Hes such an intelligent defender, knows when to sprint, knows when to challenge, when to wait, patient. Also got that shithousery streak in him, absolutely love the fella.
That short burst of pace is unreal when you see it like this back to back. He catches up to strikers that are already sprinting, how fast is van Dijk actually? Does he just hide his true pace? It looks like a video game the way he suddenly closes the gap
Big players tend to conserve energy. Look at Haaland, Isak, or going back a bit Crouch. They all look like they are just jogging for most of the game, only doing short bursts of pace when needed. Also long legs equals fewer strides needed so they don’t look like they are going fast even when they are.
VVD truly is the boss of center-backs! His leadership and dominance in defense are unmatched. It's amazing how he transformed Liverpool's defense during that time. Best regards to you too from here! YNWA! 🙌💪
Van Dijk with a header, Van Dijk made the block, what a tackle from Van Dijk….Some of the words we hear when he plays😍Our Captain Our Leader Our Legend🔥
It really is wild how quick, fast and agile he is for a man of his size, but also his intelligence. Even after his knee injury and losing a little bit of that pace. He just improved his reading of the game relying less on his pace, it's rare to see him sprint in games.
The premier league has had some amazing CBs over the yrs but he's honestly well and truly top spot. I'm sure some others have more trophies but when it comes to individual talent it's all VVD.
What a player. Looks like a runway model, plays like a beast. Skillful, great passer, brilliant reader of the game and a leader. Best central defender I have ever seen n.
There is knowone else like him, I just love the look of players he pushes away, They turn to accuse the offender and realise its the godfather of football...They walk away.
Van Dijk had the worst injury a football player can have, a CLI in 2020. It took him probably 2-3 years to come back as the player he was before. I feel he is now 100% back physically. However, he has further grown as a leader. He is a totally "Zen" person.
A CLI is not the worst injury a football player can get, I mean you can get permanent brain damage or break your back and become a paraplegic, or break your neck and straight up die, but it is, perhaps, the worst injury that you can actually (almost) fully recover from. ;-)
I’m 41 and he’s the best I’ve seen in my lifetime by far. He has the size and strength of a big centre back, the speed of a sprinter who never gets tired, he reads the game better than anyone, he’s as good as any defender technically on the ball. It’s just a man against boys.
He is big strong fast and he can play football. He blocks every worldclass attacking player, making them think twice about taking him on. He is allways thinking about the solution..sometimes it's a tackle then a block, or chasing the player wide from the goal. He is regaining his level of play again this season, as Liverpool has the strongest defence currently in the Premier League!!!
This is the one i always think of when talking about how good van Dyke is. First his intelligence - he knows either Sissoko or Son is going to get a shot, and with that choice the last thing you want is for it to be Son. So then his positioning is perfect to just encourage Sissoko to take the shot rather than pass, knowing there was a good chance of it ending as it did with Sissoko skying it over the bar. Masterclass. 👌
I was wondering what they would think about vvd in england! I am from the Netherlands.. but i already see the comments that he is a boss! very proud of him playing for my country❤
Others had a partnership, this man stands ALONE as the best CB of the Premier League Era. There are LEVELS to this game when a single player makes others around him look world class
I saw Maldini, Nesta, Thiago Silva, Ramos, Cannavaro etc play and Van Dijk is probably the best center back I have ever seen. (Doesn’t mean he is ahead of everyone those guys all time yet, 2 different things)
U are right my brother! I saw games of all top Defenders from 1996 year (Maldini, Nesta, Cannavaro, Samuel, Lucio, Carvalho, Chiellini, Barzagli, Chivu, Juan, Mertesacker, Puyol, Ramos , Teryy, Vidic, Firdinand, Cahill, Gallas, Thuram and others goats. But VVD's IQ is on another level
It's crazy that Ballon D'ors are only given to more attacking players! He deserves 3, at least! Immense player! Best centre back in the world for the last 6 years, not even close!
Pickfords challenge on VD set back and nearly ended a fine career and the fact that there was no red card with severe repercussions still makes my blood boil.
What a beast. Sadly in the Netherlands he is still isn't valued enough by the public in my opinion. People say that defenders as de Boer for instance were better. The only Dutch defender that comes close overal is Jaap Stam, but van Dijk has better abilities on the ball.
Pre-Pickford VVD is the greatest defender I've ever seen. He's still huge and strong but he doesn't have the blistering speed to just obliterate any danger now.
It's very amusing to see opponents clashing with Van Dijk and ending stretched out in the grass as if they ran into a brick wall while Van Dijk doesn't seem to have noticed anything at all 😂
Hope he stays at Liverpool, he’s all class but also makes his team mates better too, Konate has the best teacher in the world . And it’s not like he’s slowing up at his age… getting better Has some signature moves - the “big hip”, - (when running alongside someone) “arm and ideally shoulder under the attackers arm”…(then slows up, so they do too!) - the big back-in (a subtle version of what is known in Aussie Rules as a “shirt front”😀) Best of all is he reads the attacker so well, even if he’s being ran at 1 on 1 he will show them the right if he knows they prefer their left foot…dares them, plays with their head..
For any basketball fans, VVD reminds me of Hakeem Olajuwon. If you’re strong enough to bang with him, you aren’t fast enough. If you’re fast enough to get by him, you aren’t strong enough.
Big Virg trust his GK so he always do the right thing, show them outside and bock their crossing lane or cut inside which are more dangerous (wider unpredictive angle) than letting them shoot from outside (tight angle) which his GK will deal with it easier.
He made European TOTS in 15/16 while playing for Southampton, there are levels to this game and VVD is the final defender boss of modern football
Oh how I wish that we had him now.
wouldve loved to see him together with Jaap Stam in the Dutch national team XD 2 defensive monsters together
@@michaeljurrien3507 good thing the universe is balanced because holy shit lol good luck even getting a shot on target without having two broken legs
@@michaeljurrien3507 If i was the central striker for the opposing national team and saw them together, i would turn around and call it a day.
no he didnt,just checked uefa website,not there
Hes such an intelligent defender, knows when to sprint, knows when to challenge, when to wait, patient. Also got that shithousery streak in him, absolutely love the fella.
Total monster of a defender... One of the very best...
That short burst of pace is unreal when you see it like this back to back. He catches up to strikers that are already sprinting, how fast is van Dijk actually? Does he just hide his true pace? It looks like a video game the way he suddenly closes the gap
Pace and long legs 😂😂😂
Big players tend to conserve energy. Look at Haaland, Isak, or going back a bit Crouch. They all look like they are just jogging for most of the game, only doing short bursts of pace when needed. Also long legs equals fewer strides needed so they don’t look like they are going fast even when they are.
i think he had liverpools fastest max speed recorded in training, ever
VVD top speed 34.9 km/h.
Quite simply the best cb I have ever seen. Has all the attributes and is simply the best defender in the world.
Ramos, Maldini, Cannavaro, Beckenbauer, Bresi, Nesta - all in primes are better than Van Dijk Prime
@GTAXYL nope!
@DontKnow-nq6bh yeah mate. 7pm bed time for you. Ain’t no way you saying no, you prob haven’t heard of half of them
@GTAXYLRamos?😂 You just compare throphy than skill
@GTAXYL Ain't no way you've seen Beckenbauer play, let alone in his prime, while still speaking like a child 😂
i could watch him play all day
same to me
Me 3
x 4
NadmoreQuername,of🎉
VVD is the BOSS of Center Backs. Great player . Best regards from Portugal. YWNWA
Ramos, Maldini, Cannavaro, Beckenbauer, Bresi, Nesta - all in primes are better than Van Dijk Prime
Thank you dude! U are right
@GTAXYL nah
@GTAXYL RAMOS 🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣
VVD truly is the boss of center-backs! His leadership and dominance in defense are unmatched. It's amazing how he transformed Liverpool's defense during that time. Best regards to you too from here! YNWA! 🙌💪
Van Dijk with a header, Van Dijk made the block, what a tackle from Van Dijk….Some of the words we hear when he plays😍Our Captain Our Leader Our Legend🔥
virgil is the only defender i enjoy watching clips of. his play is so majestic and never frantic
It really is wild how quick, fast and agile he is for a man of his size, but also his intelligence. Even after his knee injury and losing a little bit of that pace. He just improved his reading of the game relying less on his pace, it's rare to see him sprint in games.
Quite simply the best CB of the Premier League Era! 🏆 ⚽️ 🏅
The premier league has had some amazing CBs over the yrs but he's honestly well and truly top spot. I'm sure some others have more trophies but when it comes to individual talent it's all VVD.
Jaap Stam genes 🤗
What a player. Looks like a runway model, plays like a beast. Skillful, great passer, brilliant reader of the game and a leader. Best central defender I have ever seen n.
he reminds me of the rugby player Jonah Lomu. big, powerful, quick, intelligent, alert, skilful - literally has it all
Greatest of all time
😂😂
There is knowone else like him, I just love the look of players he pushes away, They turn to accuse the offender and realise its the godfather of football...They walk away.
Van Dijk had the worst injury a football player can have, a CLI in 2020. It took him probably 2-3 years to come back as the player he was before. I feel he is now 100% back physically. However, he has further grown as a leader. He is a totally "Zen" person.
Terminator! Goat
thats not entirely true, since he did play for his nation those years
A CLI is not the worst injury a football player can get, I mean you can get permanent brain damage or break your back and become a paraplegic, or break your neck and straight up die, but it is, perhaps, the worst injury that you can actually (almost) fully recover from. ;-)
People don’t understand that he was already a beast in Southampton
And Celtic before that mate…. Back then you could see he was a totally different level… amazing athlete and footballer….
Only United supporter think he is not worth the price,
but manage to buy maguire for more money 🤣🤣
And a beast in Groningen
Nah, way before in our country 🇳🇱 already.
Exactly that's the one of the reasons why we bought him
Bro got unbelievable pace for his size
World football will never find another defender with all the attributes of a strong leader and all the defensive prowess, let alone Liverpool.
I’m 41 and he’s the best I’ve seen in my lifetime by far. He has the size and strength of a big centre back, the speed of a sprinter who never gets tired, he reads the game better than anyone, he’s as good as any defender technically on the ball. It’s just a man against boys.
He is big strong fast and he can play football. He blocks every worldclass attacking player, making them think twice about taking him on. He is allways thinking about the solution..sometimes it's a tackle then a block, or chasing the player wide from the goal. He is regaining his level of play again this season, as Liverpool has the strongest defence currently in the Premier League!!!
A Leader a beast a machine a warrior this man's just everthing🔥🔥🔥🔥
He is a master of space. No need for tackles. One of the most intelligent defenders ever.
take a walk around my center half gentlemen. He’s a colossus
😊 nice
BRILLIANT defender!!!👌🏾
GO REDS GO!!!❤️❤️❤️⚽️🌺⚽️🎶
The way he brushes opponents away like rag dolls is crazy hilarious 🤣🤣🤣🤣
First the opponents run into a brick wall, then they get brushed away like rag dolls. I'd pay a million for their first thought 🤣
Calm defender, good vision, monster, leadership. For me he is the best defender in this time.
I think he's top 3 defenders of all time!!! The guy doesn't tackle!! He's so strong amd intelligent that he doesn't need to go to the ground!!!!
his way of defending is really fantastic , he should teach Jarrel hatto
7:33 Absolute Van Dijk Masterclass in defending 1 vs 2!
This is the one i always think of when talking about how good van Dyke is. First his intelligence - he knows either Sissoko or Son is going to get a shot, and with that choice the last thing you want is for it to be Son. So then his positioning is perfect to just encourage Sissoko to take the shot rather than pass, knowing there was a good chance of it ending as it did with Sissoko skying it over the bar. Masterclass. 👌
AMAZING... what a Man what a Defender, just love being a RED ❤⚽❤⚽❤⚽
Even the best defender at the Earth doesn't compare to him.. Because he's from another planet 😎
He's Just out there bullying people, love him 😂😂😭
If he was a defender in the 90s he would've won a ballon d'or
Ramos, Maldini, Cannavaro, Beckenbauer, Bresi, Nesta - all in primes are better than Van Dijk Prime
@GTAXYL cap
@GTAXYL lmao idiot
@GTAXYL they are not defenders, they are out there to kill you. VVD is proper defender football needs
@@chingkeishing7036 defenders back then were playing actual football. Blood sweat and tears. Now days, it’s a little sweat and alot of tears
That's our captain, the big guy❤
Virgil dealt with all the current best stickers including some retired ones ....phenomenal 😊
My IDOL ❤
Vandjik Now is the best defender in the world 🌎
I was wondering what they would think about vvd in england! I am from the Netherlands.. but i already see the comments that he is a boss! very proud of him playing for my country❤
Art of defender 👏🏽
Oh my, I've seen so many legendary CBs playing but VVD is some truly unique and exceptional one even among them. Probably the best of the best.
Ramos, Maldini, Cannavaro, Beckenbauer, Bresi, Nesta - all in primes are better than Van Dijk Prime
@GTAXYL U commenting bullshit on everyone now huh? Only to TRY to put VVD in a bad light. Mission failed succesfully.
The complete defender!!
Monster Beast world class defender 👏 💪💪💪👊👊👊
Others had a partnership, this man stands ALONE as the best CB of the Premier League Era. There are LEVELS to this game when a single player makes others around him look world class
My Captain.. Follow him where ever he wants... YNWA
That smile he gave 😂
When he tackled Kante…
An absolute modern great, would walk into any team in the world when we brought him and still would to this day. What a fucking unit
1:30 Sterling 😢😅
High Dam Van Dyke, the legend of defense and the beautiful fedayeen ❤😊🎉
Very well made video, must have taken a lot of effort.
Super abilities matched with a high football IQ. Brilliant player.
I saw Maldini, Nesta, Thiago Silva, Ramos, Cannavaro etc play and Van Dijk is probably the best center back I have ever seen. (Doesn’t mean he is ahead of everyone those guys all time yet, 2 different things)
U are right my brother! I saw games of all top Defenders from 1996 year (Maldini, Nesta, Cannavaro, Samuel, Lucio, Carvalho, Chiellini, Barzagli, Chivu, Juan, Mertesacker, Puyol, Ramos , Teryy, Vidic, Firdinand, Cahill, Gallas, Thuram and others goats. But VVD's IQ is on another level
VAN DIJK❤
Talent with focus and awareness plus so much more.
It's crazy that Ballon D'ors are only given to more attacking players! He deserves 3, at least! Immense player! Best centre back in the world for the last 6 years, not even close!
the best ever defender
Ramos, Maldini, Cannavaro, Beckenbauer, Bresi, Nesta - all in primes are better than Van Dijk Prime
@GTAXYL @GTAXYL THE MOST BIG MOUTHED BULLSHIT SPREADER TO HAVE EVER EXISTED
@GTAXYL u are city or real fan. So stupid. And i know that u are 16-17 years old kid
Foden was like who did that then realized it was VVD. Decided to walk away. 7:03 as close as you get to hitting a brick wall.
9:20, even stronger brick wall
G.O.A.T 🐐 💪
Ramos, Maldini, Cannavaro, Beckenbauer, Bresi, Nesta - all in primes are better than Van Dijk Prime
VVD one of the best, if not the best CB we've ever known. And @GTAXYL don't you even THINK of commenting on this.
Best defender.
VVD play against some big names ❤
Pace, acceleration, aerial dominance and strength all combined into one. Complete nightmare of a defender if you're trying to score.
VVD and Richarlison scene was wild. Virgil acted like help him get up, then sike!!!
I always thought Maldini was the best. Even Stam was good but now I see how good VVD is. He is truly the best. Pity he never won the ballon d’or
Messi robbed his balondor😢
Pickfords challenge on VD set back and nearly ended a fine career and the fact that there was no red card with severe repercussions still makes my blood boil.
Van dijk still the best defender itw even in his 30s…prime van dijk runner up balon d’or🔛🔝🔥…liverpool best defender of all time
Ramos, Maldini, Cannavaro, Beckenbauer, Bresi, Nesta - all in primes are better than Van Dijk Prime
@ i’m talking about this new era top best defender not all time best defenders…even if it all time van dijk still in the list of top 20…facts
@@basyarghazali4429 vvd is not the 'new era'
@GTAXYL ok👍🏻…
@@basyarghazali4429 yeah 20th
What a beast. Sadly in the Netherlands he is still isn't valued enough by the public in my opinion. People say that defenders as de Boer for instance were better. The only Dutch defender that comes close overal is Jaap Stam, but van Dijk has better abilities on the ball.
Vvd the stoper❤
He hardly makes mistakes
All of first. He first have a Strong physical Body that give him An big advantage on others players.
This physical Conditions made him like a Rock
That's one classy beast ❤
That’s why he is my idol
Simply The Best!! ❤VVD❤YNWA❤🐏
Best defenders ever ❤❤❤❤❤
Sort of puts to bed the argument that he has never played against any decent players doesn’t it. Man is a machine
Pre-Pickford VVD is the greatest defender I've ever seen. He's still huge and strong but he doesn't have the blistering speed to just obliterate any danger now.
Just give this man the ballon- dor already
Messing up with van dijk is like messing up with Arnold Schwarzenegger 😂😂😂
The elbow on richarlson was epic 😂
Legend has it his home record is only 3 losses and remember he joined Liverpool in 2018
love the one on Donkey Kai Havertz
Virgil van dijk the best CB in the world 🔥
It's very amusing to see opponents clashing with Van Dijk and ending stretched out in the grass as if they ran into a brick wall while Van Dijk doesn't seem to have noticed anything at all 😂
The best CB ever to pplay in england. It is as simple as that.
goat of defending🐐 💀->Van Dijk
Ramos, Maldini, Cannavaro, Beckenbauer, Bresi, Nesta - all in primes are better than Van Dijk Prime
Joke@GTAXYL
Hope he stays at Liverpool, he’s all class but also makes his team mates better too, Konate has the best teacher in the world . And it’s not like he’s slowing up at his age… getting better
Has some signature moves
- the “big hip”,
- (when running alongside someone) “arm and ideally shoulder under the attackers arm”…(then slows up, so they do too!)
- the big back-in (a subtle version of what is known in Aussie Rules as a “shirt front”😀)
Best of all is he reads the attacker so well, even if he’s being ran at 1 on 1 he will show them the right if he knows they prefer their left foot…dares them, plays with their head..
Top 5 CB of all time
For any basketball fans, VVD reminds me of Hakeem Olajuwon. If you’re strong enough to bang with him, you aren’t fast enough. If you’re fast enough to get by him, you aren’t strong enough.
An echo of better times, when football was still a manly sport.
Big Virg trust his GK so he always do the right thing, show them outside and bock their crossing lane or cut inside which are more dangerous (wider unpredictive angle) than letting them shoot from outside (tight angle) which his GK will deal with it easier.
Van Dijk only fear and respect messi.. bro knew he would never srop the little magician alone..
🔥 edit
He is even better than Maldini in his prime. Hes truthly the #1 I'm just sad because Maldini is my hero.
VVD is a RR of a footballer. ⚽️✌🏼
VVD is Football's Mozart
A true Baller!
It is true, the earth is covered by 2/3 water, the other 1/3 is covered by VVD. YNWA RIP97
the hip swing of a belly dancer^^
goat
He's an all time great
I wish he didn't needlessly knock players around sometimes because when he plays cleanly... he's a wonder to watch.
People forget he’s an incredible striker. But I get why they saw his potential as a defender.