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Birthdate:
22.07.1980
Birthplace: Katwijk, Netherlands
Other clubs: Quick Boys (amateur), FC Utrecht, Feyenoord
Bought from: Feyenoord
Signed for LFC: £9000000 18.08.2006
International debut: 03.09.2004 vs. Liechtenstein
International caps: 70/16 (47/12 at LFC) - 11.07.2010
Liverpool debut:
26.08.2006
Last appearance: 29.08.2010
Debut goal: 20.09.2006
Last goal: 26.08.2010
Contract expiry: 2012 (signed 2009)
LFC league games/goals: 144 / 36
Total LFC games/goals: 204 / 52
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Player Notes:
Dirk Kuyt started his career with FC Utrecht in the 1998/99 season and finally rose to stardom in the 2002/2003 season with 20 goals in 34 league games in the first division. Feyenoord snapped him up in 2003 and he scored on a regular basis for them, 83 goals in 122 games. He was topscorer of the Eredivisie in 2005, scoring 29 goals and captained the side in the 2005/2006 season, which proved to be his final season in the Netherlands.
Kuyt has a tremendous work ethic and bags of talent. He hit the ground running in England, and played like he had been at Liverpool for 10 years. The Dutchman scored 14 goals in his debut season including Liverpool's goal in the Champions League final in Athens. He struggled for consistency in his second season. The death of his dearly beloved father, who had followed his son's progress with intensity, no doubt contributed to Kuyt's erratic form. Kuyt finally was back to his best in the last part of the 2007-2008 campaign, though playing on the right flank instead of up front. Kuyt only scored 3 league goals in 2007-08 but scored 7 goals in the Champions League and was particularly important in the latter stages of the competition scoring in the last 16 vs. Inter Milan, quarter-final vs Arsenal and in the semi-final vs. Chelsea.
Kuyt was a starter in Holland's Euro 2008 team that beat Italy 3-0 and France 4-1, scoring one goal, in the group-stage. He was replaced at half-time as Holland were eliminated 1-3 vs Russia after extra time in the quarter-finals. Kuyt continued to impress at Liverpool in the 2008-9 season and scored an important goal in the 118th minute vs Standard Liege in the 2nd leg of the Champions League 3rd Qualifying round when a penalty shoot-out was looming at Anfield. The Dutchman went though a dry spell from middle of November to middle February, but created a lot of scoring opportunities for others and contributed to the team's cause. He equalled his league total of 12 goals from his first season and added three in the Champions League, including Liverpool's fourth goal in the second leg of the exciting 4-4 quarter-final vs Chelsea at Stamford Bridge.
Dirk continued to be one of his manager's favourite players in 2009-2010 as he only missed 3 of Liverpool's 56 competitive matches during the season. Although similar affection is not always shown towards him by some supporters, nobody can criticise the Dutchman's work-rate or his enthusiasm. Two big milestones were achieved by Kuyt during the season. The final Premier League match (away to Hull) was his 200th game for the Reds; and the only goal of the Anfield derby with Everton was his 50th for the club. Despite rarely being used by Benitez as an out-and-out striker but more as a wide player, Kuyt's goals-per-game ratio (1:4) is extremely praiseworthy.
That "The Energizer Bunny" loves being a Liverpool player is beyond question. How much happier he would be if he could actually win something with the club he left Feyenoord for in 2006. Dirk will be 30 by the time the next season starts but he still has two years left on his contract as he strives along with his team-mates to end the trophy drought that has now lasted four years.
World Cup 2010 : Dirk was a key member of the Dutch squad that progressed all the way through the competition to the final itself. His late goal sealed an opening-match victory against the Danes; and although it was his only goal of the tournament, Kuyt worked tirelessly for his country's cause, just as he does for his club. He played from the start in all seven of Holland's matches in South Africa, being substituted just twice. |
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