As a multicultural, multiracial, Surinamese-Dutch man, Virgil represents the modern world on and off the field.
Van Dijk was born in Breda to a Dutch father and a Surinamese mother. During his teenage years,
he combined his time playing at the Willem II academy with a part-time job as a dishwasher. In 2010, he was scouted by former Dutch international Martin Koeman, who was working for FC Groningen at the time, and he ended up completing a free transfer to the club in the same year.
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Virgil is married to childhood sweetheart, Rike Nooitgedagt, and they are blessed with two daughters - Nila, eight, and Jadi, six.
"I think the most important thing when you’re young – eight years old or so – is to just enjoy the game. If you feel like you want to defend, go out there and do that and try not to let the opponents score any goals. The other message that I’d want to give is that not everyone has the perfect route to the top."
was just getting
warmed up.
After beginning his career with Groningen, he moved to Celtic in 2013. He made 62 appearances for Groningen and managed to score 7 goals for his club.
Neil McGuinness, senior scout at Celtic, called him "everything you would want if you could create a profile of the ideal central defender", praising him as a "very smooth ball-playing defender" who possesses aerial prowess, skills from dead ball situations, and "strong leadership qualities".
Virg was part of Celtic when they lifted Scottish Premiership twice in 2013–14 and 2014–15 and Scottish League Cup in the same season.
On 1 September 2015, Van Dijk signed a five-year contract with Premier League club Southampton, managed by Ronald Koeman, for a reported £13 million transfer fee. He made his debut for Southampton on 12 September in a 0–0 draw against West Bromwich Albion at The Hawthorns. Two weeks later, Van Dijk marked his third Premier League appearance with his first goal for the club. On 22 January 2017, he was named captain of Southampton.
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 remained with Southampton for the start of the 2017–18 season and made his first appearance since being injured in January. He made what turned out to be his final appearance for Southampton on 13 December 2017.
"PROUD OF THE BOYS! WORLD CUP 2022 - HERE WE COME!" With Virgil as captain Oranje team looks as good as ever.