In 2012, a year following Virgil Van Dijk made his debut for a professional team in his hometown of the Netherlands, he suddenly felt unwell following one game. No one knew for sure why the midfielder’s health had declined, until Van Dijk’s mother visited him.
Van Dijk in the early days of his career in the Netherlands.
She took her son to the hospital, where doctors said Van Dijk had developed appendicitis, and even affected his kidneys if not operated in time.
Van Dijk was devastated when faced with death, and even considered writing his will at just 20 years old.
“I was so scared, I still remember lying on that bed, all I might see were the tubes being pulled out of my body, I had a serious illness.”
“At that point, everyone would prepare for the worst that might happen. My mother kept praying to God and she also talked a lot regarding the worst case scenario, sometimes I have to sign a piece of paper, as if it were a will.”
Van Dijk once faced death when he was only 20 years old because of a terrible disease.
“If I die, part of my estate will go to my mother, of course no one wants to talk regarding this, but it has to be done,” Van Dijk recalls.
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In the early years of his career, in 2008, Van Dijk played for the youth team of Willems II, coach Edwin Hermans at that time almost did not give this midfielder a chance to play for the first team. Bitterly eliminated. , but Ronald Koeman, then working for Groningen, gave Van Dijk the opportunity.
Without a good body, Van Dijk must choose to play smart and have confidence in himself to overcome difficulties.
After the death of his life, Van Dijk returned in the 2012/2013 season full of determination, he was sent an offer to Ajax, but Marc Overmars did not accept. Van Dijk then turned down both Brighton, and Russia’s Krasnodar to join Celtic.
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There have been many ideas that Van Dijk will later become a great player, Celtic coach Neil Lennon confirmed it, when he flew to Amsterdam to watch the then young midfielder face Ajax. .
“I think he will be like Rio Ferdinand in the future,” Lennon once shared.
Van Dijk in a Celtic shirt.
A compatriot of Van Dijk who once devoted to MU, Jaap Stam, also admitted that he saw something extraordinary from his young compatriot.
Van Dijk has received interest from top clubs in the Netherlands, but according to Jaap Stam, what he lacked at that time was professionalism and focus in competition and training.
Two years at Glasgow really changed Van Dijk as he was part of Celtic’s invincible team and this perfect run gave Van Dijk a ticket to the Premier League.
“The way he developed himself there was unbelievable, Van Dijk has transformed himself into a better player, more professional, and also very talented in leadership.”
“He was also very willing to help others at the club to become great individuals together, then Van Dijk went to the Premier League, with Southampton, and then Liverpool.”
Van Dijk’s form at Liverpool is impressive.
“Again, it’s a tough league, with quality players, but Van Dijk always understands his situation, and he always goes forward to adapt and become the best. In the Liverpool shirt now too, he is a great captain,” Jaap Stam said of Van Dijk.
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Almost no one can see Van Dijk’s breakthrough.
But he persisted, and in Jurgen Klopp’s hands, there was a monster, both physically and mentally.
Just like in his life, when coming to Liverpool, Van Dijk met with shocks, failed in the 2018 UEFA Champions League final, and lost the championship to Man City by just 1 point.
Dutch midfielder next to the UEFA Champions League trophy.
But leaving behind the failures, now, the UEFA Champions League trophy (2018/2019, 2021/2022) belongs to Van Dijk and his teammates, as well as the Premier League title (2019/2020) following 30 years. wait, with the main driver being Virgil Van Dijk.
The sixth season at Liverpool is not a long time, but it is enough to see the value of a warrior who never gives up like Virgil Van Dijk.