This is the rhythm of van Dijk.....whoa van Dijk!!!!!

A little over 6 months ago, a relatively unknown Dutch defender walked through the front doors at Paradise to sign a 4 year contract with our beloved Hoops, and in the process join a team that had recently finished off their domestic season as league champions, and had also gone through a season which saw them re-establish themselves at the top table in Europe’s finest competition – scalping the likes of Barcelona and Spartak Moscow to reach the last 16 of the Champions League.

Arriving from the green and white of Dutch-based team FC Groningen, to Glasgow’s green and white in a deal worth a reported £2.4m (incidentally, the highest price Celtic have splashed out on any defender since the signing of Joos Valgaeren for £3m in 2001), Virgil van Dijk was allocated the number 5 jersey – previously worn by non-other than Mr Valgaeren himself!





Van Dijk unveiled as Hoops player


Before Joining Celtic, the Breda-born Dutch/Surinamese youngster had previously begun his footballing career at Willem II, and was originally viewed as a right full-back by those in charge. Currently standing at 6ft 4” and built like the back end of a bus, it is hard to believe that the then 16 year old kid was on the verge of quitting the game altogether after being branded “too small and slow” by those in charge of footballing matters at the club – soon after, a huge growth spurt (that should have seen him tested for Miracle-Grow use) transformed his body to 6ft+, and shortly after he was reverted to centre back and eventually captain of the team (after a brief spell on the side-lines with chronic growing pains). A string of displays which first noted his defensive capabilities and his consistent displays would see FC Groningen take notice.




Fresh-faced Virg in Willem II colours



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Having suffered relegation from the Eredivisie for the first time in their history, Willem II agreed to sell van Dijk to FC Groningen for an undisclosed fee. The then 19 year old was initially tested as a striker for his new club (a club that had previously nurtured a youthful Arjen Robben and Luis Suarez) , before the manager then realised his worth as a central defender. Not long after joining his new club, Virgil was stricken with a debilitating abdominal abscess – a 12 day stint in hospital would see him fight back from the brink of death, 2 and a half stone lighter and two large scars across his lower abdomen as a result. After a full recovery, van Dijk would go on to establish himself as first choice centre back for the club, making 62 appearances in all for the club (scoring 7 goals), as well as appearing 4 times for the Netherlands under-19’s and under 21’s respectively.



In action for Groningen



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Van Dijk’s performances had not gone un-noticed. Two teams that were destined to be directly competing against each other on the park in the coming months were also competing against each other off the park for the signature of the talented player. Both Celtic manager Neil Lennon and Ajax chief Frank de Boer (no doubt a possible childhood hero of van Dijk’s?) were eyeing up a move, but ultimately it would be Lennon who was to make the only concrete offer, an offer that was quickly ironed out by both clubs to see van Dijk agree to a lengthy contract at Celtic (with a 10% sell-on fee included for Groningen). Welcome to Paradise, Virg!



Posing for official club photo


Van Dijk was to sign only days after Celtic had lost/sold midfield general Victor Wanyama to Southampton in a record breaking Scottish transfer fee, had top goalscorer Gary Hooper in the process of finally switching to English side Norwich – and unaware to Celtic fans, Kelvin Wilson had secretly been in contact with Neil Lennon to transfer back to England on grounds of “homesickness” – the spine of our team that had done so well domestically AND on the continent was evaporating. Van Dijk was coming to Celtic at a time that was now a transitional period for the senior team.





Arriving when Celtic's two best players were relocating to English football



Fast forward 6 months, and – after a disastrous debut against Shakter Karagandy, alongside fellow debutant Steven Mouyokolo – van Dijk has firmly established himself as a mainstay of the Celtic defence, and a top fan’s favourite this season. The superlatives have but all been used up from everyone involved at Celtic, the fans and those in the media. From “powerful” to “graceful” from “consistent” to “dominant”, van Dijk this season has developed admirers from all corners of the footballing world, and quite rightfully so (apparent interest from Man City and Arsenal already showing how highly thought of he is).



Losing out against European rivals early on



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He has been an ever-present in central defence this season with Efe Ambrose (van Dijk credits Ambrose with being his close friend now at Celtic, and alongside fellow Dutchman - Derk Boeriggter - being there to help the young man settle to life at Celtic), and it’s safe to say that both players are excelling alongside each other, and it is testament to balance on the pitch of this friendship/partnership that Efe Ambrose has gone from being described as a “bombscare” to “dynamite” in such a short time. Van Dijk has also credited his young girlfriend – attractive young charity worker Rike Nooitgedagt – as the main influence in his settling in to life in Glasgow so quickly, having moved with him from their native country.



Ambrose and van Dijk in action



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Both players, alongside the rest of the defence (and of course, Fraser Forster) are currently in the middle of an unbeaten domestic campaign thus far, with their last 10 games finishing as clean sheets – that’s 15 hours of football we have played without conceding a goal. If the defence can display the same heroic defensive displays they have as a solid unit for another 6 hours, they (or Fraser Forster) will have smashed the current British clean sheet record set by Chris Woods of Rangers (RIP), set in the 1986/87 season – what an achievement that would be!



Record breaking status awaits........



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The individual displays this season so far by van Dijk have been nothing short of magnificent. His 31 games played so far (with four goals to his name) have left Celtic fans drooling with amazement at the graceful defender’s performances. Being able to switch from the physically-dominant defender, to the illustrious pass-master in the blink of an eye, as well as showing awareness and leadership that permeates throughout the rest of the team, van Dijk has all the defensive qualities of Paul Elliot and Bobo Balde combined, and from today’s comments by Neil Lennon that he can equal the performances in midfield shown in the past by Victor Wanyama, it is fair to say (without fear of being branded as hyperbolic) that van Dijk has all the attribute and flair to go straight to the top of the footballing world in the future. His stunning free-kick against Hibernian on Saturday showed that we have yet to see the full extent of his attacking sorcery as of yet (the technique, power and ease in which he hit that ball was enough to give Pelé an erection!).



Virgil showing how it's done!


Although Kris Commons is in the form of his life right now, and is easily the “talisman” of the team right now, van Dijk appears to be the THE main player in the squad, and the one who (I believe) would be missed most if he were to be snapped up by a cash-rich team somewhere in Europe. If we manage to hold on to the Dutch-dynamo for another season or two, if he improves further on his form, if he manages to break into and maintain a place in the Netherlands squad, then we will undoubtedly see an incredible return on the young man destined for greatness.



More of this to come​