He nearly died – now he is main his nation into the European Championship semi-finals

– There actually wasn’t an attacker who stood an opportunity in opposition to him. He was bodily sturdy and had a pure expertise for taking the ball away from opponents on the proper time. He had all the time had that type of consciousness, nobody had taught him that. In a state of affairs, as he was defending the proprietor and coping with the actions of opponents and different fellow gamers, he was excellent. It is a particular high quality, it is like he intuitively is aware of defend.

Jan van Loon has fond reminiscences of Virgil van Dijk’s early years at Willem II’s academy. The previous director of the membership’s academy knew that they had been coping with a diamond within the tough, though there was additionally room for enchancment.

– Typically it might seem as laconic, a little bit too simple. Some younger coaches could even assume he was lazy, says Jan van Loon.

One other talked a few characteristic he had time, as a result of van Dijk might come late for coaching. It bought to the purpose the place some coaches had been asking if the younger defender ought to be allowed to remain on the membership. As van Loon turned extra within the teenager, he gained extra perception into van Dijk’s private life.

– His dad and mom had been separated and typically he needed to care for his youthful brother and sister. Typically he needed to choose them up from faculty and make them lunch earlier than he might hop on the bus to work with Willem II. That meant he might be late, and once I requested him why, he all the time defined intimately what had occurred. As soon as his little brother had requested for peanut butter on his sandwich, one thing he had to purchase on the grocery retailer – after which he missed the bus. That point has formed him each as an individual and as a footballer.

van Loon, who was additionally answerable for coaching in Arsenal’s youth academy, ensured that van Dijk was allowed to remain in Willem II’s academy. However he had much less management when it got here to providing the defender an expert contract. Larger up within the membership, they had been ready for a proposal to be introduced.

– There was no unanimous opinion about it within the membership and I believe that Virgil felt that the opinion amongst these liable for sports activities was divided.

It created a singular alternative for different golf equipment and when FC Groningen made a proposal, van Dijk determined to take that chance. But it surely additionally meant that he needed to transfer 25 kilometers from his mom’s home – from the south to the north of Holland.

Virgil was sick, however we did not understand how unhealthy it was. We thought he had the flu.

Along with settling into his new atmosphere, he additionally needed to adapt to his new membership. It took time, and as soon as he did and was cleared to play for the primary staff, one other huge problem introduced itself in direction of the top of the 2011–12 season. However this time in a very new approach.

van Dijk fell ailing, and inside days a seemingly harmless abdomen ache changed into one thing severe. Dick Lukkien, the present coach of the Groningen staff, labored with van Dijk within the b staff and he remembers this clearly.

– Virgil was sick, however we did not understand how unhealthy it was. We thought he had the flu. After being dwelling for a number of days he was in a whole lot of ache and needed to go to the native hospital, however they could not discover something flawed and despatched him dwelling once more. However the ache bought worse and when his mom traveled from the south of Holland to see him, she realized how unhealthy it was. Collectively they went to a different hospital. It turned out to be convincing. I’m very glad that his mom acted so appropriately. I believe she felt instinctively that one thing was flawed, says Dick Lukkien.

Within the second flip within the hospital The medical doctors discovered appendicitis, together with peritonitis and an an infection within the kidneys. They determined to behave instantly.

The operation went properly, partly as a result of van Dijk has a great physique, however the medical doctors informed him he was fortunate. They defined that an individual who is just not wholesome, or who’s outdated, wouldn’t have survived.

However even after the operation, his situation was vital and van Dijk needed to keep in hospital. A number of months later, he informed Dutch Voetbal Worldwide concerning the intense interval.

– I keep in mind what it was wish to lie in that mattress. I might solely see all of the pipes that had been hanging out of me. My physique was damaged, I could not do something. In these moments, you play out worst-case situations in your head. For the primary time in my life, soccer was a small factor. My life was at stake. My mom and I prayed to God and mentioned attainable outcomes. Sooner or later I needed to signal some papers, it was a will of some variety. In case I died, a few of my cash would go to my mom. After all, nobody wished to speak about it, however we needed to. Possibly it was over, the defender mentioned then.

van Dijk survivedhowever his physique was weak and within the weeks that adopted his situation was nonetheless delicate.

– I used to be shocked by what occurred and when he returned to the membership he had modified from a person to a person who had declined. However fortunately he recovered rapidly. That season he did not play something extra, however he was again within the recreation once more this summer season, says Dick Lukkien.

From the brand new season van Dijk developed quickly. Each on and off the sector he bought stronger and began to appear to be a prepared participant. After one season, Scottish Celtic entered the image and after that it went away rapidly. First shifting to English Southampton, then to Liverpool and really rapidly he had grow to be among the finest defenders on the planet.

Wednesday evening brings one other particular second. He’s then pitted in opposition to the nation the place he performs his membership soccer, in an important match. If van Dijk could make it to the Berlin last and win the European Championship together with his nation, it is going to be one of many greatest nights of his life.