Tottenham Hotspur defender Micky van de Ven is back to his best after a tough 2024/25 season that saw him bogged down by injuries.
The Spurs centre-back is performing solidly alongside Cristian Romero and has garnered massive plaudits from former Tottenham player Jason Cundy.
Cundy claimed Van de Ven is better than Liverpool ace Virgil Van Dijk and doubled down on the opinion after the 33-year-old failed to cover himself in glory with his latest showing.
While Cundy’s statement is likely an exaggeration that came from the wrong place, it is a testament to Van de Ven’s return to form this term under Thomas Frank.
Where former boss Ange Postecoglou struggled to find the right balance between attack and defence, Frank has made Spurs a solid unit at the back while keeping the attacking intensity.
Tottenham have already kept two clean sheets after seven games. Shut-outs were a rarity for this defence last term, but Frank has worked magic with the group, and Van de Ven played a part.
However, Van de Ven is not at Van Dijk’s level just yet, but the raw ingredients are certainly there.
His combination of size, speed, and strength makes him one of the most complete defenders of his generation, and at just 24, there’s still ample room to grow.
What sets him apart is how effortlessly he recovers ground and wins duels, qualities reminiscent of Van Dijk at his peak.
If he can stay injury-free and maintain his composure in big moments, he could evolve into an equally decisive presence at the heart of defence for both club and country.
The physical profile and technical discipline are already elite. His performance in that Europa League final versus Manchester United was pure defensive excellence.
Lauded as ‘outstanding’ by Postecoglou, what’s left is consistency, leadership, and time.
Tottenham may have a centre-back capable of reaching the very top, and Dutch football could soon have another commanding figure to lead its next defensive era.