Virgil van Dijk has admitted that he is 'quite complete' as a modern day footballer but still didn't pick himself in his top five Premier League centre-backs of all time.
Liverpool's towering defender was invited to make his picks by former Manchester United star Rio Ferdinand. But whereas the ex-England defender selected himself as the best Premier League centre-back there's ever been, humble Van Dijk didn't even include himself in his shortlist.
The Dutchman was a special guest alongside Ferdinand for the latest Between the Lines episode on YouTube. The Reds' number four answered a wide range of questions about his rise to the football elite, before choosing his top five central defenders of the Premier League era, but he was too modest to include himself.
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Commenting on his final picks, Van Dijk said: " I can’t speak about myself in this case. I didn’t see Tony Adams play. I can’t imagine myself at one. I’ll put you (Ferdinand) at one, I think you can play in the modern era. Back in the day you were important for the United team, all the English centre-backs in general looked up to you, I think you were an icon as a defender. Your presence is an important thing as a centre-back, be good on the ball as well, you tackle more than I do but a different game back in the day.
"I’ll put Vincent (Kompany) number two, similar, fantastic captain, good with and without the ball. Scored important goals in his City team. Scored a very important one against Leicester when we almost won the league. Great guy, I think he is outstanding, fantastic career.
"Jaap (Stam), my Dutch man. As a Dutchman he was the man at the back. If you look at the national team, I always thought he was going to be two-and-a-half metres, 6 ft 6”. His career has been outstanding. Time with United, at Milan, at Willem III where I started my career, I have so much respect for what he’s achieved.
"JT (John Terry fourth) he’s got the most clean sheets, least goals conceded in the Premier League, also one of the centre-backs that you look at where you want to be when you’re younger together with yourself (Ferdinand).
"I’m going (Sami) Hyypia (number five) you know why? He’s a Liverpool legend. He played at Willem III as well, doesn’t really matter. He was underrated in my opinion, good player, good on the ball, important for the club in an important period for the club. Hopefully I will be in this, I can’t put myself in that."
If Van Dijk proved humble by not putting himself in the very top bracket of Premier League centre-backs, the same cannot be said of Ferdinand who picked himself as his overall top choice, but had the Liverpool star third on his list.
Ferdinand said: "I believe I was number one, serious, I’m putting myself number one straight away that’s how I approach everything. I’m going to go for Vidic second, partner in crime, I thought he led by example, didn’t ever say much. I was a talker, an organiser, he was an animal. He was the only player I saw that strikers looked at and thought ‘woah’, look at his nose, he used a head through people to win the ball but he was actually a better footballer than people make out, he read the game really well, we had a good partnership.
"I’m going you (Van Dijk) there (third). The impact you have on the team is massive. Your attributes would put you right in the top tier of any of those guys. In terms of natural physical, athlete, Stam could be there with you in terms of that passing range. I think you’re a full package. Whatever is in front of you right now, you’re making look too easy and the game seems to come very easy.
"Next I’ll go Stam, I thought this guy was a monster. I remember he used to play on the half-way line on his own and say you lot just go. He was comfortable with the ball, physically ridiculous, his affect on the team was massive. If he doesn’t play in that team, they’re a different team, every one on there you can say if they didn’t play in their prime, the team would’ve lost it.
"For number five, I’m going for John Terry, in terms of his longevity at that club, what they won, body on the line, much better footballer than people give credit for, the team he played for suited him. I just feel the difference with myself and you and with Jaap we could’ve played in any time in any era. That’s the difference, I still think your career isn’t finished, there will be movement."
