
Former Manchester United defender Jaap Stam has sparked controversy by declaring Liverpool captain Virgil van Dijk a superior player to Chelsea legend John Terry and Red Devils icon Nemanja Vidic.
Stam, who also enjoyed an illustrious career with AC Milan and is regarded as one of football’s great defenders, shared his thoughts with Boyle Sports (via Metro):
“Virgil van Dijk is one of the greatest defenders in Premier League history, and people often mention Nemanja Vidic and John Terry — Van Dijk is a better player than those two were.”
Elaborating on his reasoning, Stam pointed to Van Dijk’s all-round game:
“I rate him above them because of his overall ability as a player, it’s better. There are other names I could talk about, but Van Dijk is up there with the best ever in the Premier League.”
Van Dijk’s accolades include a Premier League title, a Champions League trophy, and a FIFA Club World Cup. He was named UEFA Men’s Player of the Year for 2018-19 and finished second in the 2019 Ballon d’Or voting.
However, Terry’s legacy remains unmatched in Premier League history. The Chelsea homegrown hero is the most successful captain in the league’s history, leading the Blues to five titles. His record of 41 goals and 214 clean sheets as a defender highlights his dominance over his 19-year career.
Stam’s bold claims are certain to fuel debates, with Terry’s decorated career and Vidic’s no-nonsense defending continuing to be benchmarks of Premier League excellence.
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