Liverpool have named Virgil van Dijk as the club’s new captain, while fellow defender Trent Alexander-Arnold will take on the role of vice-captain, the Premier League club announced on Monday.
Van Dijk, 32, who is also captain of the Netherlands national team, will replace Jordan Henderson after the England midfielder joined Saudi club Al-Ettifaq last week, ending a spell. 12 years at Anfield.
Van Dijk has made 222 appearances for the Merseyside giants since leaving Championship club Southampton in 2018. “It is a very proud day for me, for my wife, for my children, for my family. It’s a special feeling and I can’t really describe it at this point. But it’s something I’m really, really proud of,” Van Dijk said in a statement.
“I will do everything in my power and what I can do to make everyone proud and happy of me and the football club.”
After narrowly missing out on an unprecedented quadruple in the 2021-22 season, winning two domestic cups, Liverpool will miss out on the Champions League for the first time under Juergen Klopp since the German manager’s first full season in 2016- 17.
“We also have to be a bit patient, but we want to be there and show what we are capable of, because we have a fantastic group of players, staff, supporters, stadium…,” added Van Dijk.
Alexander-Arnold, 24, meanwhile joined Liverpool’s academy in 2004 and captained the club in the youth categories. He will take over from veteran James Milner, who joined Brighton