What Virgil van Dijk did at Liverpool U18s match speaks volumes after Rio Ngumoha message
Below is a summary of the full article. Click here for the full version from Echo or go back to LFC Live.
Liverpool Echo IconSportFootballVirgil van DijkLiverpool captain Virgil van Dijk further showed his desire to be involved in academy football in the wake of the FA Cup victory over WolvesVirgil van Dijk was back watching Liverpool's next generation just 12 hours on from captaining the senior team's FA Cup win over Wolves. The young Reds were beaten 3-0 by the league leaders but still sit in fourth.READ MORE: Ryan Gravenberch signs new long-term Liverpool contract as Reds secure midfielder's futureREAD MORE: Andy Robertson explains what he asked Rio Ngumoha to do before 'unbelievable' Liverpool displayThe 34-year-old is a regular spectator for Liverpool youth games with his interest in academy football stretching beyond his current club.In March 2025, he launched the 'Virgil's Legacy Trophy', a tournament held at his boyhood club, Willem II, that pits top academies against each other in 11v11 matches.That is seemingly where a lot of Van Dijk's effort will go at the conclusion of his playing career with the Netherlands international confirming in an interview with Gary Neville, he has no real plans to be a pundit or even go into management.FOLLOW OUR LIVERPOOL FB PAGE!
Latest Reds news and more on our dedicated Facebook pageHe told Sky Sports: “I'd never say never, because I feel like I have that platform of saying or doing the right thing, but I don't see myself being a pundit.“I don't think I see myself being a coach. I feel like you're stepping from one world in terms of being under pressure constantly - not that I don't like it because it's part of what I wanted to be - to then quitting for a little bit and then go back in it, and then also have no control really of what's going to happen on the pitch.“I really like inspiring the next generation.
I'm at the academy quite a lot because I feel like those are the guys that are eventually going to keep Liverpool up there."I have my own youth tournament and I want to make sure it's the biggest U13s tournament in the world, so something with that. But let's see, there's plenty of time.”Van Dijk is arguably already helping the next generation with a clear message sent by the centre-back to Rio Ngumoha after his excellent display in the win over Wolves.He told TNT Sports: “Obviously we all see day in, day out how special [a] talent he is in terms of one-v-ones and the pace he drives at players.