De Jong appointed captain while Van Dijk is sidelined by injury

While Virgil van Dijk remains absent due to injury, Frenkie de Jong will immediately take over the captaincy of the Netherlands on his return on Friday, as national team coach Xavi announced on Thursday. The announcement came during the press conference ahead of the Nations League clash with Greece.

Van Dijk, the 35‑year‑old Liverpool defender and official captain of the Netherlands, was sidelined with an injury early this week, as was striker Brian Brobbey. He is, of course, the true captain of the Netherlands.

De Jong is first in the line of succession. Denzel Dumfries and Cody Gakpo are respectively second and third, as decided on Monday at the start of the international break.

Impact of Van Dijk's absence

Xavi emphasized that the loss of Van Dijk, with 100 caps and as defensive leader, cannot be used as an excuse for the next two Nations League matches. “He is our captain, our leader and a good player, but we have more good options in defence and other leaders in the squad,” Xavi said. Tijjani Reijnders was also mentioned by Xavi as one of those leaders, although the midfielder does not yet know whether he will start in the lineup on Friday.

Because of a knee injury from the World Cup, the Barcelona midfielder missed the previous international break, but as captain De Jong will probably start. De Jong, with 70 caps, was a logical choice for Xavi because of his personality and commitment. “He wants the ball, wants to get better every day, always takes his responsibility and is one of the best midfielders in the world,” Xavi said.

“Denzel Dumfries and Cody Gakpo have different profiles,” Xavi added regarding the vice‑captains. “Many players are not captains, but they have leadership qualities; I am a mix of Virgil and Frenkie,” he said.

Outlook for the Netherlands

In the 2026/27 Nations League, the Netherlands will face Germany, Serbia and Greece in the group stage. See us more often on Google for more updates on the Dutch national team.