Virgil van Dijk arrived at Celtic in 2013 as a relatively unknown talent from FC Groningen, but it did not take long for the towering Dutchman to leave everyone at the club in awe. During his two trophy-filled years at Celtic Park, he established a reputation that eventually paved the way for his move to the English Premier League, where he became recognized as one of the finest defenders in the world.
Even years after his departure, van Dijk’s stint in Glasgow remains a popular topic of conversation. Recently, Rangers legend Ally McCoist shared his own perspective on the Liverpool captain’s time in Scotland, noting that the defender often appeared to be playing at a level far above his peers.
McCoist’s “Easy” Theory
Speaking about van Dijk’s impact, McCoist remarked that the game seemed almost too simple for the Dutchman during his Celtic days. He suggested that van Dijk played with a level of composure and ease that made the opposition look completely outmatched.
Former Celtic star Charlie Mulgrew, who partnered van Dijk in defense, had a humorous response to these claims. During a discussion on talkSPORT, Mulgrew joked that the superstar likely learned a great deal from him during their time together in the Hoops backline.
The “FIFA” Comparison
Mulgrew went on to describe van Dijk’s attributes in modern gaming terms, comparing him to a “created player” on FIFA with maximum stats. He explained that van Dijk possessed every possible strength a footballer could want. According to Mulgrew, the defender was the quickest, strongest, and best in the air, while also excelling at free kicks, dribbling, and long-range passing.
A Lasting Legacy
Now 34, van Dijk is still proving his worth on the biggest stages. Just this past Sunday, while Celtic secured their place in the Scottish Cup final, van Dijk was busy scoring a dramatic 100th-minute winner for Liverpool against Everton.
For the Celtic supporters who watched him blossom in Scotland, his continued success at the highest level of European football comes as no surprise. Whether it is rival pundits like McCoist or former teammates like Mulgrew, the consensus remains the same: Virgil van Dijk was a unique talent who made the difficult look effortless.