[ad_pod ]Loads of Tottenham fans have been reacting to a huge update on their former hero, as Rafael van der Vaart has announced his retirement.You’d be hard pushed to find a player with more raw technical ability than van der Vaart, and Tottenham fans are full of praise for their former star.The 35-year-old joined Esbjerg this summer, but has now announced his retirement after continuing to struggle with injuries.“I just have to stop now. I'm not here to rehabilitate, but to play football," he said."I would have wanted to become a football grandpa, but that is not the case. I can only be grateful for all the years I was allowed to play football."[brid autoplay="true" video="326259" player="12034" title="Liverpool Or Chelsea For The Title Forget it!"]Tottenham have let multiple superstars leave over the last decade or so, but few hurt more than the departure of the talented Dutch playmaker.He racked up 109 caps for the Netherlands and scored 24 times in 63 Premier League games in North London.His struggles with injuries and the arrivals of the likes of Mousa Dembele and Clint Dempsey eventually forced him out after two seasons with the club, and he returned to former club Hamburg.Loads of fans have been showing the love after he announced his retirement, and they’re also regretting not keeping him around longer.You can find some of the best Twitter reactions down below…