Toby Alderweireld credits Martin Jol for Jan Vertonghen partnership

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Former Tottenham Hotspur manager Martin Jol worked with Toby Alderweireld and Jan Vertonghen at Ajax.

Tottenham Hotspur defender Toby Alderweireld has suggested to The Times that it was Martin Jol who helped him develop a strong partnership with Jan Vertonghen.

Alderweireld and Vertonghen are two of their best defenders in the Premier League and were in superb form last season.

The Spurs duo have formed a strong central defensive partnership and will be key for Tottenham during the 2016-17 campaign.

Jol, who was in charge of Tottenham from 2004 until 2007, worked with the two Belgium international defenders at Dutch giants Ajax.

Alderweireld has revealed that it was the former Fulham manager who played him and Vertonghen together and helped them form their partnership.

“From day one it went well,” Alderweireld told The Times about his partnership with Vertonghen. “It just felt good.

“We didn’t always play together, because sometimes Jan played in midfield, but Martin Jol gave us the chance to play and it worked.

“I was 19 and he was 21, so I leaned a bit on him, but it was a great process for me.”

Alderweireld and Vertonghen played together with success at Ajax and are also teammates at the Belgium national football team.

The duo have formed arguably the best central defensive partnership in the Premier League.

Alderweireld is facing a spell on the sidelines after picking up an injury during the Premier League game against West Bromwich Albion on Saturday afternoon.

The 27-year-old defender was stretchered off with a leg injury at The Hawthorns, with manager Mauricio Pochettino later telling the club’s official website that further assessment will be done.