31 Facts About Virgil Van Dijk

Virgil van Dijk was born on 8 July 1991 and is a Dutch professional footballer who plays as a centre-back for Premier League club Liverpool and the Netherlands national team.

Virgil Van Dijk is the only defender to win UEFA Men's Player of the Year, and has finished runner-up for the Ballon d'Or and Best FIFA Men's Player.

Virgil Van Dijk was named PFA Players' Player of the Year and the Premier League Player of the Season in his first full season.

Van Dijk is a former youth international for the Netherlands, representing his country at under-19 and under-21 levels.

Virgil Van Dijk made his senior international debut for the Netherlands in 2015 and assumed full captaincy of the national team in March 2018.

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The following year, Van Dijk captained the Netherlands to the final of the inaugural UEFA Nations League, where they finished runners-up.

Van Dijk was born in Breda to a Dutch father and a Surinamese mother.

Virgil Van Dijk combined his time playing at the Willem II academy with a part-time job as a dishwasher.

Van Dijk initially struggled to break into Groningen's first team with club staff believing he was "overtired" after extensive playing time with Willem II's academy and reserve sides.

Virgil Van Dijk suffered a personal setback during the campaign as soon after his 20th birthday he was admitted to hospital with peritonitis and kidney poisoning.

Van Dijk later revealed that he had been close to dying as a result of the medical emergency and that the hospital had even gone so far as to ask him to sign a "sort of will" in the event of his passing.

Virgil Van Dijk did return to Groningen and continued to impress the following season.

Virgil Van Dijk was one of three Celtic players named in the PFA Scotland Team of the Year.

Van Dijk was nominated for the PFA Scotland Players' Player of the Year award, but lost out to fellow Celtic player Kris Commons.

Virgil Van Dijk was again shortlisted for the PFA Scotland Players' Player award, but lost out to another teammate, this time Stefan Johansen.

On 7 May 2016, Van Dijk signed a new six-year contract with the Saints.

On 7 August 2017, Van Dijk handed in a transfer request to Southampton and released a statement along with it, emphasising his wish to join a different club in the transfer window.

Van Dijk played 22 games in all competitions in his first season with the club, scoring once.

In October 2019, Van Dijk was shortlisted as one in 30 football players for the Ballon d'Or.

On 21 December 2019, after missing the semi-final of the 2019 FIFA Club World Cup with illness, Van Dijk played in the final against Flamengo with Liverpool winning the trophy for the first time in the club's history.

Van Dijk received further recognition following the turn of the year, when he was named in the 2019 UEFA Team of the Year.

On 12 September 2020, Van Dijk scored a headed goal against Leeds United on the opening day of the new season.

Van Dijk made his first appearance in over nine months on 29 July 2021, coming on as a second-half substitute in a preseason friendly against Hertha BSC.

On 13 August 2021, Van Dijk signed a new four-year contract, keeping him at the club until 2025.

In May 2021, Van Dijk ruled himself out of playing in the postponed UEFA Euro 2020 to have enough time to recover after a long-term injury since October 2020.

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Van Dijk is a physically strong, right-footed centre-back, who usually features on the left-hand side of central defence, although he can play as a right-sided centre-back.

Virgil Van Dijk is gifted with pace, good technique, and an eye for goal, and is an effective set-piece taker.

Virgil Van Dijk was good on set-pieces, some of the free-kicks he scored for Celtic are absolute wonders.

Virgil Van Dijk had an aura about him, a confidence, because I think he knew he was good.

Virgil Van Dijk is very fast and big, but he has a lot of agility for his height.

Virgil Van Dijk is fast because of its [sic] great stride, and he is impressive both in defence and attack because he scores lots of goals.