--- title: "Virgil van Dijk – The epitome of a developing Southampton" canonical: "https://readsouthampton.com/2015/10/30/virgil-van-dijk-epitome-developing-southampton/" type: "post" language: "en-GB" author: "Luke Osman" section: "Feature Writers" published: "2015-10-30T18:56:42Z" modified: "2015-10-30T18:56:42Z" --- # Virgil van Dijk – The epitome of a developing Southampton Over the last three years, Southampton have had a huge change in personnel; from physio’s to the players on the pitch, it has been all change at the club. From turbulent transfer windows to shrewd bargain signings, it has been a bumpy ride for Southampton so far in the Premier League as they have seen talent come and go, and fresh faces enter the fray with new abilities and more qualities to offer. One key aspect of Southampton’s growth and development over the years has been their ability to improve no matter what the circumstances are at the club; as shown with three different managers in three different Premier League seasons, bettering each other’s previous records. With new managers come new players, as well as departing players. In the summer of 2013, former Southampton manager Mauricio Pochettino, now at Tottenham, made his first signing for the club, adding centre back Dejan Lovren to his squad for a fee of £8.5 million from French giants, Lyon. The now-Liverpool centre half enjoyed just one excellent season at Southampton, showcasing his talents before moving on to what he considered as bigger things the next season as he left in a summer exodus at the south-coast club. Liverpool signed Lovren for £20 million and it is safe to say that he has not lived up to his price tag and has been very simply poor for Liverpool. ![Dean Mouhtaropoulos/Getty Images Sport](https://media.readsouthampton.com/readsouthampton/2015/10/474885616.jpg) As players followed Lovren out the door at Southampton, more new faces came in to replace them. Of course, a replacement for the Croatian centre back was needed, and new manager Ronald Koeman decided that a season long loan move for Belgian defender Toby Alderweireld was the way forward for The Saints; and how right he was. As his predecessor Lovren took a turn for the worst at Liverpool, proving yet again that leaving Southampton for pastures new is not the best way forward for an individual, Alderweireld had a glittering season under Ronald Koeman at Southampton. However, it was a similar tale of how the centre back decided that he was to look aside from Southampton to develop himself. Although he was only on loan, Alderweireld could have moved to Southampton from what was his parent club Atletico Madrid, however he joined up with ex-Saints boss Mauricio Pochettino at Tottenham, where he is now plying his trade. After being in the presence of two excellent performers for Southampton at the heart of the defence, whilst captain Jose Fonte remained, it seemed inevitable that Ronald Koeman would struggle to replace Alderweireld with a much better centre back; little did we know that Virgil van Dijk would be in the offing. Arriving last summer for what now seems like a very cheap £13 million from Scottish champions Celtic, van Dijk has made a good impression so far to say the very least for Southampton. Van Dijk made his first appearance for Southampton after they’d started the season relatively poorly, picking up just five points in four games; a record that left a lot to be desired for The Saints fans. However, coming straight into the side in Southampton’s trip away to West Brom, it was the start of a redefined Southampton style of play and a vast improvement in defensive strategy due to the arrival of van Dijk. Although Southampton did not defeat West Brom, a 0-0 draw was a good start for the towering Dutch defender who came away with a clean sheet as well as the recognition and appreciation of those who watched the match to see what he was all about. ![Jordan Mansfield/Getty Images Sport](https://media.readsouthampton.com/readsouthampton/2015/10/4930460483.jpg) Five Premier League matches later, there is no doubt over as to why Southampton have been more successful this campaign than they were when it begun. Virgil van Dijk has been at the core of the improving results for Southampton at both ends of the pitch, as he has already bagged two goals for his new club against Swansea and Leicester, both at home. This shows the 6ft 4 defender’s threat from set pieces thanks to his gigantic build and structure as well as excellent heading ability. Not only does van Dijk have a brilliant physique for a centre half that has undoubtedly helped him to cope with the physicality and style of the English game, but he has a good amount of pace for a tall centre back. With these two physical attributes, it is no surprise that van Dijk is living up to his price tag in the Premier League as it’s almost as if he came over to Southampton as a ready-made replacement, and a ready-made improvement on their previous centre backs. As well as his dominant physical ability, van Dijk is an excellent footballer who suits the Southampton style of play with the ball on the ground in a free-flowing attacking manner. So far this season in just six games for the club in the Premier League, van Dijk has made a total of 258 attempted passes since joining, with a highly impressive success rate of 83%. Not only does this stat represent van Dijk’s comfortability when in possession of the ball, but it also shows how Southampton have signed a centre back that is perfectly suited to their ethos and style of play under current boss Ronald Koeman. ![Dean Mouhtaropoulos/Getty Images Sport](https://media.readsouthampton.com/readsouthampton/2015/10/493042194.jpg) Over the course of the last three years, it has been no secret that playing for Southampton and enjoying good performances has only brought good things to the players and for the club’s reputation; and nothing more so than the international recognition players receive when playing for The Saints. Last season, striker Graziano Pelle earned his first call up to the Italian national side, as well as Jose Fonte earning his first call up to Portugal; showing just how Southampton can influence a player’s prestige globally. This has been the case also with Virgil van Dijk. Before signing for The Saints, van Dijk had only featured for the Netherlands at Under-19 and Under-21 level; but this was to change after moving to Southampton and featuring in the Premier League. The 24-year-old made his full international debut in the Netherlands’ 2-1 away victory against Kazakhstan on the 10th October; just over a month after signing for Southampton. Although it is early days in van Dijk’s Southampton career, the signs of sheer class that he is showing can give The Saints supporters all the encouragement they need to believe that with van Dijk in the heart of the Southampton defence next to the ever-present Jose Fonte, they have a solid foundation in their team that they can build from and there is a better sense of reliability amongst the backline. The signing of van Dijk could prove to be Southampton’s best in many, many years because despite playing just six Premier League games; his talent is clear and it would be no surprise to see him improve even further with this ever-developing Southampton side. In modern day football, it is clear to see that prices of players are inflated to ridiculous extents and several clubs are over-spending on players that never quite live up to the expectation set by their previous performances, however Southampton have an art of spending the correct amount of money on the correct players; van Dijk is a representative of Southampton’s excellent dealings and an epitome of how they work. ![Jordan Mansfield/Getty Images Sport](https://media.readsouthampton.com/readsouthampton/2015/10/4930465222.jpg) It is still hard to believe that The Saints acquired the services of Virgil van Dijk for a mere £13 million, their transfer record for a defender albeit, however it looks as though every penny is set to be repaid by excellent performances that the Dutchman is putting in for Southampton. As much credit as van Dijk himself deserves after such a good start to life in the Premier League with The Saints, a huge deal of credit must also go to Southampton boss Ronald Koeman. The 52-year-old can relate to his most expensive signing, van Dijk as they both operate in the same position and have expertise in the central defence. Koeman, who made 78 appearances for Holland, will be delighted at how van Dijk has settled in and will be the first to applaud his player for how he’s performed for Southampton due to his experience in playing in the same position as van Dijk. It is sure that Koeman has taught van Dijk a lot about the game and that even after under three months with The Saints; van Dijk will have developed his game in a much more efficient and beneficial manner than how he was developing in Scotland with Celtic, who play in a far less competitive league. The Dutchman has barely put a foot wrong this season, and if he keeps up this tremendous form; it will be hard to keep the vultures away for Southampton, as they have so often experienced. However, for Virgil van Dijk himself, good performances can only bring success for him as he continues his journey with Southampton and proves himself as one of the best centre backs in the Premier League. How do you feel Virgil van Dijk has progressed since his move?