Biography
Who is Virgil van Dijk?
Early life and background
Virgil van Dijk was born on July 8, 1991, in Breda, Netherlands. He grew up in the Haagse Beemden district of his hometown. His parents are Ron van Dijk and Hellen Chin Fo Sieeuw, and he has a younger brother and sister. When he was young, his father left the family, and Virgil eventually chose to live with his mother.
As a teenager, he played football on the streets and joined local youth teams. He started in the youth team at WDS'19 before moving to Willem II at the age of eight. While playing in the Willem II academy, he also worked a part-time job as a dishwasher.
Early career and Groningen
In 2008, after growing significantly in height, Virgil van Dijk shifted into a central defensive position. Willem II did not offer him a contract, so he moved to FC Groningen in 2010 on a free transfer. He initially spent time with the reserve sides before making his professional debut for Groningen on May 1, 2011, coming on as a substitute against ADO Den Haag.
During his time with Groningen, he faced a severe health scare when he was hospitalised with appendicitis, peritonitis, and kidney poisoning. He underwent an urgent operation and spent thirteen days in the hospital. After a successful recovery, he returned to the pitch and established himself as a key defender for the team.
Celtic and Southampton
On June 21, 2013, Virgil van Dijk signed with Scottish club Celtic. During his two seasons with the club, he won the Scottish Premiership and the Scottish League Cup. He was also named in the PFA Scotland Team of the Year in both of his seasons in Scotland and received a nomination for the players' player of the year award.
In 2015, he left Celtic to join Southampton in the English Premier League. He spent multiple seasons with Southampton, establishing his reputation as a strong and reliable central defender before securing a major transfer to Liverpool in January 2018.
Liverpool and international career
Virgil joined Liverpool in January 2018 for a substantial transfer fee. With Liverpool, he reached consecutive UEFA Champions League finals, winning the tournament in 2019. He also helped the club win the Premier League title during the 2019-20 season, ending a long league title drought. For his individual performances, he won the UEFA Men's Player of the Year Award and the PFA Players' Player of the Year.
At the international level, Virgil represented the Netherlands at various youth levels before making his senior international debut in 2015. He was appointed full captain of the national team in March 2018. He has since captained his country to the final of the UEFA Nations League, the quarter-finals of the 2022 FIFA World Cup, and the semi-finals of UEFA Euro 2024.
Birthday and age
Virgil van Dijk was born on July 8, 1991, which makes Virgil 35 years old today. That birthday falls under the Cancer sign. Virgil shares the date with 36 other famous people.
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