Dutch national team player Virgil van Dijk will be shouldering on a new responsibility in the latest club football season in 2023/2024: The new Liverpool captain. The 32-year-old centre-back, who is also the skipper of Netherlands, will be taking over captain duties in Jürgen Klopp’s Merseyside Red starting from this season onwards, after 33-year-old former skipper and England international Jordan Henderson’s departure to Saudi Pro League’s Al-Ettifaq this summer transfer window.
A New Liverpool Captain Needed Following Henderson’s and Milner’s Exit
Former Liverpool captain Jordan Henderson became a Red back in 2011, when he completed his move from fellow English league club Sunderland more than a decade ago. After several seasons at Anfield and Steven Gerrard’s exit in 2015, the England international was made the new Liverpool captain and has made a whooping total of 492 appearances in all competitions during his 12-year stay at the club. Coincidentally, the Sunderland-born midfielder Henderson will reunite with his former Liverpool teammate Gerrard at the oil-rich Saudi region as the latter is now the new coach for Al-Ettifaq.
With Henderson leaving Liverpool for Saudi Pro League and former vice captain James Milner signing for Brighton & Hove Albion F.C. on a free transfer, Klopp needed immediate replacements for leadership roles in the club, and it was a no-brainer appointing van Dijk as the new Liverpool captain, since the Dutch defender has been the third captain for the Reds last season.
222 Appearances for the Club Before Being Appointed the New Liverpool Captain
32-year-old new Liverpool captain van Dijk played for three different clubs before his transfer to Liverpool during the winter transfer window of the 2017/2018 Season. The former Groningen, Celtic and Southampton player is known for his balance in terms of strength, pace and composure at the back, and he reached the peak of his football career as a Liverpool and Netherlands player back in 2019, when he was named the second-best player in the Ballon d’Or award, trailing behind the great Lionel Messi. Although his form suffered a roller-coaster ride since that terrific season, van Dijk remains an important figure for Klopp’s side, which is why he is now the new Liverpool captain in the coming season.
In an official statement, van Dijk expressed his sentiments and gratitude after being appointed the new skipper for his club. “A really proud day for me, for my wife, for my kids, my family. It’s been a special feeling. Obviously I’m captain of Holland, that was already such a huge honour, a proud moment as well. But also to be the captain of Liverpool is something that I can’t describe at this point. It’s just something that makes me very proud and I will do everything in my power to make everyone proud and happy with me and the football club,” said the 32-year-old new Liverpool captain.
As for the vice captain role, Klopp had decided to let 24-year-old right-back Trent Alexander-Arnold to assume the duty. The England international is of course an academy graduate of the club and had spent his entire senior career as a Liverpool player since making his senior debut back in 2016.
Fabinho Signed for Saudi Pro League’s Al-Ittihad for £40 Million
Henderson and Gerrard are not the only former Liverpool players who are signing for Saudi Pro League this season, as Brazilian midfielder Fabinho has also completed a £40-million move to Al-Ittihad after a five-year stint as a Red. Prior to completing a move to the oil-rich Saudi region, Fabinho had made a total of 219 caps in all competitions across five seasons for Liverpool.
The 29-year-old midfielder’s outgoing transfer to Al-Ittihad will see him reunite with his former manager at Primeira Liga’s Rio Ave, Nuno Espírito Santo, while having a chance to team up with former European club stars Karim Benzema, N’Golo Kanté and Jota.
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