Virgil Van Dijks Wife Rike Nooitgedagt and Children Are His Biggest Support

Posted by Tamela Phillippe on Thursday, May 2, 2024
Virgil Van Dijk’s Wife And Children Are His Biggest Support

Virgil Van Dijk is one of the best defenders in the world of soccer. He has been lauded for his skills since joining Liverpool and becoming the Netherlands’ national team captain.

Despite being one of the best soccer players, there were times when his team did not make it to the end. Similarly, there are times when he lost hope and motivation.

However, fortunately for Van Dijk, he has his wife, Rike Nooitgedagt, and their children.

Virgil Van Dijk, his wife, and children

Van Dijk is very private about his personal life. As a result, not much is known about them. 

He rarely posts pictures with his wife and has not revealed the identity of his children on social media. However, in an interview with The Irish Times in May 2019, he confessed how his wife and children were his biggest support.

Van Dijk and Nooitgedagt have been together since the soccer player was 20 years old. At the time of writing, Dijk is 31 years old, meaning the pair have been together for over a decade.

The pair got married in the summer of 2017 and have four kids. When Van Dijk spoke to The Irish Times, he only had two daughters.

Talking about his married life, he said, “The growth we’ve been through since then is great and we now have two little girls.”

He then claimed how fatherhood changed him for the better. He noted, “You can’t deny that fatherhood changes you. There are always tough moments but when you go home to your wife and kids it’s all gone.”

Virgil Van Dijk’s with his wife, Rike Nooitgedagt. (Source: Twitter)

He gave an example of Liverpool losing to Barcelona and confessed he felt really bad. However, when he went home to his wife and children, all those feelings were gone. 

He said, “But you go home and you think how far I’ve got. I deal with those aspects very well.”

Not much is known about Nooitgedagt. But according to Sports Brief, she gave up everything to support her partner, his career, and their children.

Virgil van Dijk enjoying his summer holiday in New York with his wife. pic.twitter.com/M3Xnc6yEZW

— LFC Round Up (@LFCroundup) June 22, 2018

Similarly, there is no information about Van Dijk and Nooitgedaght’s kids. It is reported that the pair have three daughters and a son.

Their first daughter, Nila, was born in 2014, the second, Jadi, in 2016, and the third in 2020. Their fourth child, the only son, was born in 2022.

Virgil Van Dijk’s career

Van Dijk joined Groningen to start his professional career before transferring to Celtic in 2013. In both of his seasons at Celtic, he won the Scottish Premiership, was selected for the PFA Scotland Team of the Year, and in the second season, the Scottish League Cup. 

He moved to Southampton in 2015 before joining Liverpool in January 2018 for £75 million, a defender transfer record at the time. Van Dijk had back-to-back UEFA Champions League final appearances with Liverpool in 2018 and 2019, winning the latter. 

In his first full season, he also won the PFA Players’ Player of the Year award and the Premier League Player of the Season award. Later, Van Dijk won the FIFA Club World Cup and the UEFA Super Cup. 

He also assisted in the club’s 2019–20 Premier League victory, which helped break its 30-year league title drought. He is the only defender to have won the UEFA Men’s Player of the Year Award, and all three of these awards—the Ballon d’Or and Best FIFA Men’s Player—were won in 2019; he also came in second for both.

At the under-19 and under-21 levels, Van Dijk represented the Netherlands. In 2015, he made his senior international debut for the Netherlands, and in March 2018, he fully acquired the national team’s captaincy. 

The Netherlands finished as runners-up in the inaugural UEFA Nations League final under Van Dijk’s leadership the following year. He participated in the FIFA World Cup 2022 as a member of the team.

All You Need to Know About Jevon Holland: The Highest-Profile Canadian in the NFL Right Now

All You Need to Know About Jevon Holland: The Highest-Profile Canadian in the NFL Right Now

There are 18 Canadian players on the active rosters of NFL teams in the 2023-24 season. None are catching the eye more than Jevon Holland. The 23-year-old Coquitlam-born safety was drafted by the Miami Dolphins in 2021 after impressing in two seasons of college football with the Oregon Ducks.

Holland has not looked back ever since, establishing himself as a regular in the Dolphins team, posting some serious tackle and interception figures.

In fact, Holland is now the starting free safety position for Miami. So far in 2023, Holland has registered 44 solo tackles, just four shy of the 48 he amassed in his entire debut season in 2021.

Holland and the Dolphins are in great shape for a 2024 Super Bowl bid

Holland could be celebrating winning his first Lombardi Trophy next year too if the bookmakers’ odds are to be believed. The Dolphins are currently rated as +800 fifth favorites to land the 2024 Super Bowl with the Ontario-licensed sports betting online operator Betano, which has served the Canadian province since receiving its license in October 2022.

Holland’s first ever NFL touchdown was a big one – in more ways than one!

Holland played a key role in the Dolphins’ recent victory over the New York Jets. Holland completed a stunning interception of a hail Mary pass, before returning it with interest for a stunning 99-yard touchdown. It was the first touchdown of Holland’s NFL career and it steered Miami to a comfortable 34-13 victory.

It’s a win which keeps Miami firmly top of the AFC East. In fact, only the Baltimore Ravens have made a better start to the 2023-24 NFL season in the AFC.

The British Columbian safety did more than assist the Dolphins in their quest for victory over the Jets that day. His full-field return triggered an eagerly anticipated giveaway worth over $1 million. During the NFL preseason, electronics firm TCL launched its “Ultimate Gameday Upgrade” committing to give away $1 million worth of 98” televisions if a player managed to score a touchdown from a minimum of 98 yards in.

Holland beat the minimum by a single yard. TCL also made sure Holland received a 98” TV too, as reward for his feat.

Holland has missed the last few games for the Dolphins after sustaining a sprain to his medial ligaments in both knees. This disappointing injury was suffered in the same game as his majestic touchdown against the Jets.

The team continues to use kid gloves with Holland, pushing him only sparingly into team practice. Holland himself admits he’s “taking his time” with his rehab to ensure he returns at the peak of his powers.

The Dolphins realize just how important Holland has become to their defense, as he also serves as the quarterback of the secondary. Head coach Mike McDaniel described Holland as being “diligent” with his recovery, especially with the chance of a deep postseason run looming.

Holland’s path to NFL stardom

Miami is reaping the rewards of recognizing Holland’s undoubted potential in the NFL after making him their second-round pick of the 2021 NFL Draft. Holland had impressed during his scholarship with the Oregon Ducks in the same way as outside linebacker Kayvon Thibodeaux, who was later recruited by the New York Giants.

Holland’s rookie season saw him display his physical prowess from day one. He exhibited a rare combination of athleticism, football intelligence, and a knack for disrupting opposing offenses. His ability to cover ground in the secondary, make crucial tackles, and create turnovers has earned him rave reviews from Dolphins fans and respect from his peers across the league.

Beyond his on-field contributions, Holland’s leadership qualities and adaptability have also been noteworthy. Whether patrolling the backfield or contributing on special teams, Holland has quickly established himself as a versatile asset to the Dolphins.

Santi Aldama Is Getting Married to His Girlfriend Pilar Barquin

Congrats to the couple!

Santi Aldama Is Getting Married to His Girlfriend Pilar Barquin

Santi Aldama is a Spanish professional basketball player for the National Basketball Association’s (NBA) Memphis Grizzlies.

Before being drafted into the NBA, he was a Loyola Greyhounds basketball player in college. Likewise, he was selected as the 2019 FIBA U18 European Championship’s most valuable player (MVP).

2023 was a very important year for Aldama —  both professionally and personally. He scored his career high in February 2023 and got engaged to his girlfriend in September 2023.

Santi Aldama’s relationship with future wife and dating history

Aldama has been dating his girlfriend, Pilar Barquin, for quite some time. He is very secretive about his personal life, so he has not revealed anything about his dating history or his past relationships.

As a result of his privacy, it’s unknown if he had dated anyone before he began dating his future wife. Similarly, the details of his relationship with his girlfriend-turned-fiancee are not known. It is unknown when the duo first met or how they started dating.

However, it looks like they have been together before the summer of 2021. Barquin first posted her boyfriend on Instagram in July 2021.

She posted a series of photos with his with the caption, “un día más admirándote y sintiéndome la persona más afortunada del mundo!! Enhorabuena,” which roughly translates to “One more day admiring you and feeling like the luckiest person in the world!! Congratulations.”

Since then, Barquin has been more comfortable sharing photos of her boyfriend on her social media. On the other hand, Aldama first posted about his girlfriend and revealed that he was dating Barquin in May 2022. 

Since they have been dating, Aldama and his girlfriend have celebrated Christmas together with their family. After dating for at least two years, the duo got engaged in September 2023.

Santi Aldama might get married to his girlfriend soon. (Source: Instagram)

They uploaded photos showing off the engagement ring on their Instagram with the caption, “así empezamos el verano 🤍 sí para siempre!!!!!!,” which translates to, “So we started the summer 🤍 yes forever!!!!!!”

To date, it is unknown if the two have married or if they are just engaged. Aldama has not referred to Barquin as his wife, and neither has Barquin referred to the athlete as her husband.

So, it looks like the two are not married yet but might be planning for their dream wedding. For now, fans of the NBA star will have to wait patiently to see their favorite player share the wedding vows with his partner.

Santi Aldama’s family and career

Aldama was raised in Las Palmas de Gran Canaria, Gran Canaria, Spain. He began playing basketball at the age of three because of his family.

He was inspired by his own family, especially his father, Santiago, who played professional basketball in Spain and Portugal before joining the Spanish national team in the 1992 Summer Olympics. His uncle, Santi Toledo, also played professional basketball in Spain, Italy, and Portugal.

Aldama began his basketball career with Canterbury Basketball Academy in Las Palmas and subsequently elected to stay there despite having offers from major clubs such as FC Barcelona, Real Madrid, and Gran Canaria.

He averaged 18.9 points, 5.1 rebounds, and 3.6 assists per game while playing for Canterbury with Oumar Ballo in the 2017 Spanish Under-16 Championship. 

He was instrumental in his side finishing third, behind FC Barcelona and Real Madrid. Aldama spent 2018 on loan with FC Barcelona’s under-18 team in the Ciutat de L’Hospitalet qualifications for the Adidas Next Generation competition.

Aldama declared his commitment to play collegiate basketball for Loyola Maryland on August 5, 2019. He was lured to the school because his father knew assistant coach Ivo Simovi and because Aldama hoped to one day work in business, and he felt at ease when he visited in June 2019. 

Many analysts were surprised by Aldama’s decision to play for a mid-major program as he was considered a four-star recruit and a high-major player. 

Aldama was out for the first three months of his rookie season due to a knee ailment that necessitated surgery. On February 1, 2020, he made his college debut for Loyola Maryland, scoring 11 points in 17 minutes in a 79-73 win over Navy.

In four weeks, Aldama was voted Patriot League Rookie of the Week three times. He was chosen to the Patriot League All-Rookie Team at the completion of the regular season.

He had a season-high 23 points in a 78-75 defeat to Lehigh in the first round of the Patriot League tournament on March 3. In 10 games as a freshman, Aldama averaged 15.2 points, 7.6 rebounds, 2.1 assists, and 1.7 blocks.

Aldama had 30 points and 22 rebounds in a 97-94 quadruple overtime defeat to Lafayette on February 13, 2021. He broke the program record for most rebounds in a game and tied Adonal Foyle’s Patriot League record

Aldama had a career-high 33 points and 12 rebounds while shooting 13 of 15 from the field in a 67-63 win over Army in the Patriot League tournament quarterfinals on March 10, 2021. He assisted Loyola in reaching its first Patriot League championship game.

He was named First Team All-Patriot League as a sophomore after averaging 21.2 points, 10.1 rebounds, 2.3 assists, and 1.7 blocks per game. Aldama declared for the NBA draft on April 14, 2021, while still retaining his collegiate eligibility. 

Later, he decided to stay in the draft. The Utah Jazz selected Aldama with the 30th overall choice in the 2021 NBA Draft. Later, his rights were traded to the Memphis Grizzlies. 

The Grizzlies confirmed Aldama’s signing on August 8, 2021. Aldama had a season-high 18 points, 10 rebounds, three assists, a steal, and a block in a 152-79 win over the Oklahoma City Thunder on December 2, 2021.

Aldama was added to the Grizzlies’ 2022 NBA Summer League squad. On July 18, 2022, he was chosen to the All-NBA Summer League Second Team.

With Jaren Jackson Jr. out, Aldama was designated the Grizzlies’ starting power forward to begin the 2022-23 season. On 19 October, he earned his first career start, earning a double-double of 18 points and 11 rebounds in a 115-112 overtime win over the New York Knicks.

Aldama scored a career-high 21 points and grabbed 10 rebounds in a 128-113 loss against the Cleveland Cavaliers on February 2, 2023. Currently, he is still signed to the Memphis Grizzlies, and is reported that he is earning a $2,194,200 salary for the 2023/2024 season. 

Ochai Agbaji’s Salary is Seven Figures Due to His Contract With Utah Jazz

And it is increasing with every season!

Ochai Agbaji’s Salary is Seven Figures Due to His Contract With Utah Jazz

Ochai Agbaji is a basketball player for the Utah Jazz of the National Basketball Association (NBA). 

He was awarded a unanimous first-team All-American and Big 12 Player of the Year as a senior at the University of Kansas in 2022. He was also voted the Final Four Most Outstanding Player (MOP) after leading the Jayhawks to a national title.

The Cleveland Cavaliers selected Agbaji with the 14th overall choice in the 2022 NBA draft. However, before playing a regular-season game in Cleveland, he was dealt to the Utah Jazz in September 2022.

He has already signed a contract with the Utah Jazz, and it is reported that his salary, according to the contract, is worth millions. Here is all we know about it, as well as his net worth and family!

Ochai Agbaji’s salary and net worth

Agbaji is one of the fastest-rising stars in the NBA, and his career has just started. But despite being a newcomer, it is reported that his net worth is approximately $6 million.

That said, his net worth is bound to fluctuate because of his salary and the contract he has signed with the Utah Jazz. In the 2022/2023 season, his salary was $3,918,360. According to his contract, his salary will reportedly increase significantly with every season.

Ochai Agbaji has a high net worth due to his salary, according to his NBA contract. (Source: Instagram)

His salary for the 2023/2024 season is $4,114,200; for the 2024/25 season, it is $4,310,280; for the 2025/26 season, he will be earning $6,383,525; and for the 2026/27 season, he will be getting a whopping $8,879,483. 

Moreover, his contract includes around $100,000 in likely incentives. He is also bound to get bonuses and endorsements in the future as he advances in his career.

As a result, Agbaji’s net worth will be significantly higher in the future than it is right now because of his salary and contract with the Utah Jazz.

Ochai Agbaji’s family and career

Agbaji was raised in Kansas City, Missouri, with his family but was born in Milwaukee, Wisconsin. Initially, he chose football as his career.

A picture of Ochai Agbaji with his parents (Photo: Twitter)

He grew up playing football, both club football and Amateur Athletic Union (AAU) basketball, thanks to his father’s support. He quit football as a sophomore at Oak Park High School in Kansas City, Missouri, to concentrate on his basketball career.

During his Oak Park basketball career, he did not earn any Power Five college offers until his final year. 

He was selected Kansas City Star All-Metro Player of the Year as a senior after averaging 27.6 points and 8.6 rebounds per game for Oak Park. According to 247Sports and Rivals, the athlete was a three-star recruit.

On February 8, 2018, he chose Kansas over Texas A&M and Wisconsin to play collegiate basketball. Agbaji was a part of the scout team during his freshman year at the University of Kansas.

His redshirt was removed in early January 2019 because Kansas needed depth after Udoka Azubuike sustained a season-ending injury and Silvio De Sousa faced eligibility difficulties. He earned his first career start on January 29, 2019, scoring 24 points, grabbing seven rebounds, and swiping the ball twice in a defeat against Texas. 

In his following game, a victory over Texas Tech, he got his first double-double. For his two efforts, Agbaji was named Big 12 Conference Newcomer of the Week. As a freshman, he averaged 8.5 points and 4.6 rebounds per game in 22 games, including 16 starts. 

He made his sophomore season debut on November 5, 2019, scoring 15 points in a defeat against fourth-ranked Duke at the Champions Classic. He earned Honourable Mention All-Big 12 during his second season.

He averaged 10 points and 4.2 rebounds per game as a sophomore and was second on the team with 46 three-pointers. As a junior, he scored 14.1 points per game while shooting 42% from the field. 

He declared for the NBA draft on April 8, 2021, while still retaining his collegiate eligibility. On November 9, 2021, Agbaji made his senior season debut, scoring 29 points in an 87-74 victory over Michigan State at the Champions Classic. 

He scored a career-high 37 points in a 94-91 double overtime win over Texas Tech on January 24, 2022. At the end of the season, Agbaji was selected Big 12 Player of the Year and a unanimous first-team All-American. 

Kansas won the 2022 NCAA tournament, and he was voted tournament MVP after scoring 12 points in the final game. He declared for the NBA draft on April 24, 2022. The Cleveland Cavaliers picked him with the 14th overall choice in the 2022 NBA draft, and the athlete signed his rookie scale deal with the Cavaliers on July 2, 2022.

Agbaji was dealt to the Utah Jazz in exchange for Donovan Mitchell on September 1, 2022, along with Collin Sexton, Lauri Markkanen, three first-round selections, and two pick swaps. On October 19, Agbaji made his NBA debut, playing one minute in a 123-102 victory over the Denver Nuggets.

Agbaji set a career-best with 28 points against the Nuggets on April 8, 2023. Currently, he is still pursuing his career with the Utah Jazz.

In fact, he is not the only one from his family involved in sports. His father, Olofu, who immigrated to the United States from Nigeria when he was 17 years old, was an avid football fan.

Olofu, along with Agbaji’s mother, Erica, were basketball players at the University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee. Similarly, Agbaji’s sister, Orie, played volleyball in Texas. All in all, Agbaji comes from a family with a major interest in sports. 

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