The Anfield Colossus
World Soccer|July 2019

Liverpool’s Dutch defender has a strong case to be seen as the world’s best player in 2019

Nick Bidwell
The Anfield Colossus

An absolute colossus in more ways than one, Liverpool and Holland center-back Virgil Van Dijk is a prima facie case of a footballing thoroughbred. The most expensive defender on the planet after swopping Southampton for Anfield in a £75million deal in January 2018; a freshly minted Champions League winner; voted the best player in England last season by fellow professionals, and a decent bet to be the next world player of the year.

In Jurgen Klopp’s heavy-metal supergroup, the 28-year-old son of a Surinamese mother and Dutch father cuts the figure of the charismatic lead singer. He controls, marshals, initiates and sets the emotional tone. So how peculiar that in his formative years he mainly struggled for recognition; either rejected, ignored or misunderstood.

Never mind fronting a band, the best he could hope for back in those days was to be a backing vocalist or roadie.

A major disappointment for the adolescent Van Dijk was never having the opportunity to play in the schoolboy ranks of NAC, the number one club in his hometown of Breda in the south of Holland. NAC, regular members of the Dutch top flight, were the team the youngster supported and he dreamt morning, noon and night of one day wearing their yellow-and-black colors.

Initially, his wish looked eminently achievable. Only five years old when he joined the WDS’19 club – Breda’s oldest amateur outfit and whose HQ was conveniently located in his home district of Haagse Beemden – he showed a great deal of promise as a fledgling defender.

“He was not extremely big for his age, but in his positional play he was the best on the pitch,” recalled former WDS team-mate and goalkeeper Jordy Brugel in an interview with the Voetbal Primeur website. “In one season I only let in one goal – and that was because I had him in front of me.

Esta historia es de la edición July 2019 de World Soccer.

Comience su prueba gratuita de Magzter GOLD de 7 días para acceder a miles de historias premium seleccionadas y a más de 9,000 revistas y periódicos.

Esta historia es de la edición July 2019 de World Soccer.

Comience su prueba gratuita de Magzter GOLD de 7 días para acceder a miles de historias premium seleccionadas y a más de 9,000 revistas y periódicos.

MÁS HISTORIAS DE WORLD SOCCERVer todo
Going for Gold in Paris- There are plenty of candidates vying for the Olympic gold medal in the women's football tournament this summer
World Soccer

Going for Gold in Paris- There are plenty of candidates vying for the Olympic gold medal in the women's football tournament this summer

There are plenty of candidates vying for the Olympic gold medal in the women's football tournament this summer

time-read
5 minutos  |
July 2024
Face to face - Tom Sainfiet- The final goal is to reach the World Cup and write history - The Belgian coach speaks to World Soccer
World Soccer

Face to face - Tom Sainfiet- The final goal is to reach the World Cup and write history - The Belgian coach speaks to World Soccer

The well-travelled Belgian coach speaks to World Soccer after taking charge of the Philippines-his 11th international coaching role

time-read
4 minutos  |
July 2024
Inter cruise to title number 20
World Soccer

Inter cruise to title number 20

Simone Inzaghi's Internazionale shrug off all challengers before sealing the Serie A title in style against their biggest rivals

time-read
3 minutos  |
July 2024
HAT-TRICK HERO
World Soccer

HAT-TRICK HERO

Ademola Lookman wrote his name into European football's history books with a hat-trick in the Europa League final

time-read
6 minutos  |
July 2024
GOING UP
World Soccer

GOING UP

The story of Sweden striker Viktor Gyokeres' career has been one of upward trajectory - and there's plenty more to come from the Sporting superstar

time-read
6 minutos  |
July 2024
Palau soldier on alone
World Soccer

Palau soldier on alone

The isolated Pacific nation faces a long and lonely battle to improve football on the island

time-read
2 minutos  |
July 2024
Brazilian clubs eye Copa number six
World Soccer

Brazilian clubs eye Copa number six

As the Copa Libertadores group stage concludes, a sixth consecutive Brazilian winner is looking likely

time-read
3 minutos  |
July 2024
AI Hilal sweep to another Saudi crown
World Soccer

AI Hilal sweep to another Saudi crown

The first edition of the Saudi Pro League's glamorous new era ends with a familiar title winner

time-read
3 minutos  |
July 2024
Disasters brewing
World Soccer

Disasters brewing

There is still a long way to go in World Cup qualifying, but dysfunction reigns at Cameroon, Congo and Nigeria after four matchdays in the group stage

time-read
3 minutos  |
July 2024
Second round of World Cup qualifying underway
World Soccer

Second round of World Cup qualifying underway

Favourites perform largely as expected, yet Cayman Islands dominate the headlines

time-read
3 minutos  |
July 2024