Why Virgil van Dijk only has his first name on the back of his Netherlands jersey
Here’s the sad reason why Virgil van Dijk wears his first name on his Netherlands jersey.
On June 14, the Netherlands started their World Cup journey with a 2-2 draw against Japan at Dallas Stadium in Arlington, Texas. Since both teams are seen as the strongest in Group F, this result made everyone watch the next games closely to see who would come out on top.
In their next match, the Netherlands will play Sweden, where captain Van Dijk will face his Liverpool teammate Alexander Isak, who scored one goal and helped with two assists in Sweden’s 5-1 win over Tunisia.
During the game, fans will notice that Van Dijk has chosen to have his first name ‘Virgil’ on his shirt instead of his last name, like he does at Liverpool. Although he’s never talked about why, a close family member once shared the reason.
His uncle, Steven Fo Sieeuw, explained that Virgil wears his first name because of a long-standing fight with his dad that started when Virgil was just 12 years old. Steven told The Sun in 2018, “His dad left his mother and three kids, including Virgil.
“The truth is, his dad wasn’t there during many important years, and it’s his mother who is the real hero here. You don’t take your dad’s name off your shirt without a reason, and Virgil has shown how he feels.”
About Van Dijk’s dad, Steven added, “Ron is a nice guy, but being a good dad means more than that. You have to be there for your kids. Ron remarried, and his new wife was very controlling, so he didn’t see his kids much.”
Steven, who helped Virgil a lot when he was young by taking him to training and matches, praised Virgil’s mom for everything she did. He said, “She had a full-time job and three kids to care for. She never had a moment to herself. Every day she went to work, then came home to look after the kids and cook.
“I feel for Virgil; it’s like he’s been stuck in the middle.”