Liverpool’s Dutch connection has led the club to the brink of glory.

Arne Slot is on course to become only the fifth manager to win the title in his debut Premier League season. Virgil van Dijk is close to making history, as the first player from the Netherlands to captain a team to England’s top-flight crown.

Ryan Gravenberch has sparkled since being entrusted with the holding midfield role, while Cody Gakpo is second in the scoring stakes, behind Mohamed Salah, with 16 goals in all competitions.

The buzz generated by the quartet’s accomplishments at Anfield resonates across their homeland.

The Athletic travelled around the Netherlands, from Amsterdam to Zwolle, Eindhoven to Breda, to gauge what the impact of Liverpool’s Dutch contingent means to a proud footballing nation, speaking to those who helped to shape their development.

Ryan Gravenberch: Amsterdam

Mike Kolf leans back in his chair and chuckles to himself.

“I saw a Gravenberch doing exactly the same thing before Ryan was even born,” he says. “I’m laughing because I know the turn — how he lets the ball roll across his body, how he gets out of tight areas because he knows where the space is.

“Sometimes I’ll be watching a Liverpool game on TV and I’ll ring Ryan’s dad. He answers and goes: ‘Mike, I know what you are going to say!’.

“It’s like watching a copy. His dad was an old-style No 10, ‘Give me the ball and I’ll do my thing’. These days, it’s the No 6 who does that. I really enjoy watching Ryan play.”

The setting is Kolf’s office at the Damsko Football Academy, a 15-minute taxi ride south-east of Amsterdam’s Central Station. Above his desk there’s a signed and framed Marco van Basten shirt from the Dutch striker’s time at Milan. On the wall outside the door, one of Gravenberch’s Ajax shirts takes pride of place.

Kolf divides his time between here and nearby amateur club AVV Zeeburgia, where he has been head of youth since 1998. Zeeburgia have a remarkable track record in developing talent, and Gravenberch is one of their great success stories.

“We currently have about 850 kids at Zeeburgia from the age of four up to under-23s,” he explains. “Since the late ’90s, we’ve had about 650 kids go on to join professional clubs. We are a main supplier to Ajax and a lot of them go there.

“I’ve known Ryan since the day he was born. He was five when he started with us but he always seemed older. He got bigger, stronger and better. He stayed here until he joined Ajax at the age of eight.”

Kolf and Gravenberch’s father, Ryan senior, played amateur football together in Amsterdam and have been close friends ever since. The Gravenberchs lived in the nearby leafy neighbourhood of Watergraafsmeer. Ryan’s older brother, Danzell, who plays for FC Den Bosch in Holland’s second tier, also learned his trade at Zeeburgia.

“Their dad was always such a great influence when they were young — not too pushy,” says Kolf. “He made sure his kids were disciplined — always trained, always respectful. Back when we played together, their dad was very good but he got kicked a lot. The pitches were different back then and he got a bad knee injury.

“Growing up around here in Amsterdam East was good for Ryan. It’s an area with many open spaces to play, so boys don’t sit at home on their PlayStation.

“These days, there are so many distractions for kids. Some say, ‘Yeah, I want to become a footballer’, but then go off doing other things. Ryan was always in love with football. If, after a game, you said to him, ‘Do you want to go and play for that team?’, he would always play again. He was very greedy! When he was seven, he was playing with the nine-year-olds. He slept with a football.

“Even after he went to Ajax, Ryan always played with older boys and that helped toughen him up. When he played with kids his own age, it was too easy for him. He was always smart, always laid-back like his dad. Give a short pass and then demand it back in space. If he had two players closing him down, he would switch play to the other side.”

Gravenberch became the youngest Ajax player in history to play in the Eredivisie when he came on against PSV in September 2018 at 16 years and 130 days, beating a record previously held by Clarence Seedorf.

His upward trajectory stalled after signing for Bayern Munich in June 2022; he started just three Bundesliga matches in the 2022-23 season. His stay in Bavaria proved to be brief as Liverpool paid £34million ($45m) for him in the summer of 2023.

“I was never worried about Ryan,” Kolf insists. “I visited the family in Munich and we talked about it. I know the Germans. They like their midfielders to run and run. His dad always told him, ‘Stay positive, when you get a chance at a club who really play football then you are going to play and play’. Now look at Ryan. Together with Van Dijk and Mo Salah, he’s been Liverpool’s best player this season.”

After Liverpool failed in their pursuit of Real Sociedad’s Martin Zubimendi last summer, Slot opted to put his faith in Gravenberch to operate in the holding midfield role. It proved to be a smart move as the 22-year-old flourished, starting every top-flight match so far in 2024-25. Earlier this season, his club form was rewarded with a return to the Netherlands side.

“It hasn’t surprised me because when Frenkie de Jong left Ajax (in 2019), Ryan played as the No 6,” Kolf says. “Slot knew he could do it. Ryan makes it look easy at times. It’s his reading of the game that’s so impressive and the way he creates space. People forget how young he still is. He could play for Holland for the next 10 years and become one of the greatest players this country has ever produced.

“It used to be the Spanish who took over Liverpool. Now it’s the Dutch. There are a lot of new Liverpool fans in this country. When I was a little boy, I supported Manchester United because of the Busby Babes. Then I went to Liverpool and fell in love. Now Ryan is there, it feels so special watching our kid, our Amsterdam kid, playing there.

“Liverpool are going to win the Premier League and Ryan has been such a big part of it.”

Gravenberch returned to Zeeburgia last summer to meet the youngsters who dream of following in his footsteps.

“It meant so much — this will always be Ryan’s home,” Kolf adds. “He inspires the kids so much. I always talk about Ryan to them. Our boy made it to Ajax, Bayern Munich and now Liverpool. Everyone is so proud of the level he has reached.”

Arne Slot: Zwolle

The 100km train journey east from Amsterdam to the city of Zwolle takes just over an hour. With its medieval centre and ancient city wall, it’s a world away from the hustle and bustle of the capital.

Just around the corner from the train station sits the plush Bilderberg Grand Hotel Wientjes and a friendly face strolls into the bar area.

“So you’re the Liverpool watcher!” says Ben Hendriks, former manager of local club PEC Zwolle. “I hope you’re taking good care of Arne for us.”

This is the city where Arne Slot started and finished his playing career before making the move into coaching. It is also where the Liverpool head coach returns to spend time with his wife, Mirjam, and their children, Joep and Isa, when his commitments on Merseyside allow. Their beautiful 19th-century townhouse overlooks the canal.

“I drank some coffee with Arne when he was here a few months ago and we’re in regular contact on WhatsApp,” says Hendriks. “He can walk around the streets here, no problem. Nobody asks for photos. They might just shout: ‘Hey Arne!’ And he’ll wave back. I am a man of Zwolle and this is a normal place.

“Everyone is very happy for him.”

Their bond dates back 30 years to when Hendriks gave a teenage Slot his first taste of senior football for Zwolle in the mid-1990s. Slot had joined their academy at the age of 12 after being spotted playing for VV Bergentheim in the village close to the Dutch-German border, where he grew up.

“There was a big sponsor, a bread company from Zwolle, who also sponsored Bergentheim, so we went there for a pre-season game. Arne was only 16, but with it being his home village, I thought it would be a good idea to involve him,” explains Hendricks, 78, who managed Zwolle from 1992 to 1995.

“I made him captain for the day. Afterwards, the experienced guys, who didn’t really know him that well, all said: ‘He’s unbelievable for 16’. Arne was a real No 10. He was always thinking two steps ahead. He could read a game very well. He was a good passer. He let other players — better players — play, which is also a quality.

“After that friendly game, he went back to the youth team before establishing himself in the first team under the next coach. I knew Arne would be top. He had the right mentality. I know his father, Arend, well and he was a big influence.

“Both Arne’s parents were teachers, so there was always discipline. Every morning as a youngster, Arne would cycle from Bergentheim to Marienberg and then get the train to Zwolle, where he would get picked up and attend a school behind the stadium. There was total commitment.”

Their paths crossed again when Slot returned to Zwolle in the twilight of his playing days after spells at NAC Breda and Sparta Rotterdam.

“Have you seen what Arne used to do sometimes from the kick-off? People here used to laugh about it,” chuckles Hendriks. “He would flick the ball up and then zuuuuut! (gestures like a rocket taking off). He would shoot it up to heaven.”

He takes out his phone and finds a clip on YouTube from 2010 of Slot receiving possession inside the centre circle and hammering it into the air as team-mates charge after it.

“Sometimes the opponents might have the sun in their eyes and couldn’t control it. Other times it was his way of saying: ‘Here you go, we’d like to have the second ball’.

“Arne was always thinking. When he was sleeping, he was thinking about football. He always had a football brain and was very good at making people believe in themselves.

“When he had his testimonial game, Arne asked me and his father to be the managers when Zwolle played against the all-stars from Arne’s career. It was clear Arne would become a coach. He was always talking about Pep Guardiola and would study the games when Pep was coach of Barcelona.

“He coached the under-14s at Zwolle and wanted to become assistant for the first team after he finished playing. He was eager for the next step but the technical director said that wasn’t possible, so he left to join the staff at Cambuur. Everyone was crazy about him there — from his tactics to the training sessions he put on. It was the same at AZ.”

Hendriks, who worked as a scout for Italian club Udinese for 18 years before taking on a similar role at Zwolle, encouraged the super-agent Mino Raiola to start representing Slot. Rafaela Pimenta, who took control of the agency following Raiola’s death in 2022, negotiated his contract with Liverpool when he left Feyenoord to succeed Jurgen Klopp last summer.

“Mino was a very good friend of mine, and I told him: ‘You have to take Arne’. They worked together for a couple of years and now Rafaela is busy with Arne,” he says. “It has all worked out well.

“It helped that Klopp was so positive about Arne coming in and told the fans: ‘Believe in this guy, he’s going to be fantastic’. Arne was also very respectful about Klopp.

“Some of our Dutch coaches haven’t done so well in the Premier League, but Arne is a better communicator than either Erik ten Hag or Louis van Gaal. It’s one of his biggest strengths. He also has two good Dutch assistants (Sipke Hulshoff and John Heitinga).

“Arne speaks fantastic English and explains everything so clearly that the players and the journalists all know what he means. If you make a mistake with your words, then journalists kill you! He’s managed to avoid that.”

Hendriks regards loyalty as another of Slot’s great qualities. He scrolls through some of their WhatsApp exchanges.

“I messaged Arne to say: ‘I remember giving you your debut when you were 16. I’m very proud of you’,” he adds. “A minute later, he replied: ‘Thank you Ben, it was a long time ago, but that was where it all started for me’.

“He hasn’t changed at all.”

Cody Gakpo: Eindhoven

Eindhoven has a different feel to it.

The two-hour train ride from Zwolle takes you down to the south of the Netherlands via Utrecht. It’s modern and vibrant. The city where Cody Gakpo grew up is one of innovation and creativity. It’s the birthplace of Philips electronics. The museum tracing the company’s history is just across the road from the coffee shop where Bastiaan Riemersma is sitting.

He is the current assistant coach of FC Eindhoven in the second tier of Dutch football. Most of his career has been devoted to youth development. He spent over a decade working with youngsters at PSV before becoming the academy manager at Willem II.

Riemersma coached Gakpo at PSV from under-nines to under-11s.

“I’ve known Cody since he was seven and we were recruiting new players for the under-nines,” he says. “I used to do his laces up and wipe his nose! He stood out so much because he was so much bigger and stronger than others in his age group. Not only was he more physical but he also had the technique and tactical insight.

“When we visited another club, they would come to me when we arrived and ask: ‘Is Cody in the team today?’. They were hoping he had gone to play with the older age group.

“When he dribbled with the ball, nobody could take it off him. Opponents were scared of him. I always said to Cody: ‘Remember, when you are in the first team, you can’t do that anymore, you’re not Lionel Messi!’. He said: ‘Watch me, I can do it in the first team’.

“His focus and dedication were special. He always wanted to train and develop his skills. He loved to put his head down and run with it. Sometimes we’d have discussions and I’d remind him there are another 10 players in the team. He believed in himself but he was always humble and his great family kept his feet on the ground.

“When we went to international tournaments and faced big clubs from England and Spain, Cody was always deciding games. It was like a party watching Cody — so many great goals and assists.”

As Gakpo progressed through the age groups at PSV, he was moved from the No 9 role out to the left. Watching him shine in that position under Slot has brought back plenty of happy memories for Riemersma.

“I have a lot of video clips of a young Cody cutting inside onto his right foot and scoring goals like he has done for Liverpool this season,” he smiles.

“It’s like it used to be with (former Netherlands winger) Arjen Robben — defenders know what Cody is going to do but still can’t stop it from happening because of his pace and strength. He has such a strong shot with the power he generates from his hips and it’s difficult for a goalkeeper because he can put it in either corner.

“I was working for Willem II when Cody made his first team debut for PSV as a teenager (against Feyenoord in February 2018), but I was in the stadium for it. How quickly he proved his importance showed what a big talent he is.

“It was clear he would eventually take the next step to a higher level. A lot of players grab the first chance to make big money but he was clever enough to wait for the right opportunity. Liverpool was perfect for him.

“He needed some time to adapt to the higher intensity in England, but he fits so well into Slot’s way of playing.”

Gakpo, who lived in the neighbourhood of Stratum, may have left PSV in a £44m deal in January 2023, but the reception he received when he returned to Philips Stadion with Liverpool in the Champions League in January underlined what he still means to the people of this city.

“The academy of PSV takes young players from all over the country,” Riemersma explains. “What made Cody different was that he was one of the first actually born in Eindhoven to come through the system with such quality.

“The fans have songs about Cody because he grew up right here. Local rappers wanted to make music with Cody. He’s still loved here because of his character and how he still talks about the club and the city. I still see his dad and other family members around.

“In Holland, we have so many TV shows about football and Liverpool get talked about a lot. You probably need to go back to the days of (Patrick) Kluivert, (Phillip) Cocu, (Bolo) Zenden, (Marc) Overmars and the De Boer brothers (Frank and Ronald) at Barcelona for the last time when the Dutch influence was so big in one of Europe’s great teams.

“It’s important for football in this country to see what’s happened at Liverpool this season with the Dutch being so successful.”

It feeds into a wider conversation over the Netherlands’ production line of talent. Player and coach development is currently a hot topic of debate in a country with a population of about 18million, which has always taken great pride in being able to punch above its weight.

“We don’t have so many at the top of Europe anymore,” says Riemersma. “We’re waiting for the next players who are at the level of Ruud van Nistelrooy, Robin van Persie and Robben.

“When players like Van Dijk are no longer there, the fear is that the gap will be really big. It’s a big discussion among youth coaches and heads of academies here. What’s the reason? What can we change to bring the level higher? Is it a problem with the system or is it just about waiting for the next generation?

“It’s complex. We all know the stories about children not playing out on the streets as much anymore. Everyone in the world talks about how the Dutch have brought a lot of big players through for a small country, but in the last 10 years it’s become a problem. That’s why it means so much to people to see Virgil, Cody and Ryan performing at such a high level.

“It’s similar to the coaches. A lot of Dutch coaches didn’t succeed in England, but Arne Slot has. Not only does he have a lot of knowledge about systems and tactics, but he can adapt and create relationships with people. At Feyenoord, the players would always talk about what he was like as a human being as much as a coach.”

Virgil van Dijk: Breda

“Look at this photo of Virgil after we became champions,” says Rik Kleijn. “I can’t believe it’s been 23 years already. It was the 2001-02 season when Virgil was only 10. I was a team leader together with his father, Ron. My son Kevin played in the same team.

“We only conceded one goal in the entire season. Virgil was already playing as a central defender. Even back then, he was taller and stronger than others. He was a calm presence on the field with great awareness. I remember him moving forward when we attacked.

“His personality then was just like it is today: humble, driven and with a winner’s mentality.”

Amateur club WDS’19 is where it all started for Van Dijk. He grew up close by in the Haagse Beemden district of Breda, around 40 minutes on the train north-west of Eindhoven. With its cobbled streets and charming canals, there’s a sense of tranquillity in the city.

His time in the blue and white colours of WDS’19 came to an end after he caught the eye of youth scouts from professional outfit Willem II, based in the city of Tilburg, 30km east of Breda.

However, every time the club’s current crop of youngsters step onto the field, they are reminded that the Liverpool captain once trod the same path.

Images of Van Dijk and Brighton goalkeeper Bart Verbruggen, who also played for the club, feature on a large banner attached to the perimeter fence with the words: ‘Word lid van WDS’19 ook wij begonnen heir’ (Become a member of WDS’19 — we also started here).

“I have three sons who all played for WDS’19 but they are all grown up now so I’m not involved anymore,” explains Kleijn, 63, who runs a flooring and infrared heating businesses. “The club has around 400 members and it is still growing, which is great to see.

“Virgil must have been about 11 when Willem II spotted him. They used to send scouts to our games. As a native of Breda, I had hoped that Virgil would one day play for NAC Breda. It never happened, but he still inspires the youngsters around here. It shows them what can be achieved.

“He still has family in Breda and, around a year ago, he came back to open some Cruyff courts for the kids to learn football on. He’s a role model for them.”

The Liverpool and Netherlands skipper is one of the greatest centre-backs of the modern era, but his journey to the top was far from straightforward.

Van Dijk left Willem II on a free transfer at the age of 18 without making a senior appearance and joined Groningen, 250km away in the north of Holland. How did he slip through the net? Riemersma, who has worked for both PSV and Willem II at youth level, is well-placed to answer.

“Virgil was in the last part of the academy at Willem II when I knew him — 16 or 17 playing for the second team,” he explains.

“He was never one of the best players. He was one of the guys. They didn’t think he was good enough for the first team. They were always fighting against relegation and preferred experience rather than youth in those situations.

“It was the same with Frenkie de Jong (who left Willem II for Ajax in 2015 and subsequently moved to Barcelona for €75m (£64.2m; $84.9m) in 2019). They felt Frenkie was too small and wanted to play on his own too much.

“It’s always easy to talk about mistakes, but some players just need a different pathway. Virgil was a late developer and needed a bit more time. He made small steps. Groningen came and took him, and the rest is history.

“Willem II never saw him as a big talent. Now look at him.”

From Groningen to Celtic to Southampton and then Liverpool, who made Van Dijk the most expensive defender in the world when they signed him for £75m midway through the 2017-18 season. He has long since repaid that fee with the contribution he’s made.

Van Dijk was an integral part of Liverpool’s last Premier League title-winning team under Klopp five years ago, but this time around he is also the talismanic captain. Kleijn has taken great delight in seeing the boy from Breda scale such heights.

“When Virgil was at Celtic, I used to tell my friends that he would one day get to the top and play for the national team,” he adds. “Many were sceptical, but in the end, he proved me right. He developed not only into an elite defender but also a great leader.

“What an example he is in terms of handling setbacks with how he came back from such a serious injury (he ruptured his ACL in October 2020). He has played so many games at such a high level and always conducted himself in the right way.

“It was a long time ago, but I am very proud to say I was once Virgil’s coach. All the credit belongs to him. The greatest thing for me when I hear him speak is that he has remained the same character.

“Since Arne Slot took over, Virgil has improved even further, playing more aggressively and pushing forward more often. The Dutch guys work well together at Liverpool.”

(Photos: Getty Images; design: Eamonn Dalton)