Long before he lifted the Champions League trophy, captained the Netherlands, or became the most feared center-back in global football, Virgil van Dijk was a 21-year-old defender trying to drag FC Groningen into the European playoffs. The May 2013 matchday programme features a massive three-page spread on the young Dutchman, serving as a breathtaking time capsule of a superstar on the verge of his international breakthrough.
The interview, titled “Eindigen op de Grote Markt” (Ending up on the Grote Markt), captures Van Dijk at a pivotal crossroads. He is noted as one of the youngest regular starters alongside Leandro Bacuna and Stefano Magnasco, anchored by the experience of the returning Rasmus Lindgren. Facing the newly crowned champions Ajax, Van Dijk’s focus is singular: securing the one point needed for the playoffs. He dismisses any idea of a gentleman’s agreement for a draw, stating, “We are going onto the pitch to win… I don’t really know many Ajax players. Daley Blind via Jong Oranje, but otherwise I have no contact with them.”
What makes this interview truly poignant is Van Dijk’s reflection on his recent past. Just a year prior, his career—and life—were nearly derailed by a severe ruptured appendix (“blindedarmontsteking”) and subsequent complications. He acknowledges the dramatic contrast between that terrifying period and his current form, which had just earned him a spot in the preliminary squad for the U21 European Championship in Israel.
The article also reveals fascinating “sliding doors” moments in football history. The text casually mentions that during the winter transfer window, Van Dijk was heavily scouted by English side Brighton & Hove Albion. When asked about his future at the Euroborg, the 21-year-old is remarkably honest: “I can’t give an answer to that yet. It’s known that there is interest, and I think as a player with ambitions, you have to be open to it.” He closes the interview by recalling his favorite memory: scoring two goals in the 2011 playoffs against ADO Den Haag, hoping to recreate that magic and finally celebrate with the fans on the Grote Markt, the city’s iconic central square.
A Look into the Future
Reading this in 2026 feels almost surreal. Virgil van Dijk did not go to Brighton. Instead, shortly after this programme was printed, he transferred to Celtic, beginning a meteoric rise that took him to Southampton and eventually Liverpool, where he became a Premier League and Champions League winner. The young man who dreamed of celebrating a playoff spot on the Grote Markt would go on to parade the biggest trophies in world football through the streets of Merseyside. Yet, this 2013 interview remains a testament to his resilience, proving that the foundation of the world’s best defender was forged in the fires of the Euroborg.