VAN Dijk joined the Willem II Academy, which won its approval in 2001 when she was 10 years old.
The club, which challenged the possibilities a few years ago by completing the second place in Eredivisie in 1998-1999 and reached the Champions League.
Shortly after his arrival, Jean Van Lunon was installed as director of the Academy.
“There was no attacker in fact to stop him,” Van Lunon said. “He was physically strong and had a natural talent to take off the balls from opponents at the exact right.
“I remember in the games to say to him sometimes:” Watch out from Virgil, there is a discount behind you. “It will be very comfortable, such as:” Yes, well, don't worry. “
“I remember a game against Ajax, where he would have celebrated the best player. We used to say,” Make sure that he did not touch any ball, “and this is exactly what Virgil would do.”
However, there is still room for improvement,
“Until now and after that, he can coincide with him as a laconic, very easy. Some young managers may have sometimes considered lazy,” Van Love added.
This image was partially created by saving its time, as Van Dijk had sometimes arrived late for training sessions.
Until it came to the point where some coaches asked whether the young defender should remain in the club.
But when Van Lunon took care of the young football title, he also gained an insight into Van Dyck's personal life.
He said: “His parents were divorced and sometimes he had to take care of his brother and his younger sister. Sometimes he had to take them from school and made them lunch, before jumping on the bus to William II.
“This means that it may be late from time to time, and if I asked him about the reasons that he will always explain in detail what happened.
“On one occasion, I remember that his young brother asked him for peanut butter on his bread, which was something that he had to go and reach the supermarket – and then he lost the bus. This period forms him as a human and football player.”
