The sad reason why Virgil van Dijk doesn't have his last name on the back of his Liverpool shirt

The real reason why Liverpool captain Virgil van Dijk doesn't wear his last name on the back of his shirt has been revealed, and it's heartbreaking.

Having spent seven years at Liverpool, the Dutchman is one of the longest-serving players in the Slot squad, making over 300 appearances for the Reds.

One thing that has caught the eye of fans during this time is the Dutchman's decision to print his first name on the back of his Liverpool shirt, instead of his surname as is usually done by footballers.

But a close family member has previously spoken out to reveal that the reason Van Dijk decided to drop his middle name was because of his relationship with his father.

Speaking to The Sun in 2018, his uncle Steven Fo Sieuw said: "His father separated from his mother and three children, including Virgil."

"The truth is that his father wasn't around for so many important years, and it's his mother who is the real hero of this story."

"I don't take my father's name off my jersey for no reason and Virgil has made it very clear how he feels," he further emphasized.

Although the Liverpool captain's reasoning for removing his father's surname from his shirt is truly sad, he has not allowed it to affect his performances on the pitch, as he has gone on to enjoy a brilliant career with the Reds.

In his seven years at Anfield, Van Dijk has won eight trophies including the Premier League and Champions League. During that time, the 33-year-old has also picked up several individual awards, including UEFA's Best Player in Europe in 2019. /Telegraph/