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Fullname: Virgil van Dijk
aka: VvD
Born: 8 July 1991
Birthplace: Breda, Netherlands
Signed: 21 June 2013 (from £2.6m from FC Groningen)
Left: 1 September 2015 (to Southampton, £11.5m)
Position: Defender, Centre-back
Debut: Aberdeen 0-2 Celtic, League, 17 Aug 2013
Squad No.: 5
Internationals: Netherlands
International Caps: ? [complete at end of career]
International Goals: ? [complete at end of career]
Biog
| “When you play for Celtic, your love for the club never goes away.” Virgil Van Dijk |
The big Dutchman was to be thrown into the deep end at Celtic. The unexpected loss of Celtic’s bedrock in defence, Kelvin Wilson, meant that Van Dijk was to be given a key role in the side, and it was a big ask.
However, early performances already marked his card high and opinion was overwhelmingly positive. Actually everyone had forgotten Wilson by now pretty fast after Van Dijk’s arrival.
For his debut, he replaced Efe Ambrose as a second-half substitute in a 2-0 win for the Hoops on 17th August 2013, and he was relishing his return north.
“My first game was Aberdeen away as well. I came on as a sub for Efe and it was a great feeling. After that it went like a rollercoaster.”
Van Dijk was a tall athletic figure, comfortable on the ball and in the air. Mature ahead of his time, he was a valuable player and a rising star. Composed under pressure and unafraid of making challenges, but also his timing for tackling was excellent. Many would rank him as the one of the finest defenders we’d had for the past ten years and easily the best player in the league.
As a measure of his attacking prowess he amassed a number of great goals too. As if he was showing off his previous skill, he scored a magnificent free kick against Hibs in January 2014 of a quality that even the much lauded Nakamura would have been proud of (i.e. postage stamp and all that).
Other notable goals include a cracking double v Ross County in a 4-1 win in November 2013 which sealed his first goals for the club, and a winning goal v St Johnstone in December 2013. He was always ready to lead the frontline in a set-piece for a chance at goal, and he had one hell of a good head for the shots.
He always looked happy too and smiled quite a bit, and this came out well on the pitch and made the support warm to him.
He had become the lynchpin in the finest Celtic defence for many a year. With a fine set of full backs and a good (albeit sometimes awkward) partner in Ambrose, the defence helped Forster break domestic records for clean sheets, and came close to the British and European records.
Admittedly when tested in Europe, matters were tougher and against sterner opponents it wasn’t easy. Yet he more than stood his ground and all rated him very highly and a standout in the Celtic side. Despite the 6-1 tanking by Barcelona, Van Dijk still came out of the match well. He was rated by all for his performances in the competition and was given commendations.
Bizarrely, his national side was sticking its nose up at him. After all he had proven, he was still not awarded a set place in the Dutch squad for the forthcoming 2014 World Cup. They truly were ridiculous in this case.
The 2014-15 season started difficult under new manager Ronny Deila but soon enough with new defensive partner Denayer they struck up a formidable pairing. They set about brilliantly marshalling the defence and helped the club to an exceptional low tally of conceded goals in the league. The pair were perfect and were amicably as close off the field as on it. They were lauded to the heavens by the support.
So good, they were both nominated for end of season awards which were duly won by his defensive partner.
Against Dundee Utd in a two nil win the pairing teamed up to create a delightfully worked goal together This pairing was quite an asset, and in football such a goal created and sealed by a central defence is rare.
Inevitably, his form was going to be noticed, and his agent had already made noises about his forthcoming departure in the summer. There was little the club could do. Van Dijk had stated his ambitions to move on in time, and it was difficult to begrudge him that.
However, his final matches slightly dented his reputation. Celtic held onto him desperately wanting him to play in the competitive Champions League qualifiers for Celtic, a competition he had the quality to make an impression in. Sadly, his mind was made up on moving, and in the pivotal qualifying matches v Malmo his full concentration wasn’t wholly there, and many would contribute his errors as part of the reason for the side’s premature exit. It shouldn’t be held against him, as others were poor too. In any case, a poorly performing Van Dijk was actually still a class ahead of many defenders.
He was bought by Southampton for £11.5m in Aug 2015, and the Celtic support wished him well. A great footballer who was certainly to go on to some greater success.
Post-Celtic
After a stellar time at Southampton, he moved onto Liverpool for a then world record £75m transfer (for a defender). He was to become an iconic figure globally in the game, with the EPL the premier league globally. Rated as the best defender in the world. He played in a European Cup final with Liverpool in 2018, but his side lost to Real Madrid who made history as the first team to win the European Cup in the Champions League era three times in a row.
However that was just the start, and he then helped Liverpool to the European Cup title in 2019, and then finally winning the EPL league title in 2019/20 season, their first since 1990. Some even ranked him during these seasons as the best player in the world, which was quite an achivement as there were legendary players like Ronaldo & Messi still playing.
Whenever asked about Celtic, he always spoke well of his time at the club. […]
Quotes
“When you play for Celtic, your love for the club never goes away.”
Virgil Van Dijk
“My first game was Aberdeen away as well. I came on as a sub for Efe and it was a great feeling. After that it went like a rollercoaster.”
Virgil Van Dijk
“Plenty will disagree with me, but Virgil van Dijk is vastly over-rated. A nice footballer, but too often gets found out by decent strikers.”
Journalist Tom English got proved badly wrong on this prediction (Nov 2014)
“I also have two members of my team at the moment who are always glued to the TV at our training ground when Celtic play, in Virgil van Dijk and Andy Robertson. Virgil is an ex-Celtic player, of course, but Robbo is just a massive, massive Celtic fan. So I get to hear lots about Celtic. In Robbo’s case, he talks constantly about it, even when you don’t ask, and all I hear is that it is a special club that has a lot of heart and soul. So I’m really looking forward to getting my own experience of this.”
Jurgen Klopp (Aug 2018)
“Celtic are a massive club and people underestimate them sometimes. It’s such a historic club and a great environment. The fans are outstanding, the stadium is amazing and to get Champions League in my first season there was great for my development.”
Virgil Van Dijk (2019)
“People still underestimate how big Celtic are.”
Virgil van Dijk (2021)
“What a club it is. European nights, the fans, the club, the way of living as a Celtic player & a Celtic fan. It’s just incredible.”
Virgil van Dijk
“I really feel that my step to Celtic was something based on a feeling with the fans, the club, the community and that it really feels like it is a way of living at Celtic.”
Virgil van Dijk (The Scotsman 2022)
“After I made that steps. Being able to go from FC Groningen to Celtic was a big one because I played for one of the biggest clubs in the world that nobody really realises in my opinion. I didn’t realise much before I joined but when I joined it was unbelievable. Playing Champions League in my first season; Barcelona, AC Milan, played against Ajax the year after in the Europa League. I won two league trophies, I won the cup trophy so all these things and the experience made me ready for the Premier League. It was just the right path that I took and it definitely helped me and shaped me who I am today because as you know experience is such a big thing especially for defenders, for centre halves and I feel like it only makes you better.”
Virgil van Dijk (Nov 2022)
“Robbo (Andy Robertson) is probably just as excited as I am and I think, potentially, a little bit jealous because he loves it here. And the same with Virgil. He had a great time here, so I’ve heard nothing but good things.”
Nat Phillips (Aug 2023)
“It was something that we did when I was a Celtic player, and I always liked it because I thought it set the tone for the game and it also gave the crowd a signal that we were ready to go. It can also help the atmosphere with it being so close to the match starting, so if our fans want to join in by building up the noise and adding to the sense of anticipation I certainly won’t complain, even if it makes it difficult for me to make myself heard.”
Van Dijk on introducing the Huddle to the Liverpool team on being appointed the captain in 2023
“Glasgow means a lot. It was my first time going abroad, my first time winning trophies, and all of those things were massive to me. They shaped me, how I am as a person.”
Virgil van Dijk
Playing Career
| APPEARANCES | LEAGUE | SCOTTISH CUP | LEAGUE CUP | EUROPE | TOTAL |
| 2013-14 | 36 | 2 | 1 | 8 | 47 |
| Goals | 5 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 5 |
| 2014-15 | 35 | 5 | 4 | 14 | 58 |
| Goals | 4 | 4 | 0 | 2 | 10 |
| 2015-16 | 4 | 0 | 0 | 5 | 9 |
| Goals | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Total |
75 |
7 |
5 |
27 |
114 |
| Goals | 9 |
4 |
0 |
2 |
15 |
Honours with Celtic
Scottish League
Scottish League Cup
Pictures
KDS
Articles
Virgil van Dijk: Dutch defender joins Celtic
BBC
20 July 2013
Netherlands Under-21 centre-back Virgil van Dijk has signed a four-year contract with Celtic.
The 21-year-old has joined in a £2.6m deal from FC Groningen, for whom he made 37 appearances last season, with a 10% sell-on fee for the Dutch club.
“It feels very good and I’m very excited to be here,” he said.
And Celtic manager Neil Lennon tweeted: “Delighted that we have acquired Virgil van Dijk… a highly talented young player.”
“I’m a strong defender and I’m good in the air, but I also like to play football on the ground, and I hope that we’ll do even better than we did last season”
Virgil van Dijk
Van Dijk moved to Groningen from Willem II in 2011 and had two years left on his contract at FC Groningen.
“Celtic is the biggest club in Scotland and they also play in the Champions League,” he said.
“They’re a fantastic club and when Celtic came in for me I was so excited. Everything here is good so I can’t wait to get started.
“I hope to play many games for my country in the future but first of all I want to make things happen here.
“I’m a strong defender and I’m good in the air, but I also like to play football on the ground, and I hope that we’ll do even better than we did last season.”
The Scottish champions have already recruited striker Amido Balde, 22, from Portuguese club Vitoria Guimaraes.
With central defenders Thomas Rogne moving on, Rami Gershon’s loan expiring and Nigeria international Efe Ambrose missing the start of the season while he plays in the Confederations Cup, Celtic manager Neil Lennon has moved swiftly to ensure there is cover and competition for places for the forthcoming season.
Centre-half is Kelvin Wilson’s natural position while Charlie Mulgrew can play there, at left-back or in a more advanced position.
The Champions League qualifying draw will be made on 24 June, with Celtic’s first match scheduled for 19-20 July.
Liverpool’s Virgil van Dijk on how Celtic shaped everything for him as he makes Ibrox quip
https://www.scotsman.com/sport/football/celtic/liverpools-virgil-van-dijk-on-how-celtic-shaped-everything-for-him-as-he-makes-ibrox-quip-3872462
A couple of years in a career spanning almost 13 might not seem that significant. For Liverpool captain Virgil van Dijk, though, the two he spent with Celtic from 2013 impacted all that has followed in his glittering career.
By Andrew Smith
Sunday, 9th October 2022, 7:00 am
The 31-year-old has cause to recall his stint in Scottish football through preparing to take to a Glasgow football pitch for the first time since a £13m deal took him from Celtic to Southampton on September 1, 2015. The circumstances will be very different from his old days in the country that followed a £2.5m move from FC Gronigen as his heavyweight team are hosted by Rangers in Wednesday’s Champions League encounter. The concluding part of a double header that follows the comprehensive 2-0 victory for Jurgen Klopp’s men on their own patch last week.
Merely travelling back to Glasgow, where he hasn’t been since he left, will stir warm reminiscences and a sense of gratitude for van Dijk. “Glasgow means a lot, and it will be good to see old friends,” said the Netherlands international. “It was my first time going abroad, my first time winning trophies, and all of those things were massive to me. They shaped me, how I am as a person. I have my daughter who was born there. So many good memories that I will cherish forever so it will be great to go back and I hope we will get the win as well.
“I [learned so much]. I played for FC Groningen for a long time, they are a mid-table club and sometimes you defend a lot, sometimes you can attack. But not like what I was used to at Celtic. At Celtic, the pressure was immense. If you draw you’ve lost. You had to win and that was something, that mentality, I definitely learned. But it was also learning how to play the British style with more direct, channel balls, a lot of fighting, headers. It was something I wasn’t really used to in Holland so it definitely helped me in order to be ready for my next step in the Premier League.
“Celtic was 100 per cent similar to Liverpool and that is maybe one of the reasons that I picked Liverpool [in 2019] as well. I really feel that my step to Celtic was something based on a feeling with the fans, the club, the community and that it really feels like it is a way of living at Celtic. With Liverpool, it is exactly the same. When I had the choice to pick between Liverpool and other clubs, for me it was quite clear that I wanted to come here. I play here and I feel like I play for a lot of people and their lives. I am really proud of being a part of Celtic and Liverpool.”
Van Dijk never played at Ibrox for Celtic, with the Rangers that emerged from liquidation in 2012 then working up the leagues. But he knows the home crowd on Wednesday also won’t forget his past days in Glasgow. “You think so?!” he said, with a smile. “It happens and you have to accept it. The only thing I can do is focus on the game and that is what I will do.”
Virgil van Dijk reveals Celtic element ‘nobody realises’ that was making of him
https://www.footballscotland.co.uk/spfl/scottish-premiership/virgil-van-dijk-reveals-celtic-25430881
The big defender move to Glasgow in 2013 and was in England within two years
Bookmark
SPFL
ByBlair MeikleLive Sports Writer
21:11, 3 NOV 2022
Ex Celtic star Virgil van Dijk in his Hoops days
Ex Celtic star Virgil van Dijk in his Hoops days (Image: PA)
Virgil van Dijk says his move to Celtic was the making of him and prepared him to be a Liverpool star.
After joining the Hoops from Groningen in his homeland in 2013, the Dutchman was a star in Scottish football as he proved himself to be a Rolls Royce of a centre back. It wasn’t long before he was turning heads down south and Southampton paid around £13million to win the battle for his signature after just two years in green and white.
The rapid ascent continued and he eventually outgrew Saints too, his performances prompting Liverpool to splash out a reported £75m. He’s now recognised as one of the best defenders in the world and has Premier League, FA Cup and Champions League winners’ medals as well as 49 Netherlands caps.
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He’s discussed being a late developer – 23 when he left his homeland for Celtic and 27 before he reached the pinnacle of his career with the Reds. And he reckons it’s playing at Parkhead that really developed him into the player he is.
Van Dijk told The Overlap with Gary Neville: “I think I went under the radar a bit. I got my growth spurt when I was 16, 17 like over the summer I got a crazy growth spurt. You would see me and think ‘what’s going on here?’.
“I had growing problems, I had to get insoles but after that I started to really evolve and become the captain of the under-19s then I made big steps. Before that I was just a regular boy and I wasn’t great but I was there.
“After I made that steps. Being able to go from FC Groningen to Celtic was a big one because I played for one of the biggest clubs in the world that nobody really realises in my opinion. I didn’t realise much before I joined but when I joined it was unbelievable.
“Playing Champions League in my first season; Barcelona, AC Milan, played against Ajax the year after in the Europa League. I won two league trophies, I won the cup trophy so all these things and the experience made me ready for the Premier League.
“It was just the right path that I took and it definitely helped me and shaped me who I am today because as you know experience is such a big thing especially for defenders, for centre halves and I feel like it only makes you better.”