father.

 

[Dare!]

Mourning has broken: Vertonghen reveals new lease of life at Spurs after the death of his dad

Also, are the Mirror serious with this? 'Mourning has broken'? Fuck off, you disrespectful rag.

 

[MsLouMaria]

Also, are the Mirror serious with this? 'Mourning has broken'? Fuck off, you disrespectful rag.

Agreed. Do they really need a pun in the headline? It's beyond ridiculous!

 

[chinaman]

I think he loves Spurs just like VDV did.

 

[raf18]

Video here (in dutch):

http://www.telegraaf.nl/telesport/video_telesport/12893250/__Tranen_bij_Jan_Vertonghen__.html

 

[Snarfalicious]

I have that feeling that Vertonghen is going to become my favorite Spurs player.

He's such a likable guy, and I feel as though his solid play from the back will only magnify that.

 

[spursgirls]

Also, are the Mirror serious with this? 'Mourning has broken'? Fuck off, you disrespectful rag.

Awful isn't it? I cringed when I read it. It seem the downmarket papers think they have to make puns for every headline, no matter how distasteful.
I thought Verts was going to be an asset to Spurs when he signed for us, but now I have even more respect for the man, and I'm looking forward to him being a great player for us.

 

[Harry_Snatch]

Shows that motivation is much more important trait than talent. Fortunately Jan seems to have both but it has clearly been his determination that has got him to where he is today.

BTW the Original Poster is HOT. Women in Spurs shirts is just dangerous.

 

[parklane1]

Also, are the Mirror serious with this? 'Mourning has broken'? Fuck off, you disrespectful rag.

Indeed, the gutter press at its finest.

 

[arnoldlayne]

Really like this guy

Hope he does well at Spurs and we give him time to get used to the different league style

 

[bugsdad]

Class act just like his football. Future club captain.

 

[Snarfalicious]

Really like this guy

Hope he does well at Spurs and we give him time to get used to the different league style

I know a lot of people have mentioned they think he looks a bit outmatched, but for a guy coming from a division like the Erdevisie which pails in comparison to the toughness of the BPL, I think he's done as well as can be expected.

He's been phenomenal in the air, he made a few key blocks on shots (Lukaku's comes to mind immediately), and while he has been outmuscled at times, he didn't give up a goal as a result. His positioning, from my estimation, appears to be superb. Positioning is half the battle, and I think once he gets used to the strikers of the BPL, he's going to be a key cog in our defense for years.

I get giddy thinking of Kaboul, Verts, Walker, BAE, and Lloris coming together to form our defense. And Sandro sitting in front of them could equate to one of, if not the best, defenses in the PL.

 

[alex3]

by the end of the season he will be our best CB just needs a bit of time to settle

 

[Yiddo1982]

I pray Verts and Kaboul build a solid partnership. They can be world class together.

 

[YiddoJames]

Agreed. Do they really need a pun in the headline? It's beyond ridiculous!

It's bizarre isn't it? It doesn't even make sense. As someone who has to write headlines sometimes myself I can't see why they deemed it necessary especially for a sensitive subject such as a death

 

[Spurrific]

It's bizarre isn't it? It doesn't even make sense. As someone who has to write headlines sometimes myself I can't see why they deemed it necessary especially for a sensitive subject such as a death

Because they're insensitive ****s.

 

[ItsBoris]

That is a very moving and emotional story, I had no idea that he lost his father.

 

[The Watcher]

Classy player and a classy guy. This is the sort of footballing role model that kids should aspire to be, rather than most of the spoilt pricks around over here.