Virgil van Dijk says he is a big fan of Ronald Koeman

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Liverpool defender Virgil van Dijk worked with the Netherlands head coach Ronald Koeman at Southampton.

Liverpool defender Virgil van Dijk has been quoted as saying by De Telegraaf that he will always be grateful to former Everton and Southampton manager Ronald Koeman.

The 26-year-old has thanked Koeman for bringing him to the Premier League when he signed the central defender for Southampton.

The Netherlands international centre-back joined the Saints from Scottish giants Celtic in the summer of 2015 for a transfer fee reported by BBC Sport to be worth £13 million.

While Koeman swapped Southampton for Everton in the summer of 2016, Van Dijk left the Saints for Liverpool in the January transfer window.

De Telegraaf quotes Van Dijk as saying following Koeman’s appointment as the Netherlands national football team head coach: “I happened to speak to him before everything became known.

“Everyone knows that I am a big fan of the national coach. He took me here and gave me the opportunity in the Premier League. I will always be grateful for that.”

Back working together

With Koeman having recently been appointed as the Netherlands national football team head coach, Van Dijk will get to work with the former Southampton and Everton manager again.

Although the Dutchman was dismissed by Everton in October 2017, there is no doubt that the 54-year-old is a very good manager, and playing under him is only going to help Van Dijk.