Bravery is essential for any footballer, and when it comes to those who displayed early courage in their childhood, Matthijs de Ligt stands out. Known as the son of Vivian and Frank de Ligt, Matthijs wasn’t just brave but also matured quickly or turned into a man so early in his childhood years.
Even though he is only 24 at the time of writing, Matthijs has been making a name for himself in professional football since he turned pro at 16. Remarkably, as a child, he was already known for his protective nature towards his twin siblings and his courage in standing up to bullies at school.
Tennis Prodigy to Total Defender: The Story of Matthijs de Ligt
If someone in his class or his sibling was being bullied, Matthijs wouldn’t do what most people might do—run away. Instead, he would stand up for the person being bullied.
Interestingly, Matthijs de Ligt didn’t always see football as his destined career. His first success in sports came with a tennis racket in his hands rather than a football at his feet.
We present the full story of Matthijs de Ligt, the Dutch football genius known as “The Total Defender.” Our detailed account explores his childhood, untold biography, and the significant milestones from his early years to his current achievements.
This analysis delves into Matthijs de Ligt’s early life, family background, journey before fame, rise to stardom, relationships, and personal life.
Although he is widely acknowledged as one of the most intelligent defenders in the world, many overlook the intriguing details of Matthijs de Ligt’s biography. So, without further ado, let’s explore his story.
Matthijs de Ligt Childhood Story – Early Life and Family Background:
Dutch defender Matthijs de Ligt was born on August 12, 1999, in Leiderdorp, a town in the western Netherlands. He is the son of Vivian de Ligt and Frank de Ligt.
This is where de Ligt spent his childhood years.
Shortly after Matthijs de Ligt was born, his parents relocated to Abcoude, a town just south of Amsterdam. This move was driven by the pursuit of better economic opportunities, and it also fostered a deep love for the Ajax football team within the family.
Matthijs was the firstborn child of Vivian and Frank de Ligt. Later, during his early childhood, his mother had twins, Fleur and Wouter, expanding the family. Together, they form a close-knit and happy family unit.
Introducing the family members of Matthijs de Ligt.
From an early age, Matthijs de Ligt took on the role of a protective and supportive big brother. His younger sibling or baby of the de Ligt family, Wouter, always felt fortunate to have a big brother with whom he shared a strong bond, starting from their childhood days.
Back then, the de Ligt brothers made it a habit to never let each other wander in the dark alone. They also had a tradition of running through their living room, shouting with excitement, whenever Ajax scored a goal.
Additionally, their leisure activities included their parents taking them on walks to the Ajax Stadium (Johan Cruijff Arena) during the weekdays.
On a personal note, Matthijs de Ligt was known for his protective nature towards his twin siblings and his bravery in standing up to bullies at school.
According to AjaxShowTime, one of Matthijs de Ligt’s teachers once remarked:
“If someone in his class or his sibling was being bullied, Matthijs wouldn’t do what most people might do—run away. Instead, he would stand up for the person being bullied.”
Matthijs de Ligt Biography – Early Career Life:
Did you know? Matthijs de Ligt didn’t initially see football as his destined career path. In fact, his first success in sports came with a ball in his hands rather than at his feet.
At the age of five, young Matthijs began playing tennis, and he excelled at it, much like Charles De Ketelaere.
How his Football Journey Began:
Despite being a tennis player, Matthijs had difficulty settling into his career. This was a time he sought other alternatives.
Luckily for him, someday, he got introduced to football by his friend, who invited him for training. Just immediately after the training, Matthijs started playing football.
It took about a year for him to settle into the new sport. During this period, Matthijs de Ligt successfully joined his local youth team, FC Abcoude. This opportunity allowed him to further showcase and develop his talent.
Back then, Matthijs would always have his little brother Wouter accompany him to club activities.
Young Matthijs de Ligt bonding with his teammates.
During his time with FC Abcoude, Matthijs de Ligt displayed a steely determination and set his sights on the dream of becoming a professional footballer.
His ambitions were matched by hard work and commitment, not just fleeting dreams. Matthijs spent an additional three years at FC Abcoude, where he honed his skills and continued to push himself towards higher goals.
Matthijs de Ligt Biography Facts – The Recognition:
At just 9 years old, Matthijs de Ligt, much like Jurrien Timber and Sven Botman, caught the attention of Ajax scouts for two key reasons. First, he was the standout player in his age group. Second, his impressive growth aligned with their initial requirements.
Over time, however, doubts began to surface among the scouts. They were concerned that Matthijs was gaining weight too quickly, which might negatively impact his performance. Despite these concerns, they decided to take a chance, recognizing that his talent was undeniable.
The Ajax Suarez Encounter:
Matthijs de Ligt finally had a successful trial with Jong Ajax, also known as Ajax II or Ajax 2, which is the reserve team for Ajax.
At Ajax, Matthijs was known for his humility and quiet demeanour, with his ability to handle fame matching his skill with the ball.
One of his most memorable moments was meeting Luis Suárez when the football legend was still with Ajax II.
Did You Know?… In 2017, Ajax made a terrible mistake in one of its social media publications. It was a mistake that provoked some of its fans via its official Facebook channel.
The Dutch club used the words “Next year, together in one team” to describe the photo of Luis Suarez and Matthijs de Ligt playing in Barcelona at that time.
Many Ajax fans found it very unprofessional of the club to refer to transfers in such a way. Perhaps a reason why the club never sold Matthijs de Ligt to Barca in 2018, all in a bid to avoid court troubles.
Road to Fame Story:
de Ligt was the youngest footballer and the quickest to rise above all youth ranks, which led to a promotion to senior football just as he approached 17. This happened after he won multiple awards as a youth footballer.
Did You Know?…
At just 15 years old, Matthijs de Ligt won the Player of the Tournament (PPOTT) award at both a U17 and a U19 tournament. This was when fans began to realize his potential as a future star.
A year later, he earned a promotion to the Ajax senior team. Matthijs made a memorable debut on August 8, 2016, against FC Emmen, marking the occasion by scoring a goal and celebrating with a powerful slam gesture, making a strong impression on Ajax fans.
That surely sunk into the memory of Ajax fans. Matthijs de Ligt after the match was awarded as the second youngest goalscorer behind Clarence Seedorf.
Matthijs de Ligt Bio – Rise to Fame Story:
Things started moving quickly in his first season of professional football, which saw his meteoric development.
Matthijs de Ligt bonded well with former Columbian teammate Davinson Sánchez to provide great defensive cover for Ajax.
This Led his team to the Europa Team finals. Guiding his team to reach the finals at the tender age of 17 surely brought praise from all angles.
Matthijs de Ligt, like Ruben Neves, made history as the youngest player ever to compete in a European final with a team whose average age was under 23.
His poise and maturity were evident both during press conferences and while facing the challenge of Manchester United, showcasing an impressive level of composure for a 17-year-old.
Matthijs de Ligt’s personal life brands and popularity gave more boost to other Ajax young stars, notably among them Kasper Dolgberg and Frenkie de Jong.
Matthijs de Ligt’s unwavering bravery, courage, and strong bond with Ajax fans earned him the honour of meeting the requirements to become captain of his Ajax team. This is something Jorrel Hato embodies within him at Ajax.
Securing his captaincy title for his team led to a national award. Matthijs de Ligt became the youngest-ever captain of a professional side in the history of Dutch football. The Leiderdorp native is indeed one of the biggest gains of Ajax under Erik ten Hag‘s era.
The rest, as they say, is now history.
Love Life with Annick Diekman:
Behind every successful footballer, there is indeed a glamorous wag or girlfriend. For Matthijs, right before he became successful, one beautiful lady had already given her heart out to him.
Let’s introduce you to Annick Diekman.
Ligt, at the time of writing, is in a relationship with Annick Diekman, a hockey girl who plays for HC Athena, a club in Amsterdam.
Annick is also not afraid of spotlights as she is also into acting. She is a graduate of a youth theatre school in Amsterdam.
News of their affair came to light in mid-2014, a time when both were just childhood sweethearts who began dating. Matthijs Ligt, pictured below, was just 15 years of age at that time.
Even though Matthijs and Annick have been together for a long time, they haven’t yet decided to settle down. In addition to her passions for hockey and acting, Annick has spent a lot of time with Matthijs, supporting him long before he became famous.
Personality:
Matthijs de Ligt’s personal life stands out from that of many other promising young footballers, and it bears similarities to the life of Micky van de Ven.
Those who know him describe Matthijs as calm, driven, focused, and serious, but also intelligent, cheerful, social, and loyal. His unique blend of qualities makes him distinct both on and off the field.
Beyond the Pitch: Matthijs de Ligt’s Unconventional Blend of Focus and Cheerfulness.
Matthijs does not like having non-career-related attention and loves to spend time alone to himself. If he is not playing football, he would be with Annick or probably play FIFA or watch shows on Netflix all day.
He isn’t the type of person who wants to hang out with everyone. Most recently, His mom had to push him to get his driver’s license, which didn’t work out.
The 2024 Man United target also mentioned that fitting driving lessons into his personal training schedule would be challenging. He spends his days focused intensely on what it takes to be a top defender, with his mind constantly occupied by his football commitments.
Fact Check:
Thanks for reading the story of Matthijs de Ligt. We strive for accuracy and fairness in our quest to deliver the life history of Dutch Central Defenders. Surely, the Life History of Virgil van Dijk and Perr Schuurs will excite you.
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