Virgil van Dijk
Virgil van Dijk of Celtic in action during the UEFA Europa League Round of 32 match between Celtic and FC Internazionale Milano on February 19, 2015 (Photo by Laurence Griffiths/Getty Images)
Former Celtic defender Virgil van Dijk has spoken of his pride after earning his 100th Netherlands cap on the same international break as former Liverpool teammate Andy Robertson reached the milestone for Scotland.
Virgil Van Dijk
BARCELONA, SPAIN – DECEMBER 11: Neymar (2.R) of FC Barcelona beats Virgil van Dijk of Celtic FC to score his team’s 4th goal during the UEFA Champions League, Group H match between FC Barcelona and Celtic FC at the Camp Nou Stadium on December 11, 2013 in Barcelona, Spain. (Photo by Denis Doyle/Getty Images)
Van Dijk brought up his century of appearances for the Netherlands against Serbia, while Robertson won his 100th Scotland cap against North Macedonia.
For Van Dijk, it marks another major achievement in a career that took off during his two years at Celtic after arriving from Groningen in 2013.
Now 35, the Dutch defender believes he could already have moved much higher up his country’s all-time appearance list had injury not cost him a significant period of his international career.
Van Dijk said: “I am so grateful my family was here for me on this special evening.
“This wonderful milestone is something I am very proud of. I was actually having quite a hard time in the dressing room just now keeping it together.
“As a young boy, I could never have dreamed I would have even played for my country, never mind get 100 caps.
“I am so happy I managed to do it.
“Unfortunately, I missed a year due to injury, otherwise, I could have come close to Wesley Sneijder and his 134 caps.
“I will keep trying to perform to my best for my club and continue to do everything I can to play for the Netherlands.”
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