Matt Oldfield - Van Dijk (Ultimate Football Heroes--the No. 1 football series): Collect them all!

First published by Dino Books in 2019,
An imprint of Bonnier Books UK,
The Plaza,
535 Kings Road,
London SW10 0SZ

@dinobooks

@footieheroesbks

www.heroesfootball.com

www.bonnierbooks.co.uk

Text Matt Oldfield 2019

The right of Matt Oldfield to be identified as the author of this work has been asserted by him in accordance with the copyright, designs and patents act 1988.

Design by www.envydesign.co.uk

All rights reserved. No part of this publication may be reproduced, stored in a retrieval system, or transmitted in any form or by any means, without the prior permission in writing of the publisher, nor be otherwise circulated in any form of binding or cover other than that in which it is published and without a similar condition including this condition being imposed on the subsequent purchaser.

Paperback ISBN: 9781789461206

E-book ISBN: 9781789461831

British Library cataloguing-in-publication data:
A catalogue record for this book is available from the British Library.

All names and trademarks are the property of their respective owners, which are in no way associated with Dino Books. Use of these names does not imply any cooperation or endorsement.

For Iona, Katie, Ian, Naomi, Barny,
Beckie, Rob and Dion Dublin

Matt Oldfield is an accomplished writer and the editor-in-chief of football review site Of Pitch & Page. Tom Oldfield is a freelance sports writer and the author of biographies on Cristiano Ronaldo, Arsne Wenger and Rafael Nadal.

Cover illustration by Dan Leydon.
To learn more about Dan visit danleydon.com
To purchase his artwork visit etsy.com/shop/footynews
Or just follow him on Twitter @danleydon

First of all, Id like to thank Bonnier Books UK and particularly my editor Laura Pollard for supporting me throughout and running the ever-expanding UFH ship so smoothly. Writing stories for the next generation of football fans is both an honour and a pleasure.

I wouldnt be doing this if it wasnt for my brother Tom. I owe him so much and Im very grateful for his belief in me as an author. I feel like Robin setting out on a solo career after a great partnership with Batman. I hope I do him (Tom, not Batman) justice with these new books.

Next up, I want to thank my friends for keeping me sane during long hours in front of the laptop. Pang, Will, Mills, Doug, John, Charlie the laughs and the cups of coffee are always appreciated.

Ive already thanked my brother but Im also very grateful to the rest of my family, especially Melissa, Noah and of course Mum and Dad. To my parents, I owe my biggest passions: football and books. Theyre a real inspiration for everything I do.

Finally, I couldnt have done this without Ionas encouragement and understanding during long, work-filled weekends. Much love to you.

1 June 2019, Wanda Metropolitano Stadium, Madrid

For Virgil and his Liverpool teammates, it felt great to be back in the Champions League Final for the second year in a row. Last time, they had lost 31 to Cristiano Ronaldos Real Madrid; this time, only a win would do.

Liverpool! Liverpool! Liverpool!

Although the location had changed, from Ukraine to Spain, the electric atmosphere in the stadium had stayed the same. Thats because the Liverpool fans were the best in the world, and they had plenty to cheer about, especially after the Miracle of Anfield. Their terrific team had fought back from 30 down in the semi-final first leg, to beat Lionel Messis Barcelona 43! Now, with a victory over their Premier League rivals Tottenham, they could lift the trophy and become Champions of Europe for the sixth time.

Liverpool! Liverpool! Liverpool!

Are you ready, big man? the manager Jrgen Klopp asked his star centre-back as the players left the dressing room before kick-off.

Virgil didnt say a word; he didnt need to. Instead, he just gave his manager a confident nod. Oh yes, he was ready and raring to go! Big games called for big game players, and he was the ultimate big game player. Thats why Liverpool had paid 75 million to sign him from Southampton, making him the most expensive defender in the world. He was always so calm and composed. He never got nervous and he loved playing under pressure. He was born for this the biggest stage in club football.

Right, lads, their captain Jordan Henderson called out from the front of the Liverpool line. Its time to go out there and win the Champions League!

YEAH! the other ten players cheered behind him:

Alisson,

Jol Matip,

Andy Robertson,

Trent Alexander-Arnold,

Gini Wijnaldum,

Fabinho,

Roberto Firmino,

Sadio Man,

Mohamed Salah,

and in the middle, the man at the centre of everything Virgil!

What a talented team, and their spirit was so strong too. After the Miracle of Anfield, the Liverpool players felt like they could achieve absolutely anything. They were all fired up and determined to put their previous disappointments behind them losing the 2018 Champions League Final to Real Madrid, and also losing the 2019 Premier League title to Manchester City. That one still hurt badly, but a European trophy would help make them feel a whole lot better. This was their moment to bring glory back to Liverpool Football Club.

As he waited in the tunnel, Virgil casually reached up a long arm to touch the ceiling above him, just like he did with the This is Anfield sign back home. He liked to tap it for good luck, not that they would need any of that

When the big moment arrived, Virgil walked slowly out onto the pitch in Madrid, straight past the Champions League trophy without even looking at it.

That can wait until its ours to keep! he told himself.

Virgil wasnt messing around. In the very first minute, he muscled his way past Tottenhams star striker Harry Kane to win the ball. He headed it down to Gini, who passed to Jordan, who lifted it over the top for Sadio to chase. The Liverpool attack looked so dangerous already. And as Sadio tried to chip the ball back to Jordan, it struck the Spurs midfielder Moussa Sissoko on the arm.

Handball! cried Sadio.

Handball! cried Virgil, way back in defence.

The referee pointed to the spot. Penalty!

Mohamed stepped up and scored 10!

What a perfect start! Virgil jogged over to join in the team celebrations but then it was straight back to business. When there was defending to do, he was Liverpools leader, organising everyone around him.

Thats your man, Jol!

Close him down, Gini!

Watch that run, Robbo!

Stay focused, Trent!

Come on guys, this isnt over yet!

Virgil loved talking, and he spoke from experience. Once upon a time, he had been a talented young defender who made too many mistakes, but not anymore. He had learnt so many harsh lessons during his years with Willem II, Groningen, Celtic, Southampton and the Netherlands national team. And each one had helped to make him an even better, smarter footballer.