39 Facts About Dirk Kuyt

Dirk Kuyt spent five years at the club, and in his final season he won his first senior honour, the KNVB Cup, and was chosen as the season's Dutch Golden Shoe Winner.

Dirk Kuyt missed only five games over seven seasons from 1999 until 2006 and appeared in 179 consecutive matches between 2001 and 2006, striking up a fruitful partnership with fellow Feyenoord teammate Salomon Kalou.

Dirk Kuyt scored in the UEFA Champions League final which Liverpool lost against Milan.

Dirk Kuyt scored his first hat-trick for Liverpool against Manchester United in March 2011.

Dirk Kuyt represented the nation at five major international tournaments, the 2006,2010, and 2014 FIFA World Cups and the 2008 and 2012 UEFA European Championships.

Dirk Kuyt announced his retirement from football in 2017, having scored a hat-trick in the last game of the season to secure Feyenoord their first title since 1999 three days earlier.

Dirk Kuyt's father was a fisherman and he has stated that if he would not have found a career in football he probably would have followed his father into the family business.

Dirk Kuyt grew up in the fishing town of Katwijk aan Zee.

Dirk Kuyt broke into the first team in March 1998, playing the last six games of the season in the Hoofdklasse, and catching the eye of Eredivisie club Utrecht.

Dirk Kuyt signed professionally for Utrecht that summer, aged 18, and immediately established himself in the first team.

At Feyenoord, Dirk Kuyt immediately became a fans' favourite with his continued goal scoring success.

In 2005, Dirk Kuyt was handed the Feyenoord club captaincy and went on to have a third successful season with the club, scoring 25 goals in all competitions.

Dirk Kuyt formed a strong partnership with Salomon Kalou, with the duo nicknamed "K2".

Dirk Kuyt missed only five games over seven seasons from 1999 until 2006, making 233 appearances.

Dirk Kuyt made his Liverpool debut as a substitute against West Ham United on 26 August 2006.

Dirk Kuyt's first start came against PSV in the UEFA Champions League, immediately receiving praise for the new defensive approach by a striker.

Dirk Kuyt won much praise for his early performances, with the Daily Mirror writing, "The Dutch striker has the look of a cult hero in the making," and The People reporting that he is "propelling himself towards iconic status".

Dirk Kuyt adapted to this new role and soon regained his overall form, playing himself into the starting XI again after putting on various vital team performances.

On 2 April 2008, Dirk Kuyt scored an equalising goal against Arsenal at Emirates Stadium.

On 22 April 2008, in the first leg of the Champions League all-English semi-final against Chelsea at Anfield, Dirk Kuyt scored the opening goal just before half time.

Dirk Kuyt played in his 200th competitive game for Liverpool, against Hull City on the final day of Liverpool's season.

On 15 April, Dirk Kuyt signed a contract extension to keep him at the club until the summer of 2013.

Dirk Kuyt finished the season as Liverpool's top goal scorer scoring 13 league goals, finishing with a total of 15, equalling his best return for the club in a season.

On 3 June 2012, Fenerbahce declared on its official website that Dirk Kuyt had signed with the club on a three-year contract.

Dirk Kuyt benefitted as in September 2004 he made his international debut in Van Basten's first game against Liechtenstein.

Dirk Kuyt became a permanent fixture in the Dutch squad, making the starting line-up for 11 of the Netherlands' 12 2006 FIFA World Cup qualification matches.

Dirk Kuyt usually wore the number 7 jersey when representing his country, with exception of UEFA Euro 2008, where he wore number 18, the same number he then wore at his club Liverpool.

At the 2006 World Cup, Dirk Kuyt found himself dropped to the substitutes' bench.

Dirk Kuyt was selected for the Dutch squad for Euro 2008.

Dirk Kuyt scored three goals in the 2010 World Cup qualifiers.

Dirk Kuyt was included in the Netherlands' preliminary squad for the 2010 World Cup in South Africa.

Dirk Kuyt assisted the goal scored by Arjen Robben against Uruguay in the semi-finals.

Dirk Kuyt started all seven matches for the national team, which finished as runners-up to Spain, and finished the tournament with one goal and three assists.

On 12 October 2010, Dirk Kuyt injured his ankle in the Netherlands' fourth qualifier against Sweden and was out of action for four weeks with the injury.

Dirk Kuyt made two brief appearances as a substitute for Gregory van der Wiel against Denmark in the 85th minute and for Robben against Germany in the 83rd minute.

Dirk Kuyt won his 100th cap in the Netherlands' round of 16 victory over Mexico on 29 June 2014, making him only the seventh Dutch player to play 100 matches.

Dirk Kuyt was selected to start the match in an unfamiliar left wing-back role by Van Gaal, who positioned the 33-year-old at wingback and centre forward during the course of the match.

Dirk Kuyt was fired on 24 November 2022, after disappointing results which saw the team sitting in 17th after 16 matches.

Dirk Kuyt continued to work as a nurse in an old people's home after marrying Kuyt until their daughter, Noelle, was born.