Virgil van Dijk reveals retirement plans, rejects pundit and coaching roles

Liverpool captain Virgil van Dijk has been discussing his retirement plans, saying there is still plenty left for him to achieve and that he wants to continue inspiring the next generation. Speaking to Gary Neville on Sky Sports, he urged former players to be more considerate when offering opinions about today’s stars, warning that clickbait and harsh social media criticism can harm younger players’ mental health.

“Criticism is absolutely normal and part of the game, and I think it should stay that way. But sometimes criticism also goes into being clickbait, saying things to provoke things, and without thinking about the repercussions for a mental side of players, and especially the younger generation, who are constantly on social media,” he said.

When asked if punditry or coaching might suit him, Van Dijk was cautious. “I'd never say never... but I don't see myself being a pundit.