Over the past five years, Virgil van Dijk has established himself as one of the world’s best centre-backs. The Netherlands international has represented his country at three World Cups, scoring in the semi-final against Argentina in 2014.
Van Dijk began his career in 2013/14 with Newcastle United, where his contract was terminated early after he suffered an injury. Despite this, he went on to play for Fulham, Liverpool and recently returned to Newcastle in the Championship. Here, we take a look at the key statistics that define the Netherland’s best defender.
International Career
Virgil van Dijk has represented the Netherlands at Euro 2016 and the 2018 World Cup. The 30-year-old started his international career in 2012 and has since then, established himself as a regular in his national side’s starting XI.
With nine goals and nine assists to his name, Van Dijk has certainly proven to be a threat both in attack and defence for Holland. He has also been a key member of the Netherlands’ squads at both the 2014 World Cup and Euro 2016. The most impressive statistic about Van Dijk’s international career is his zero goals allowed in 21 International appearances.
Contract Amount
Though he spent the majority of his career in the Premier League, with the exception of a two-year spell at Newcastle, Van Dijk has always been contracted to Dutch side and has never been on loan. The centre-back signed a four-year deal with Newcastle in 2014 and was due to become a free agent in the summer of 2022. If you are a fan of Virgil van Dijk, follow the link below and learn more about him.
However, in June 2022, Newcastle United decided not to exercise their right of redemption and allowed the defender to leave the club after he turned down the new contract on improved terms. Now in the Championship, the former Premier League starlet is set to stay for the rest of the season.
Age
Many regarded Virgil van Dijk as one of the most complete and assured defenders of his generation, which naturally makes him even more effective at the ripe old age of 30. The Netherlands international had signed a four-year contract extension with Newcastle United in June 2022, after putting in a man of the match performance in the EFL Cup semi-final win over Sheffield United.
Born on the 23rd of June 1988, Van Dijk is one of the most experienced players in the world of football. Indeed, he has already amassed over 100 caps for his country and has captained the side on numerous occasions. By the way, if you are betting on sports and want to get a bonus code, go to https://odds2win.bet/bonuses/pakistan/melbet and collect your bonuses.
Style
Described by one journalist as a ‘human highlight reel’, Virgil van Dijk has an electric personality on the pitch which endears him to the fans and plays a pivotal role in the success of his team. The defender is highly technical and has an advanced understanding of the game, making him a regular source of assists for those around him.
Beyond his performances on the pitch, Van Dijk is well-known for his commitment to youth development and regularly donates excess playing time to aid young fans in their quest for success. As a result, he is widely regarded as one of the greatest footballers of his generation and a role model to many.
Tackle
While most footballers rely on strength and size to win games, Virgil van Dijk is extremely effective at winning the ball back for his team. A massive presence in the centre of the pitch, the defender is highly intelligent in his approach and has a tendency to time his slide tackles perfectly, preventing any danger to his team’s defensive line.
Combined with his height and long hair, the image of Van Dijk lunging at a ball and winning it back for his team is one that instantly springs to mind. The defender also wins every head-to-head challenge he takes part in, proving to be an instrumental part of some truly remarkable defensive displays.
Pass
Though he is a naturally talented defender, one of Virgil van Dijk’s greatest strengths is his passing. The Dutchman is highly sophisticated in his use of the ball and has a tendency to thread passes through the opposition’s midfield, creating space for his teammates. He also has a knack of getting the ball past opponents and into the back of the net.
As a result of his vision and distribution, many pundits have rated Virgil van Dijk as one of the best passers in the world. In the English Premier League alone, he has over 200 successful passes every game, demonstrating just how valuable he can be in linking play and creating chances for his teammates.
Stoppage Time
With such a deep understanding of the game and such an assured ball-playing style, Virgil van Dijk naturally has no need for additional time to decide whether or not to tackle. Indeed, the defender is usually able to identify and close down the ball-carrier in an instant, preventing the opposition from gaining any meaningful momentum. Van Dijk rarely, if ever, allows a breakaway and has only allowed 12 goals in 36 matches across all competitions during his time in England.
Though he takes his job as defender very seriously, the 30-year-old has a wonderful sense of humour and regularly cracks jokes at his own expense to lighten the mood in the dressing room. Most notably, he is known to enjoy a game of golf as much as the next guy and has been pictured wearing a golf shirt while training.
Passenger Duty
A frequent flyer, Virgil van Dijk has racked up over 100,000 miles flying with the likes of Easyjet, Emirates and Qatar Airways. The defender has been a regular on the international stage since youth level and has represented his country at three World Cups. Naturally, given his frequent travel abroad, the Dutchman is keen to ensure the safety of his passengers and has become heavily involved with the Airline Pilots’ Association (ALPA), participating in the campaign to make air travel safer. He has also been vocal about the need for more protective equipment for airline staff and urged the industry to prioritise safety measures and training for cabin crew.
Summary
Virgil van Dijk is undoubtedly one of the world’s best centre-backs and has spent most of his career in the English Premier League, where he has won two Footballer of the Year awards, two PFA Players’ Players’ awards and the UEFA Champions League before establishing himself as a key player for Liverpool. A naturally talented defender, intelligent approach and huge amounts of skill make Virgil Van Dijk a joy to watch and play against.
