Virgil van Dijk’s treatment of young star speaks volumes as comments still ring true

Virgil van Dijk’s leadership skills as Liverpool’s captain date back to his time at Celtic, where despite being a youngster himself, he helped nuture those around him

Since moving to Liverpool over seven years ago, Virgil van Dijk has established himself as one of the greatest modern defenders. The Reds captain has lifted eight trophies during his tenure, including the Premier League and Champions League, as well as the UEFA Super Cup and FIFA Club World Cup.

Van Dijk has also racked up a number of significant personal awards, proving that the £75million Liverpool forked out to Southampton for him in January 2018 was money well spent. Amid his meteoric rise at Anfield, one constant has been his unwavering strength of character. Even when he first joined Celtic from Groningen back in 2013 at the age of 21, Van Dijk’s potential as both a leader and a world-class talent was evident.

His qualities didn’t go unnoticed by Eoghan O’Connell, his former team-mate, who debuted alongside Van Dijk in a centre-back pairing during a 1-1 stalemate with Ross County in March 2014. O’Connell, just 18 at the time, expressed his admiration for Van Dijk’s calmness on the field shortly after the match.

“He’s tremendous and he makes the game look easy most of the time,” O’Connell told The Herald. “Even in the Champions League games he was arguably the best player on the pitch. I don’t see why he shouldn’t go to the World Cup.

“Playing with him, he oozes confidence. He talked me through the whole game. The way he plays the game is beyond his years. You have to look at him as an example, the way he’s progressed through the season has been fantastic.”

The commendation from O’Connell, who now features for Wrexham in League One, still holds weight today. Van Dijk’s assuredness with the ball and his eagerness to mentor emerging defenders have been standout traits at Anfield.

Jarell Quansah, a current squad member benefiting from Van Dijk’s guidance, recently shared his appreciation for the Dutchman’s wisdom and experience after earning a spot in England manager Thomas Tuchel’s inaugural lineup.

“He’s lived my career,” Quansah told the BBC last week. “He’s been a young centre-half, made mistakes, and then reached the pinnacle, the very top of football, and been one of the best centre-halves that we’ve seen.

“He can resonate a lot with me and, anything he can do to help me, he’s trying to do and I’m grateful for that. On a day-to-day basis, he is always talking to me. It’s all valuable information that I take from him.”

Van Dijk’s sportsmanship was on full display following Liverpool’s Carabao Cup final loss to Newcastle on Sunday. Despite the 2-1 defeat, he took the time to congratulate every player from the opposing team as they revelled in their triumph.

Speculation about Van Dijk’s future at Anfield continues, with rumours suggesting a potential transfer to Saudi Pro League club Al Hilal. Liverpool’s bargaining position is compromised by the fact that Van Dijk’s contract is set to expire come the summer.

The player himself has confessed to being unsure about his future plans. “I have no idea at the moment. Genuinely, I still have no idea,” Van Dijk recently admitted. “It is not on hold. Nothing on hold. There are 10 games to go and that is my full focus.

“If there is news you guys will know it. I don’t even know myself. Everyone knows there are some conversations behind the scenes but that is about it. At the moment I don’t even know what will happen next year. If anyone says they do know, they are lying to your face.”

Liverpool might want to ponder over the words of Van Dijk’s current and former team-mates when deciding his future. He has been instrumental in their Premier League title chase this season, with the Reds currently leading Arsenal by 12 points at the top of the table.

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