Tottenham defender Jan Vertonghen has revealed that he preferred to play in midfield during the early stages of his career at Ajax.
The 28-year-old progressed through the Dutch side's famous youth system, which prides itself on ensuring that the players it produces are capable of playing in a variety of roles.
Vertonghen spent six years at the Amsterdam Arena prior to his move to Spurs in 2012 and has admitted that he used to enjoy a deep lying midfield role in front of the back four more than any other.
"I was a left back, a centre back, a midfielder; I'm still a left back with the national team," he told Sky Sports. "I played everywhere."
"I think overall my favourite position was - in Belgium we call it the number six, I think here it's number four - just in front of the defence. That used to be my favourite position."
The Belgium international is now part of Mauricio Pochettino's preferred partnership in the centre of defence, alongside compatriot Toby Alderweireld, and Vertonghen believes that centre back now represents his best position.
"Centre back. I think that's my best position at the moment. That's where I developed myself as a player at Ajax and where I became the player that I am now."
Spurs are short of options in central midfielders at present following the departure of Benjamin Stambouli and Etienne Capoue, while Nabil Bentaleb has struggled for form in the early stages of the season.
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Vertonghen's versatility could prove to be an asset over the course of the campaign, just as Eric Dier's has been, but he still sees himself primarily as a central defender ahead of Saturday afternoon's clash against Everton at White Hart Lane.
