Virgil van Dijk opens himself up to Liverpool career change - 'Never say never'

Liverpool captain Virgil van Dijk has discussed what the future may hold when he eventually retires from football after being quizzed by Rio Ferdinand

Liverpool captain Virgil van Dijk has left the door open to becoming a manager after he hangs up his boots.

The formidable centre-back, 33, is entering the final years of his career and the future is already at the forefront of his mind. Van Dijk’s contract is due to expire next summer and he is yet to pen a new deal at Anfield, despite indicating his desire to remain at the top of the sport until at least 2026.

Liverpool smashed the world record transfer fee for a defender when the Netherlands international was signed for £75million from Southampton in January 2018. Refusing to be weighed down by his price tag, Van Dijk was an instant hit for Jurgen Klopp’s side and later helped steer Liverpool to Premier League and Champions League glory.

Van Dijk shows no real signs of slowing down and has been ever-present during Liverpool’s strong start in the league under new boss Arne Slot. As assured as he might be on the pitch, speaking to Rio Ferdinand, Van Dijk refused to fully rule out becoming a manager after snubbing the idea of a future punditry role.

“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 told 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 keen to stress the influence that Van Dijk’s presence would have on the Liverpool youngsters after the Dutch defender shared that he had recently watched an U16 tournament. Reflecting on his own experience rising through Willem II's youth academy, Van Dijk hinted that he could become a youth coach in the future, though he is in no rush to call time on his playing days.

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“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.”

Listen to the full Rio Meets Virgil interview on Apple Podcasts and Spotify, presented by Qatar Airways.

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