Virgil van Dijk waived the right to be Southampton captain when he begged to leave… let real leader Steven Davis keep the armband
IT was a year ago last week that Virgil van Dijk spoke of his pride at wearing Southampton’s captain’s armband for the first time.
Four months later the Dutch giant was given the role on a permanent basis following Jose Fonte’s acrimonious move to West Ham.
But the £70million-rated Van Dijk should not retain his status as skipper following the summer-long saga surrounding his future on the south coast.
Van Dijk waived his right to lead the team when he released an angry statement demanding a move and accusing Saints of leaving him feeling "insulted" for blocking his dream switch to Liverpool.
How can he hope to retain the full respect of his teammates let alone the fans after pushing so publicly to jump ship?
What message would it send out to those colleagues about Van Dijk’s brattish behaviour if Steven Davis, who has skippered the team superbly in his exile, was made to hand back the armband?
Davis is everything Van Dijk has proved himself not to be; a model professional, who never complains and is motivated more by team glory than his own selfish gains.
You would not catch the Northern Irishman, adored by the Green Army, holding secret meetings with a rival Premier League manager.
MOST READ IN FOOTBALL
Since quitting his beloved Rangers to join Saints at the start of the 2012-13 season he and academy product James Ward-Prowse have been the two mainstays in the team.
Davis’s winning goal in Saturday’s 1-0 triumph at Crystal Palace was a fitting way to mark his 200th appearance for the club and five years of loyal service.
He would not admit it publicly but Davis has relished being captain, taking his game to a whole new level and leading from the front.
That is why manager Mauricio Pellegrino has to allow him to stay on as skipper and send out a message that good guys do occasionally come first.
