Virgil van Dijk, who was born on 8 July 1991. He is a Dutch professional footballer who plays as a centre-back for Premier League club Liverpool and the Dutch national team.
Thought to be one of the definite best defenders in the world, Van Dijk is known for his strength, leadership and aerial ability. He is the only defender to bag UEFA Men’s Player of the Year. Van Dijk and has finished runner-up for the Ballon d’Or and Best FIFA Men’s Player.
Van Dijk is a previous youth international for the Netherlands, appearing on behalf of his country at under-19 and under-21 levels. He made his senior first appearance international for the Netherlands in 2015 and assumed full captaincy of the national team in March 2018. The following year, Van Dijk captained the Netherlands to the final of the inaugural UEFA Nations League,
Early Professional Career
After starting his professional football career with Groningen, Van Dijk moved to Celtic in 2013. Here he won the Scottish Premiership and was named as the PFA Scotland Team of the Year in his two seasons with the club.
In 2015, he joined up at Southampton before signing for Liverpool in January 2018 for £75 million, which was then-world-record transfer amount for a defender. With Liverpool, Van Dijk got to back-to-back UEFA Champions League finals in 2018 as well as 2019, winning the latter.
Also, he was named PFA Players’ Player of the Year in addition to the Premier League Player of the Season in his first complete season. Later, Van Dijk won the FIFA Club World Cup and UEFA Super Cup. He assisted to end the club’s 30-year league title drought by bagging the 2019–20 Premier League.
The Liverpool Defender Is A Fantastic Reader Of The Game
Van Dijk is one of the most intelligent players in football and this trait goes hand in hand with his other qualities and assists with making him a better player. His decision-making skills are top-notch and a crucial factor for his success. Van Dijk is able to keep track of every opposition movement and runs which assists him with closing down spaces and stopping players in their tracks. From defensive capabilities to his attacking instincts, each of these qualities are powered by his awareness of the game.
Van Dijk Is Incredibly Strong
Standing at 6 feet 4 inches and having a very strong build, Virgil van Dijk looks utterly chiselled to fit the mould of “physical toughness” which the Premier League has to offer. The 28-year-old looms over a number of different players in the league and is never scared of having to put his body on the line to defend his goal. He’s as impressive as a bet big dollar casino no deposit bonus and as a player, he’s just as rewarding for his team.
His height, as well as his strength, offers him a massive advantage over his opponents as well as the centre-back boasts of an extraordinary ratio of aerial battles won. Liverpool frequently lacked strength at the back for quite a number of years however this is no longer the case.