Celtic have had a number of iconic players who have donned the green and white Hoops over the years.
Since 2000, Celtic fans have enjoyed the likes of Henrik Larsson, Paul Lambert, Chris Sutton, John Hartson and Lubomir Moravcik strut their stuff at Celtic Park.
Shunsuke Nakamura is another hero fans will long remember for delivering special memories like the Man United Champions League win at Celtic Park.
However, it was under Neil Lennon’s Celtic in 2013 where another Hoops hero was born and Jermaine Pennant had to defend him from the inane ramblings of talkSPORT motormouth Jason Cundy.
Photo by Jeff J Mitchell/Getty ImagesCeltic hero Virgil van Dijk ‘isn’t John Terry’
Yeah, this was Cundy’s verdict on Celtic icon Virgil van Dijk. The man who won silverware in Scotland and multiple titles at Liverpool including the Champions League and FIFA Club World Cup amongst others.
This is a defender who was voted the best defender in the world for the fourth time in a row by FIFPRO in 2024.
But this motormouth talk show host reckons the former Celtic man is not better than John Terry.
Cundy said on talkSPORT, “I tell you what I will agree with you right? People talk about van Dijk as the greatest defender this country’s ever seen. Rubbish. It’s rubbish.
“I’m sorry. Because he is a very, very good, excellent centre-back. He isn’t John Terry. He isn’t Rio [Ferdinand].
Pennant: “What do you mean? He’s better! So you’re telling me, you ask any attacker, who would you rather go up against, one on one, John Terry or Virgil van Dijk.
“They’re going to say JT all day long.”
Cundy: “I’m not having it, mate. I’m not having it. I’ve said this before. I’ve been saying this for years, and I’ve got slaughtered for it.”
Pennant: “So you should get slaughtered for it because it’s an absolutely rubbish debate.
“He had one game, an off day [vs Crystal Palace] and one game out of 10 seasons or eight seasons at Liverpool, are you both having a laugh?
“You’re telling me, John Terry or Rio have been amazing every time they step on a football pitch?”
Virgil van Dijk’s glittering career including titles at Celtic and Liverpool
If there is any proof needed that van Dijk is the best defender in the world, you only need to look at what he has won during his entire career.
Virgil van Dijk’s Celtic silverware
- Scottish Premiership: 2013–14, 2014–15
- Scottish League Cup: 2014–15
Virgil van Dijk’s Liverpool silverware
- Premier League: 2019–20, 2024–25
- FA Cup: 2021–22
- EFL Cup: 2021–22, 2023–24; runner-up: 2024–25
- FA Community Shield: 2022
- UEFA Champions League: 2018–19; runner-up: 2017–18, 2021–22
- UEFA Super Cup: 2019
- FIFA Club World Cup: 2019
Virgil van Dijk’s personal awards at Celtic and Liverpool
- PFA Players’ Player of the Year: 2018–19
- PFA Team of the Year: 2018–19, 2019–20, 2021–22, 2023–24
- Premier League Player of the Season: 2018–19
- Premier League Player of the Year by Northwest Football Awards: 2019
- UEFA Men’s Player of the Year Award: 2018–19
- UEFA Champions League Defender of the Season: 2018–19
- UEFA Team of the Year: 2018, 2019, 2020
- UEFA Champions League Squad of the Season: 2017–18, 2018–19, 2019–20
- UEFA Champions League Team of the Season: 2021–22
- UEFA Nations League Finals Team of the Tournament: 2019
- Liverpool Fans’ Player of the Season Award: 2018–19
- Liverpool Players’ Player of the Season Award: 2018–19
- Southampton Player of the Season: 2015–16
- PFA Scotland Team of the Year: 2013–14, 2014–15
- Celtic Players’ Player of the Year: 2013–14
- FIFA FIFPRO World 11: 2019, 2020, 2022, 2024
- Football Supporters’ Federation Player of the Year: 2019
- Premier League Fan Team of the Season: 2024–25
And let’s not forget van Dijk’s 82 caps for the Netherlands.
To be fair to Cundy, van Dijk is not as good as John Terry, he’s a million miles better!