Old man? Van Dijk still among the fastest

Van Dijk ranks among the Premier League's fastest centre-backs this season, with sprint data contradicting claims he cannot keep pace.

Columnist Süleyman Öztürk defends Virgil van Dijk against criticism of his age and pace. At 35, the Netherlands captain plays in the Premier League, one of the world's most demanding competitions, yet is frequently accused of losing his speed after mistakes or goals conceded.

Sprint statistics tell a different story. Among Premier League centre-backs this season, only Abdukodir Khusanov and Kristoffer Ajer have recorded higher top speeds than Van Dijk. He is faster than his teammate Jérémy Jacquet, who is 14 years younger—34.9 km/h versus 34.6 km/h. In sprints per 90 minutes, Van Dijk sits in the middle range while Jacquet leads, suggesting the Dutchman manages his efforts more carefully. The data provides concrete evidence against the narrative that Van Dijk cannot match the pace of modern football.