AliousRio Ferdinand and Andy Cole recently found themselves debating how former Celtic defender Virgil van Dijk would have fared against Rangers record-breaker Duncan Ferguson during a different era of football.
The discussion took place on Ferdinand’s podcast, *Rio Ferdinand Presents*, where the two Manchester United legends primarily focused on football south of the border. However, talk soon turned to Glasgow as they reflected on how the Liverpool center-back might have coped with the physicality of past generations.
While discussing legendary strikers like George Weah, Ferdinand wondered how van Dijk—who dominated the Scottish Premiership with Celtic before moving to Southampton and later Liverpool—would handle a battle with Ferguson. The former Everton and Rangers forward became a record-breaking signing in 1993 when he moved to Ibrox for £4 million, the highest UK transfer fee at the time.
### **Van Dijk’s Dominance Would Have Been Tested**
Van Dijk is widely regarded as one of the best defenders in world football, but Ferdinand and Cole questioned whether he would have been as dominant in an era where physical, old-school strikers thrived.
“That era was nuts,” Ferdinand recalled. “There were no days off. You’d be playing against two strikers every game. We always compare eras, and I’d love to see van Dijk in that time. I think he’d adapt because he’s an unbelievable player, but he wouldn’t make it look as easy as he does now. Today, he looks like he’s strolling around in slippers with a cigar, completely in control.”
Ferdinand emphasized how difficult it was to play against strikers like Andy Cole, who used strength and positioning to make life miserable for defenders. “Coley would back into you, elbows out, always making it a battle,” he said. “Virgil would still be one of the best, 100%, but it wouldn’t look as effortless as it does now.”
Cole then brought Ferguson into the mix, adding a lighthearted comment about van Dijk’s signature look. “It’s crazy how much the game has changed. Van Dijk makes it look so comfortable. But can you imagine him against Big Dunc in a Merseyside derby? I don’t know how long his hair would last in that situation!”
Ferdinand laughed before throwing another name into the discussion. “Or Dion Dublin pulling off to the back post, showing zero respect for any center-back?”
Cole agreed, noting how football back then featured more unpredictability. “It was just different,” he said. “We had more mavericks. Look at Matt Le Tissier—watching some of his goals back, he’s flicking the ball over people’s heads like it’s nothing.”
### **Van Dijk’s Fondness for Celtic**
Despite the lighthearted debate, there’s no questioning van Dijk’s success or his fond memories of Scotland. Speaking on *The Rest is Football* podcast last year, he reflected on his time at Celtic, which he credited as a crucial stepping stone in his career.
“It was time for me to take the next step,” he said. “Moving away was a big change—different culture, different language—but it wasn’t like I was going to the other side of the world. Scotland isn’t too far from Holland. We had our first child in Glasgow, and we really enjoyed our time there. It prepared me for what came next.”
While Ferdinand and Cole might wonder how van Dijk would have handled the rough-and-tumble nature of the 90s and early 2000s, there’s no denying that the Dutchman has established himself as one of the modern game’s greatest defenders—whether he’s facing Duncan Ferguson or anyone else.
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