Virgil van Dijk has been confirmed as the new captain of Liverpool FC, with Trent Alexander-Arnold appointed as vice captain, the club said on its official website.
The centre-back, who also holds the same role for his country, the Netherlands, will take over the full-time occupancy of the armband following the departure of Jordan Henderson from the Reds.
In addition, the club can announce Alexander-Arnold as deputy captain, taking over the responsibility from James Milner.
Van Dijk told Liverpool official website in Singapore: “[It’s] a really proud day for me, for my wife, for my kids, for my family. It’s been a special feeling, and I can’t really describe it at this point. But it’s something that I’m really, really proud of.
“Obviously I’m captain of Holland; that was already such a huge honour and a proud moment as well. But to also be the captain of Liverpool Football Club is something that I can’t describe at this point.
“It’s just something that makes me very proud, and I will do everything in my power and what I can to make everyone proud and happy with me and the football club.”
Van Dijk has clocked up 222 appearances for Liverpool since moving to Anfield from Southampton in January 2018.
During that time, he has collected seven winner’s medals as he helped the Reds lift the Premier League, Champions League, FA Cup, Carabao Cup, UEFA Super Cup, FIFA Club World Cup, and the FA Community Shield.
And, with 2023–24 edging closer as Liverpool’s pre-season preparations continue, Van Dijk outlined a collective desire to bounce back after a disappoint ofing campaign last time out.
“It has been a very disappointing year,” said Van Dijk. “It was actually not a bad run-in. Obviously, in the end, we didn’t achieve anything we hoped to achieve, and that was very disappointing.
“Then you’re going on a very short summer holiday and you reflect on the season you’ve had, personally and as a team, and it hurts. It hurts a lot. You have pride as a human being, and you feel like you could have done a lot better and more consistently.
