‘Never say never’: Virgil van Dijk open to Liverpool career change

Liverpool captain Virgil van Dijk has revealed he could take a new career path after calling time on his football career.

Undoubtedly one of the best to have graced the game, Van Dijk is currently in the final months of his contract at Liverpool and this has seen him linked with other clubs in Europe and abroad.

However, Van Dijk who became the world’s most expensive defender when he arrived from Southampton in January 2018 has confirmed that he is in talks over a new Liverpool contract.

The 33-year-old also hinted at a potential move into management after his playing days are over.

Van Dijk has remained a stalwart under new manager Arne Slot, starting all nine league games, and appears to be full of confidence.

However, speaking to Rio Ferdinand, Van Dijk admitted to being less certain about what will come after his playing days but refused to completely rule out becoming a manager.

“I said no, but that’s also because coming to this hectic, busy, on-it life that my family is sacrificing a lot, my wife and my kid,” Van Dijk said on the Rio Ferdinand Presents podcast. “To then have a year off or two years off and then going back into it… I don’t think I see it happening, but never say never.”

“I really feel like I definitely will give something back to football,” he added. “I love working and seeing younger players out there. I like going, for example, to the Liverpool Academy to watch the [age-group sides].”

Ferdinand was full of praise for Van Dijk watching an U16 tournament and stressed how impactful his presence would be to the young players in Liverpool’s academy.

Recalling his time in Willem II’s youth setup, Van Dijk hinted that he could become a youth coach in the future, though he is in no rush to retire.

“I know, because the thing is, when I was younger, I was eight or nine, and we had a training session and the first-team players from my team back then, Willem II, two or three players came and trained with us, and I’ll never forget that,” Van Dijk told Ferdinand.

“I know what kind of impact it makes to the younger boys and the younger generation, but what they give to me as well, seeing them happy and playing with pure joy… that’s something that brings a lot to me as well.”

“That’s going back to the question, I would love to stay in football in the future, but at my time, I don’t know which kind of role, and it’s too far away to think about it.”