Toby Alderweireld, a golden defender

On 2 March 1989 in Wilrijk (Antwerp), one of the best defenders of his generation in Belgian football was born. His name? Toby Albertine Maurits Alderweireld. 

Like many Belgian boys, Toby started playing football at quite a young age – he was only five years old –, at Germinal Ekeren, and he very quickly showed he had talent. Loyal to his club, he remained with Germinal long past its fusion with Beerschot, and played for the “Germinal Beerschot” youth team until 2004.  

It was in that year, just weeks after his 15th birthday, that he made his first appearance in the (U15) national squad, in a friendly against Luxembourg, won 3-2 by Belgium... and can you guess who scored the third goal for Belgium, in his first match? 

It was time for Toby to see the wider world. As part of an exchange programme, Alderweireld joined Ajax, where he remained well into his senior career, until he moved to Atlético Madrid in 2013 at a time when Belgian goalkeeper Thibaut Courtois was also there. 

Following his time in Madrid, Toby Alderweireld had a seven-year stint in the Premier League and a year at Qatari club Al-Duhail, only to come home, to Belgium, in 2022, remaining at Royal Antwerp FC for the rest of his career. 

Belgians will mostly think of Toby, though, as the formidable Red Devil with 127 caps for the main national squad, as a part of the golden generation.  

Alderweireld retired from the national squad in 2023 and announced in 2024 that he was playing his last season in club football as well.