Inspired by his time at Celtic, the captain of Liverpool, Virgil Van Dijk, has instituted a new rule at Anfield.
Between 2013 and 2015, the Dutch defender played for Celtic Park, where he helped the team win two straight Scottish Premiership titles as well as one League Cup.
After spending three fruitful years at Southampton and leading the team to a European title, Van Dijk joined Liverpool in 2018 for a then-record amount for a defender.
Van Dijk has won the Premier League, FA Cup, Carabao Cup, and Champions League during his six years with Liverpool. He has also established himself as one of the team’s best modern-day defenders.
Since prominent players like Fabinho, James Milner, and former captain Jordan Henderson left the team, he has been playing as captain since the summer because of his steady play during this time.
With several new players entering the team, Liverpool is presently undergoing a major reorganization. Van Dijk, who is taking over the armband, has added his own touch to the proceedings.
Unlike former captain Henderson, who was known for yelling commands at his players while they were on the field, Van Dijk prefers to get his team into a huddle before a game to give some inspirational advice.
The 32-year-old says this is a good approach to setting the tone for a game and thanks his time at Celtic for the inspiration.
“It was something we did when I was a Celtics 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,” Van Dijk said in a TalkSport interview.
Because the match is about to start, it might also improve the atmosphere. Thus, even if it makes it harder for me to be heard, I won’t object if our followers want to get involved by increasing the noise and heightening the atmosphere.”
In addition, Van Dijk conveyed his gratitude to the captains of the past and expressed his satisfaction at continuing their legacy.
“Over the years, this club has had some incredible captains and leaders who would consistently bring out the best in themselves and their team,” he continued.
It is definitely not what I would have expected when I first started playing to be on the list alongside players like that.
“But the most important thing for me is that I am part of a team of leaders, individually, who find their own way to take responsibility no matter who is wearing the armband.”
