Toby Alderweireld Starts Weekly Staging at Royal Antwerp
Toby Alderweireld has begun a one-day-a-week internship at Royal Antwerp FC as he explores a potential future role at the club where he ended his playing career. According to Belgian outlet Voetbalkrant, the former defender, who is already a shareholder at Antwerp, is spending time across multiple departments to learn the club’s sporting, commercial, and organizational operations. A final decision on his position will be made after the current season.
CEO Sven Jaecques explained that a structured trajectory has been outlined for Alderweireld to gain experience before committing to a specific function. "Toby is not yet ready to fill that profile," Jaecques said, referring to the possibility of Alderweireld succeeding Marc Overmars as sporting director—a path the club is not currently pursuing. Instead, Antwerp intends to distribute Overmars’ responsibilities across several roles, including scouting, recruitment, and daily player and coach support, as they consider the iconic status of the current director.
No Rush to Define a Role
Alderweireld’s staging period is designed to help him discover where his strengths lie. The club’s leadership, including chairman Jacques Vandermeiren, emphasizes that Alderweireld has been involved in the Antwerp project from the outset. Alderweireld also works as a television commentator and analyst, and any future role at Antwerp must align with both his ambitions and the club’s needs.
A Career of Milestones and Mixed Emotions
The news of Alderweireld’s off-field exploration comes as the Belgian reflects publicly on the most dramatic night of his playing career. In an interview with FourFourTwo, Alderweireld recounted Tottenham Hotspur’s incredible 2019 Champions League semi-final comeback against Ajax—the club where he began his professional journey.
Spurs had lost the first leg 1-0 at home and were 2-0 down at half-time in Amsterdam, trailing 3-0 on aggregate. Alderweireld admitted he doubted a comeback. "I thought ‘I want to go home, this is not going to happen,’" he said. But manager Mauricio Pochettino introduced Fernando Llorente, shifting to a direct, physical style. Lucas Moura scored twice to level the tie, and then completed his hat-trick in the final minute to send Tottenham to their first Champions League final on away goals.
"When he got the third in the last minute, it was unbelievable," Alderweireld recalled. Yet the victory was bittersweet. "To kill the dream of my former club was a strange feeling—I’ll always be grateful to Ajax—but football is like that," he told FourFourTwo.
From Homesick Teenager to Ajax Icon
Alderweireld’s connection to Ajax runs deep. In a separate interview with Het Nieuwsblad, he described leaving his hometown of Ekeren as a homesick teenager to join Ajax’s youth academy. "When I had to leave that warm nest in Ekeren again and get back on the train to Amsterdam, it felt like lead in my shoes," he said. His father played a pivotal role, pushing him onto the train and turning his back—a moment Alderweireld now views as a turning point. He went on to make 186 appearances for Ajax’s first team.
That difficult departure ultimately paved the way for a career that included 127 caps for Belgium, a Champions League final with Tottenham, and a league title with Royal Antwerp under current Belgium coach Mark van Bommel. Alderweireld noted that without leaving home, his famous 93:33-minute goal against Racing Genk—which helped secure Antwerp’s title—might never have happened.
What This Means for Antwerp and Alderweireld’s Future
Alderweireld’s gradual integration into Antwerp’s backroom structure signals a carefully managed transition from player to executive. The club is intentionally avoiding a rushed appointment, recognizing that Overmars’ shoes are too large for any single successor. By rotating through departments, Alderweireld can identify where he adds the most value—whether in sporting coordination, recruitment, or commercial strategy.
For Alderweireld, the move represents a natural next step. As a shareholder and former player, he has already helped anchor the club’s project. His media work keeps him close to the game, but a formal role at Antwerp would allow him to shape the club’s future from within. The decision, expected after the season, will depend on both his self-discovery and the club’s evolving needs.
In the meantime, his reflections on Ajax and Tottenham remind fans of the emotional weight behind a career that has spanned some of European football’s most memorable moments. As Alderweireld learns the inner workings of Antwerp, he does so with the same measured approach that defined his playing days—one step at a time, with an eye on the bigger picture.
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