Virgil van Dijk - the center of the Reds' defense
Since he’s arrived at Anfield in January 2018, Virgil van Dijk did a tremendous job leading the defense system of the Reds. Jurgen Klopp made an amazing selection after he came to Anfield by choosing VVD as a corner-stone for the defense of Liverpool. And in just few years he became one of the best Europe’s defenders.
The Dutch international has become the only defender in the world to win UEFA Men’s Player of the Year Award. Besides his amazing defensive skills, he is also well known for his confidence, strength and leadership abilities.
The backline of Liverpool was struggling for years until the arrival of VVD. Virgil has brought an outstanding sprit to all the players especially the other defenders of the Reds. With his crazy wonderful defensive skills, tackles and goals, he has become the destroyer of every enemy and he’s made defending looks so easy.
Virgil van Dijk before Liverpool
VVD has played with 3 different clubs before Liverpool (Groningen, Celtic and Southampton).
Groningen
Virgil van Dijk has started his professional career with Figueirense. He played his first start match with the Duch football club on 27 May 2011 against ADO Den Haag and he scored twice (the match has ended 5/1 for Groningen).
After his 20th birthday, Virgil was admitted to hospital with peritonitis and kidney poisoning which made him to stop playing for a while and affected his playing during the 2011–12 Eredivisie season.
Celtic
In June 2013, Virgil van Dijk signed with Celtic, a four-year contract with a fee of around £2.6 million. He made his first start match with the Scottish football club in August 2013 against Inverness Caledonian Thistle (the match ended 2/2).
VVD has played a total of 115 matches with Celtic, scored 15 goals, and shortlisted twice for the PFA Scotland Players’ Player award. After that, he decided to go to the Premier League.
Southampton
In September 2015, Virgil van Dijk signed with Southampton, a five-year contract for a £13 million transfer fee. By the end of September, he scored his first goal with the English football club on the match against Swansea City (the match ended 3/1 for Southampton).
VVD has played a total of 80 matches with Southampton, scored 7 goals, and he was named team captain of Southampton in January 2017. After that, he decided to go to the Reds.
Virgil van Dijk with the Reds
In January 2017 and for an initial £75 million transfer fee, Van Dijk signed a long-term contract with Liverpool. On 5 January, VVD made his debut for Liverpool in the third round of the FA Cup and scored the winning goal with a fantastic header against Everton (the match ended 2/1 for Liverpool). In doing so, Virgil van Dijk became the first player since Bill White to score on his debut in the Merseyside derby
Virgil van Dijk has brought an outstanding sprit at the heart of Liverpool’s defense. The backline of Liverpool was struggling for years until the arrival of VVD and by his efforts, he succeeded to improve Liverpool’s previous defensive issues. With his crazy wonderful defensive skills, tackles and goals, he has become the destroyer of every enemy and he’s made defending looks so easy.
In his first season, Virgil reached with Liverpool to the first UEFA Champions League Final since 2007 in 2018 after beating Manchester City and Roma. However, the Reds went on to lose in the final 3–1 to Real Madrid.
Although he’s played just half of the season in the Champions League, VVD was included in the UEFA Champions League Squad of the Season for his wonderful performance during the competition’s knockout stages.
VVD winning the champions League 2018/19
After losing the final against Real Madrid, Liverpool came back to the final at the Metropolitano Stadium in Madrid against Tottenham Hotspur. Early on that match, Virgil van Dijk gave the team the confidence they needed to control the final. The Reds won 2 – 0 goals scored by Mo Salah and Origi. This victory gave Virgil his first trophy with Liverpool in 2019.
After Liverpool’s victory over Tottenham in the 2019 UEFA Champions League Final, Van Dijk was named UEFA’s man of the match. Also in April 2019, VVD was one of six players nominated for the PFA Players’ Player of the Year award alongside his teammate Sadio Mané.
VVD winning the Premier League 2019/20
After losing the Premier League 2018/19 to Manchester City by only one point, Liverpool came back to win the Premier League 2020/21. The season was absolutely historic for the Reds after a 30-year wait to achieve the League title. By this winning, Liverpool got the 19th top-flight title which’s their first since 1989/90.
Virgil van Dijk appeared in all the matches for the Reds in the Premier League fixtures. He has achieved 38 Premier League appearances on this season scoring 5 goals, one assist, and 15 clean sheets. VVD played a total of 3,420 minutes. He has helped the team win very important matches such as his 2 goals against Brighton. Also, his memorable opener goal in the Anfield defeat of Manchester United which were crucial to getting the League.
Virgil van Dijk to become a Liverpool legend
Van Dijk said during an interview with SPORT:
“As a Liverpool legend. I want to achieve incredible things here”.
“We have a fantastic team, we don’t lack anything, we have all the tools necessary to on winning: a coach that we identify with, a versatile squad, a style of play that breeds victories, a stadium, and supporters that play their part.”
“I would like to be one of those players that return to Anfield after retiring. I see club legends at games and I feel part of a really big family”.
What did they say about Virgil van Dijk?
Carles Puyol
Barcelona Legend Carles Puyol in an interview Speaking to the Independent, he said praising VVD:
“Van Dijk is one of the best in the world. He is the complete defender, always calm, a great player”
The manager of Liverpool Jurgen Klopp said on VVD after winning the Chapions League:
“Virgil is in this moment, for sure, the world’s best defender”.
“I don’t want to put a big backpack on his shoulders but I spoke about he still has space for improvement which is best news actually. He is really, really, world class central defender and he was the outstanding player in the Champions League”.
Ricardo KAKA
AC Milan and Brazil legend Kaka said on Virgil van Dijk in quotes published by the club’s official website about Van Dijk’s Ballon d’or:
“Would I give the Ballon d’Or to Virgil van Dijk? I had some discussions talking about it with friends and with my brother and the name we chose is really his”.
Kris Commons
Celtic teammate Kris Commons said on Virgil van Dijk:
“Virgil had good technique and a wonderful right foot. He was good on set-pieces, some of the free-kicks he scored for Celtic are absolute wonders. He could read the game well. Van Dijk had an aura about him, a confidence, because I think he knew he was good”.
Virgil van Dijk Honours with Liverpool
- Premier League 2019/20
- UEFA Champions League 2018/19
- European Super Cup 2019
- FIFA Club World Cup 2019
Personal info
- Full name: Virgil van Dijk
- Birthdate: 8 July 1991
- Birthplace: Breda, Netherlands
- Signed for LFC: 1 January 2018
