Former Chelsea defender John Terry has tasked Virgil Van Dijk with adding longevity to his game if he wants to be regarded as one of the best defenders of all time once his playing days are over.
The Liverpool defender has been a revelation since he moved to Anfield for a then world-record fee for a defender back in January 2018, having helped Jurgen Klopp's men win six trophies, including the Premier League and Champions League, during the four-and-a-half-year period since.
And because of how easy the 31-year-old makes elite-level defending look, in recent years there have been continuous comparisons from fans and pundits likening Van Dijk to some of the Premier League greats such as Vincent Kompany, John Terry, Rio Ferdinand and Jaap Stam.
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However, Terry believes that despite the supreme quality the Liverpool defender has displayed since his move from the South Coast, Van Dijk must continue to perform at the upper echelons of the game for at least "10/15 years" to be considered the best central defender ever.
While taking part in an Instagram Q and A over the weekend, the former Chelsea and England captain said:
“Yes, I do,” said Terry. when asked if 'Van Dijk has the potential to be the best CB ever?'
Terry added: “I always say to be regarded as the very best, Longevity is key.
“He has been outstanding for the last 3/4 years. But to be the very best, you need to be at the very top for 10/15 years.”
Terry himself, who played 492 times for the Londoners between 1997 and 2017, is often regarded as the best defender the Premier League has ever seen because of his continued presence in Chelsea's most prominent trophy-laden years, and is clearly a fan of the Dutchman if his latest comments are anything to go by.
Having signed a new four-year contract at Anfield last summer, Van Dijk made an impressive return to the Liverpool team following 10 months on the sidelines after rupturing his ACL against Everton in October 2020, making 51 appearances during the Reds' unprecedented quadruple hunt.
Though despite turning 31 on Friday, if last season is anything to judge by, Liverpool's No.4 will continue to be a stalwart in Jurgen Klopp's side for years to come as he shows no signs of slowing down.
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