Toby's top five

Tue 16 November 2021, 16:30|Tottenham Hotspur

Toby Alderweireld enjoyed an emotional return to Tottenham Hotspur Stadium when he joined us for our UEFA Europa Conference League fixture against Vitesse at the start of the month.

One of our great defenders of the modern era, Toby was back for the first time since departing this summer for a new challenge in Qatar, drawing to a close his six years at the Club.

Interviewed pitchside before the game, he admitted he was left ‘a little speechless’ after watching messages from our supporters on the big screens inside the stadium bowl. “Those messages go straight to my heart,” he said. “That’s why we play football, for the fans, to make them happy, to fight for them. After six years, those messages... I’m a little speechless.”

Now 32, Toby played 236 times for us after joining from Atletico Madrid in July, 2015. He formed a strong central partnership with fellow Belgian Jan Vertonghen - both now international centurians - that laid the defensive foundations for Champions League qualification (2015/16), second place in the Premier League, including our best defensive record in a Premier League season (2016/17, 26 goals conceded) and onto the Champions League Final in June, 2019.

“It’s a special feeling to be back,” he added. “I want to say a big ‘thanks’ to everyone for supporting me for six years, you have a special place in my heart, and I really miss you guys. We had a very special team, like a bunch of friends who played football together. If I think about it, it gives me a smile.”

Ahead of his return, we asked Toby for his top five moments in a Spurs shirt. Here’s what he had to say...

Ajax 08.05.19

1-0 down from the first leg, 2-0 down at half-time and therefore 3-0 down on aggregate in Amsterdam, Lucas Moura delivered a hat-trick including a last-minute goal to take us through to the Champions League Final...

Toby: "First, and of course most obvious, is the night in Amsterdam. If you are 3-0 down on aggregate and come back in one half to get to 3-3, that’s unbelievable. At half-time, we were like, ‘we have to change this’. It was all or nothing. That showed the heart and character of the team, that we were able to come back from such a difficult situation, to turn it around and make it through to the Champions League Final. I just felt so much joy, it was crazy. It was against my old club, so I was respectful to them, but in the dressing room, seeing everyone in tears, so happy, you know you are writing history. It was the first time Spurs reached the Champions League Final and I’m a small part of that, that’s very special."

Arsenal 05.03.16/12.07.20

Not one, but two derby goals - not bad for a defender! And with his winner during lockdown in July, 2020, Toby became the first player to score against Arsenal both at the old Lane and Tottenham Hotspur Stadium...

Toby: "To score in the north London derby is something special, to score in any game is special, but especially the derby. It’s a big, historic game and scoring in it, as a defender, that’s magical. If you’re new, you know from day one that the north London derby is number one. Then you play at White Hart Lane and, as a defender, you help to keep clean sheets and try not to concede goals, but when you get a moment like this to score a goal and help the team, it’s so magical. I can still feel the moment as if it was yesterday. It was always a game I looked forward to, especially at home. I was excited weeks before. I was lucky to score two goals against them in my career here, special moments. Unfortunately the fans weren’t there in 2020, but the thought I had scoring the winner against Arsenal, even in difficult times, that every Spurs fan was happy at home and full of joy, that gave me a special feeling."

2015/16

Toby's excellent first season was recognised by winning our Members Player of the Season award - joining a host of legends to pick up that honour...

Toby: "I was chosen as Player of the Season in my first season. When you sign you want show yourself, you want to help the team, you want to play well and prove that the Club made the decision to buy you and make all that effort for you. I was also very nervous because Spurs are such an historical club. In my first season, I was chosen as Player of the Season, I was also in the PFA’s Team of the Season for the Premier League, so that’s very special."

Dortmund 17.03.16

Toby recalled a a piece of skill that had stuck with him - and fans - over the years...

Toby: "This was one of my best actions in a game. We played Borussia Dortmund at White Hart Lane. I had a sprint duel against Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang, I won the ball, did another action and a skill. It’s not just the action, it’s the night game and the feeling those games gave me at White Hart Lane, I get a smile on my face just thinking about it. So, it’s not just about the action, it’s the old stadium, the history, how honoured I was to play on that pitch - special nights, definitely."

Madrid 01.06.19

Defeat in the final, but the journey and to be there in Madrid, special memories for all...

Toby: "To play a Champions League Final, even if we lost against Liverpool, just to play that final with Spurs is so special. Like I said, it never happened in the history of Spurs and being able to give such special moments, even if we lost, and that hurts, but you are also so proud to reach the final and have such a special day that will be remembered for all of our lives, I think. Everyone knows the result and we’re all very unhappy about it, but, on the other hand, the journey to the final is something that we have to cherish all of our lives. I would have given anything to win that game. We can be proud of how far we came that season."