Van Dijk joined Willem II's then-acclaimed academy in 2001 as a 10-year-old.

It was a club that had defied the odds just a few years earlier by finishing second in the Eredivisie in 1998-99 and reaching the Champions League.

Shortly after his arrival, Jan van Loon was installed as academy director.

"There was actually no striker who stood a chance against him," Van Loon said.

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"I remember in games we would sometimes say to him: 'Watch out Virgil, there is an opponent behind you.' He would be very relaxed, like: 'Yeah, OK, no worries.'

"I recall a game against Ajax, where he would mark their best player.

We were saying 'make sure he doesn't touch any ball,' and that's exactly what Virgil would do."

Yet there was still room for improvement,

Van Loon, added: "So now and then he could come across as laconic, a bit too easy going.

It even got to the point where some coaches wondered whether the young defender should remain at the club.

But when Van Loon took a closer interest in the young footballer, he also gained insight into Van Dijk's personal life.

He said: "His parents were divorced and at times he had to look after his younger brother and sister.