Netherlands skipper Van Dijk relishing life under new Liverpool boss Iraola

A month away from turning 35, Van Dijk is the oldest player in the squad Iraola will inherit following his switch from Bournemouth.

And the veteran defender, who is preparing to captain the Netherlands at the World Cup, is determined to continue leading by example.

Speaking in the latest edition of Liverpool’s official eMagazine, he said: “I’m in a situation where obviously I’m the oldest in the team. But for me, it doesn’t really change anything.

“I just want to inspire — let other players see what I do in order to be playing the amount of games I’ve been playing and the consistency I have. It’s down to them as well to make that next step.

“I joined eight-and-a-half years ago and six months later I was named third captain.

“That responsibility made me the player I am today — leading and being part of the group that has been so successful. It has been a privilege.”

Van Dijk was the only outfield player in the Premier League to play every minute during the 2025-26 campaign.

Despite a trophyless season that saw the Reds lose their grip on the title and finish fifth in the table, their skipper netted eight goals in all competitions.

And you can guarantee new boss Iraola will be keen to see Van Dijk shine in North America as the Netherlands, who have been tipped as dark horses, battle to win the World Cup.

Can the Netherlands go all the way?

Ronald Koeman's men are strongly fancied to emerge from Group F, which also features Japan, Sweden and Tunisia, without any problems. 

A strong defence and world-class midfield certainly give the Dutch strong foundations to build on. 

The lack of an out-and-out No 9 is a concern but with Donyell Malen heading into the tournament in blistering form, it would not be a surprise to see the Netherlands go far in the knockout phase.

And if Lady Luck smiles along the way, backing them could turn out to be a smart bet. 

DAZN/FIFA

Watch World Cup archive, highlights and documentaries for FREE on DAZN

DAZN is the home of FIFA+, a vast library of football on-demand content including World Cup archive, iconic documentaries, player profiles, live matches and both full match replays and highlights.

Watch it all for FREE on DAZN on smart TVs, phones, tablets, streaming devices, games consoles and web browsers.