Virgin van Dijk says he is unlikely to go into punditry due to fears he would be ‘too boring’.
The Dutch defender is into the final year of his Liverpool contract but that hasn’t affected run of sparkling form for the Merseyside club.
While the 33-year-old’s performances do not exactly depict a player winding down his career, Van Dijk has lifted the lid on life after football.
A player of his calibre and experience is likely to be in high demand once he has hung up his boots, but there is one line of work Van Dijk has categorically ruled out – punditry.
The Liverpool captain admits he cannot see himself on television critiquing the next generation of stars because of his respectful personality, just like a much-loved Arsenal legend.
“I would just be a bit like Ian Wright, I think,” Van Dijk said in an interview with Rio Ferdinand.
“A bit more respectful, a bit more just showing more love, but I know as a pundit sometimes you have to be a bit more controversial.
“You have to be hard on certain things, otherwise it gets boring and stuff, but it’s part of the business, and we all know that.”
Van Dijk did reveal an interest in working with young players once his playing days were over.
The centre-back told Ferdinand of his enjoyment at watching Liverpool’s academy prospects and admits he regularly keeps tabs on the club’s emerging stars.
“I really feel like I definitely will give something back to football,” said the Liverpool and Netherlands captain.
“I love working and seeing younger players out there. I don’t know which kind of role, and it’s too far away to think about it.
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“I watch the Under 11s, 12s, 13s and the other day I watched an U16 tournament.
“When I was younger and I was eight or nine we had a training session and two or three first-team players from my team back then came to train with us.
“I will never forget that and I know what kind of impact it makes for the younger boys and the younger generation.”
The centre-back reserved praise for Arsenal defender William Saliba who has drawn comparisons with him on occasions.
Saliba has risen to superstardom in recent years and has been touted as the heir apparent to the Dutchman as the world’s best centre-back.
On Saliba’s rise, Van Dijk said: “I think, if I’m honest, when I was that age, I was nowhere near where he is today.
“Obviously, that’s the beauty of football as well. I like to watch other defenders and pick up so much stuff from them. There are so many good ballplayers and centre-halves.”
