Van Dijk explains personal request to Hansen to present Premier League trophy

Daily Mirror

7 days ago

Liverpool captain Virgil van Dijk had asked for Alan Hansen, who was taken seriously ill last year, to present him with the Premier League trophy at Anfield on Sunday
Virgil van Dijk was adamant that the Premier League trophy had to be handed from one great Liverpool captain to another.
It was Van Dijk's idea for Alan Hansen, the last Liverpool skipper to lift the league title in front of an Anfield crowd in 1990, to be on hand to present him with the trophy in front of fans who had waited 35 years to see it.
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Reds icon Hansen, who was taken seriously ill last year, was cheered onto the pitch before handing the trophy over to Van Dijk to start a party which continues into Monday with a huge parade on Merseyside.
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'I was very determined to make sure that he was going to be the one that handed the trophy to me,' said Van Dijk.
'Obviously he was ill last year. I'm glad he's looking well now and yeah, I was really happy for him that he also got his moment with the cup because he totally deserved it.'
In 2021 an image of Van Dijk meeting Hansen after a Champions League clash with Atletico Madrid went viral after Jamie Carragher declared the pair Liverpool's greatest ever centre-backs.
And they were back together on the pitch at Anfield to pose with the Premier League trophy, albeit after some gentle persuasion from Van Dijk.
On the weekend that long-time host Gary Lineker stepped down from Match of the Day, former pundit Hansen - who has kept a low profile since leaving our screens in 2014 - had to be coaxed back in front of cameras for the celebrations.
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'I spoke to him when there was a photo a few years ago that me and him took,' continued Van Dijk, 'and I was very keen on getting him here and doing the presentation with me.
'We didn't actually speak before it but obviously everyone was behind the scenes making it happen,' continued Van Dijk.
'But after the trophy lift, after a couple of pictures I wanted him to be there. And apparently he already went upstairs! So we got him back and I'm glad that we got him on the pitch.'
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The image of a beaming Hansen holding the trophy aloft with Van Dijk in front of the Kop will forever hold a place in Reds history, something the skipper is acutely aware of.
Van Dijk has joined Hansen on an exclusive list of captains to lead Liverpool to their 20 league titles, and has become the first Dutchman to skipper a Premier League winning side.
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Even though Liverpool's league success was wrapped up a month ago, he admits he's still taking it all in.
'To join that list of 11 (Liverpool league winning) captains is something really special and I've never, ever dreamed about it,' he said.
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'That's only because it was far, it was too far for me to think that this could happen.
'But anything is possible for anyone, as long as you keep believing, keep working hard and take it step by step.
'I'm glad that I've managed to write history with my team, with the club and as a Dutchman, and hopefully there's more to come.'