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Jun 7, 2025, 07:00 AM ET

Virgil van Dijk has been named the best center back in the world in this year's ninth annual edition of the FC 100.

Upon taking over as manager, Arne Slot saw no reason to change that this past season.

"I haven't worked with a player like him in terms of leadership," Slot recently said of Van Dijk.



Van Dijk is still the best center back in the game, and with the ink dry on a new two-year contract at Liverpool, he shows no sign of giving up that title anytime soon.

Anticipation is his greatest strength

Watch Van Dijk bossing Liverpool's back line, and you can't help but be impressed.

Stationed on the left side of central defense, he controls everything, constantly managing the team's shape and being quick to correct teammates when they lose their positioning.

Even when Liverpool are attacking, Van Dijk is already thinking defensively, organizing the structure behind the ball to prevent quick counterattacks in transition.

On the ground, only one Premier League player had a better success rate than the Liverpool and Netherlands captain.

A key figure in the buildup

The tactical shift from Klopp to Slot hasn't fazed Van Dijk either, with Klopp's direct, high-octane style being replaced with a more patient approach.

"If you can put someone through on goal, do it.

Slot put more focus on that part of his game since arriving at Liverpool, and Van Dijk's shown he's got real quality on the ball too."

Even when Liverpool are pressed high, particularly in big matches, Van Dijk remains composed on the ball