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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.’’

(Image: Laurence Griffiths / Getty)

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.”

Elsewhere, Tom Huddlestone is angling for a first start on over a year against Reading.