Eleven years ago, Jacques Lips, the owner of the restaurant Oncle Jean, watched his young employee with approval from the kitchen doorway. The 16-year-old, with curly hair, was diligently scrubbing dishes at the sink. He was known for his hard work, punctuality, and reliability, even during the restaurant’s busiest nights.

“Stick with this job, Virgil,” Lips advised. “Stop dreaming about becoming a football player. At least you can earn some money working here.”

Van Dijk, without a word, simply smiled and continued scrubbing the dishes until they gleamed, drying and stacking them before bowing to his boss and stepping outside to where his father was waiting.

Despite enduring some late nights, Van Dijk always managed to rise early the next morning to attend the Willem II Academy.

At times, he pondered the genuine advice offered by the restaurant owner, Oncle Jean. The suggestion seemed reasonable, especially considering that the Willem II board had no plans to promote him to the first team. They deemed him inadequate, noting his lack of height and speed compared to the legendary Jaap Stam, a former Willem II player whose success had set the standard for central defenders.

In the worst-case scenario of being released and failing to find another club, Van Dijk faced the possibility of a bleak future. On the other hand, working diligently for five hours each night at Oncle Jean’s would provide him with a steady income, allowing him to earn a few hundred euros a month.

This income would offer him a comfortable lifestyle and the ability to treat his friends to meals at McDonald’s. If he chose to stay long-term, the financial benefits would increase.

But luckily, God intervened to prevent Van Dijk from becoming a professional dishwasher. During a match between Willem II U19 and AZ, Groningen scout Peter Moltmaker happened to be there. He didn’t impress the way football prodigies usually do, but he showed great potential.

And Moltmaker told Grads Fuhler, the head of scouting, who successfully convinced the board to bring Van Dijk to Groningen.

In just 12 months at the age of 17, Van Dijk grew 18cm. His fitness also improved significantly, partly due to his crazy training and partly due to his cycling to the training ground every morning. Along with his strong performances on the training ground and in the youth team, Van Dijk was promoted to the first team.