Virgil van Dijk shares his future plans following his departure from Liverpool

Virgil van Dijk shares his thoughts on his future following his potential departure from Liverpool. As he nears the last six months of his contract with the club, the Dutch defender’s next steps in football are unclear due to interest from various teams. He also talked about his aspirations for life after his playing career.

Virgil van Dijk has admitted that he does not envision himself becoming a manager after his playing career ends. The 33-year-old defender is at a pivotal moment in his career as he nears the final six months of his Liverpool contract, raising questions about his immediate future.

In a conversation on the Rio Ferdinand Presents podcast, Van Dijk shared his thoughts on life after football, suggesting he prefers to remain involved in the sport in a non-coaching capacity.

“I said no [to management] but that’s also because coming to this hectic, busy, on-it life that my family is sacrificing a lot, my wife and my kids, 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,” he said.

He expressed his commitment to giving back to football, highlighting his enjoyment in watching younger players. “I really feel like I definitely will give something back to football. I love working and seeing younger players out there. I like going, for example, to the Liverpool academy to watch the under-11, 12, 13. The other day I watched the little tournament, under-16s, if I’m correct, and just a couple of games, but also because of the joy, it’s just nice to see.”

Reflecting on his own youth, Van Dijk recalled a memorable training session with first-team players from Willem II when he was a child. “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.”

When asked about his future, he stated, “I would love to stay in football in the future. But at this time, I don’t know which kind of role, and it’s too far away to think about it.”

Before considering his next steps, Van Dijk must resolve his situation at Liverpool. He recently mentioned that “discussions are ongoing” with club officials, but fans are anxiously awaiting clarity on his future.