Virgin van Dijk says he’s unlikely to enter punditry on account of fears he could be ‘too boring’.
The Dutch defender is into the ultimate 12 months of his Liverpool contract however that hasn’t affected run of glowing kind for the Merseyside membership.
Whereas the 33-year-old’s performances don’t precisely depict a participant winding down his profession, Van Dijk has lifted the lid on life after soccer.
A participant of his calibre and expertise is more likely to be in excessive demand as soon as he has hung up his boots, however there may be one line of labor Van Dijk has categorically dominated out – punditry.
The Liverpool captain admits he can not see himself on tv critiquing the following technology of stars due to his respectful persona, identical to a much-loved Arsenal legend.
“I’d simply be a bit like Ian Wright, I feel,” Van Dijk mentioned in an interview with Rio Ferdinand.
“A bit extra respectful, a bit extra simply exhibiting extra love, however I do know as a pundit typically it’s a must to be a bit extra controversial.
“It’s a must to be onerous on sure issues, in any other case it will get boring and stuff, however it’s a part of the enterprise, and everyone knows that.”
Van Dijk did reveal an curiosity in working with younger gamers as soon as his taking part in days had been over.
The centre-back instructed Ferdinand of his enjoyment at watching Liverpool’s academy prospects and admits he often retains tabs on the membership’s rising stars.
“I actually really feel like I positively will give one thing again to soccer,” mentioned the Liverpool and Netherlands captain.
“I really like working and seeing youthful gamers on the market. I do not know which type of function, and it is too far-off to consider it.
“I watch the Underneath 11s, 12s, 13s and the opposite day I watched an U16 match.
“Once I was youthful and I used to be eight or 9 we had a coaching session and two or three first-team gamers from my group again then got here to coach with us.
“I’ll always remember that and I do know what sort of influence it makes for the youthful boys and the youthful technology.”
The centre-back reserved reward for Arsenal defender William Saliba who has drawn comparisons with him on events.
Saliba has risen to superstardom lately and has been touted because the inheritor obvious to the Dutchman because the world’s finest centre-back.
On Saliba’s rise, Van Dijk mentioned: “I feel, if I am trustworthy, after I was that age, I used to be nowhere close to the place he’s right this moment.
“Clearly, that is the fantastic thing about soccer as nicely. I like to look at different defenders and choose up a lot stuff from them. There are such a lot of good ballplayers and centre-halves.”