Virgil van Dijk has credited “discipline, discipline and discipline” for helping him maintain his fitness and consistency at the highest level of football.
The Liverpool captain played every minute of the club’s Premier League 2025-26 campaign, becoming the only outfield player in the division to do so. The achievement came in his eighth full season at Anfield and his third as club captain.
Speaking in Liverpool’s official WALK ON eMagazine, Van Dijk said his durability is the result of hard work away from the pitch.
“Discipline, discipline and discipline!” he said.
“For me it is something that is quite normal because I feel the responsibility to be there every time and also to perform every time.
“So, yes, it is a combination of recovering well, eating well, the right lifestyle in total, also physical therapy. I can’t tell you the details, but yoga, everything. That’s part of it, to make sure that you can perform at a constant level.”
Van Dijk, who turns 35 in July, said he continues to do everything possible to remain available for matches and perform at the highest level.
The Netherlands international also spoke about his role as the senior figure in Liverpool’s squad.
“I’m in a situation where obviously I am the oldest in the team. But for me, it doesn’t really change anything,” he said.
“I just want to inspire – let other players see what I do in order to be playing the amount of games I’ve been playing and the consistency that I have.”
Van Dijk added that the responsibility he received shortly after joining Liverpool helped shape him into the leader he is today and described his time at the club as a privilege.
