‘Is Virgil van Dijk open to that too?’


Wednesday, March 9, 2022 at 00:05• Rian Rosendaal • Last update: 00:15

Virgil van Dijk does not want to say that he necessarily wants to see Ronald Koeman return as national coach of the Dutch national team. After the Champions League match between Liverpool and Internazionale (0-1) the center defender was confronted with the news that the currently clubless coach is open to a comeback with the the Dutch. In the run-up to the World Cup, however, Van Dijk would rather not openly interfere in the discussion about the successor to Louis van Gaal, although he does have a good feeling about Koeman.

“There is a certain Mr Koeman, who is open to becoming a national coach if Van Gaal stops. Is Virgil van Dijk also open to that?”, asks reporter Simon Zijlemans from RTL7 at Anfield to the the Dutch-international in English service. “Well, I think Ronald had a fantastic time at the Dutch. And if they are already planning what will happen after the national coach (Van Gaal, ed.), I certainly think that Koeman is a very good candidate and high on the list.” Zijlemans thinks that Van Dijk would like a renewed collaboration with Koeman: “It will make you happy if he comes back?”

“Yes, he has meant a lot in my career,” replies the mandekker, brought to Southampton by Koeman in 2014. “I’ve worked very well with him and if it were like that again in the future that would be fine. Anyway, I have no influence on that and I’m not going to focus on it now. We’re going to focus on the preparation for the World Cup with two beautiful practice matches (against Denmark and Germany, ed.). But I’m going in quickly, because two Dutch friends are waiting for me,” Van Dijk concludes with a joke.

“That is a smart question from Simon”, presenter Humberto Tan refers in the studio to Zijlemans’ comment to Van Dijk about Koeman. “Yes, Simon did his homework well. That was a good question”, analyst Dirk Kuijt agrees. “And of course it’s a point. Koeman brought him to Southampton of course.” Tan adds. Jan Boskamp understands why the trainer fired from Barcelona last year is not unsympathetic to a return to the Dutch. “The only thing he still wants, I have heard said. And he has proven it. It was pico bello, wasn’t it?”, the analyst refers to Tan’s question whether Koeman would be a good choice for the KNVB. employment as a national coach.

Virgil van Dijk sees a future collaboration with Ronald Koeman, but does not want to elaborate on it.