Defender, Virgil van Dijk has been named as Liverpool’s new captain for 2023-24 season.
Liverpool were left without a captain after Jordan Henderson left the club for Saudi Arabia’s Al Ettifaq last week.
Manager, Jurgen Klopp has subsequently decided that Van Dijk will become the club’s new captain, which is a role which he currently holds within the Netherlands Men’s National Team.
The 32 year-old described his new role as “a really proud” moment and that following in Henderson’s footsteps is “a special feeling” beyond words.
Van Dijk proceeded to reflect on the opportunity to be captain of both his club and country, as he commented: “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 Football Club 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 and what I can do to make everyone proud and happy with me and the football club.”
Van Dijk also addresses Liverpool’s disappointing fifth-placed finish in the Premier League last season, which he described as “very disappointing” by their standards.
Liverpool however finished the season unbeaten in 11 matches but Van Dijk felt that a lack of trophies is reflective of how “very disappointing” their season was a whole.
He proceeded to admit that the difficult season has lingered mentally throughout his off-season break, as he explained: “Then you’re going on a very short summer holiday and you reflect on the season you’ve had, personally and as a team, and it hurts.
“It hurts a lot. You have pride as a human being and you feel like you could have done a lot better, you could have done a lot more consistently.”
Trent Alexander-Arnold has been appointed as vice-captain and will step up to captain the team in games where Van Dijk is absent.
Alexander-Arnold’s appointment as vice-captain has been welcomed by Van Dijk who believes that the 24 year-old is now ready to now “… make that transition of becoming a big leader for the football club.”
The 32 year-old Dutchman has pledged to support Alexander-Arnold in adapting to his new responsibility, as he added: “I think he will make those steps. And with the help obviously of myself and the others, Robbo, Ali, Mo, obviously the manager, he can make the next step.
“I think to give that responsibility to him could definitely even more benefit him as well. So it’s a very good choice. Obviously the others as well, they are as important and we all have to make sure that we take the responsibility.”
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