Dirk Kuyt

Dirk Kuijt, commonly known as Dirk Kuyt ( born 22 July 1980) is a Dutch professional footballer who currently plays for English club Liverpool. He is renowned for his work-rate in his primary position as a striker, but now he is more often deployed as a winger for both Liverpool and the Netherlands national team.

Kuyt began his professional career with FC Utrecht in 1998 and quickly became part of their first team. He spent five years at the club and in his final season he won his first senior honour, the Dutch Cup, and was chosen as the season's Dutch Golden Shoe Winner. Following this, he left Utrecht in a €1 million transfer to Feyenoord. He became the club captain in 2005 and was a prolific goalscorer at the Rotterdam club; he was the club's top scorer for three consecutive seasons, the top goalscorer in the 2004–05 Eredivisie season, and the 2005–06 Dutch Footballer of the Year. Kuyt missed only five games over seven seasons from 1999 until 2006 and appeared in 179 consecutive matches between 2001–06.

He left Feyenoord after three years, having scored 71 league goals in 101 appearances, and joined Premier League side Liverpool for £10 million. He made his Premier League debut late in 2006 and immediately became part of the first team squad. He scored in his first ever Uefa Champions League final for Liverpool against AC Milan, but Milan gained revenge for their 2005 final exploits against Liverpool and won the match 2-1 in normal time this time around, with Kuyt offering late hope for Liverpool, but there was no fairytale comeback for the 5 time European Cup winners.

He made his international debut in 2004 and has represented the Netherlands at two major international tournaments, the 2006 FIFA World Cup and UEFA Euro 2008.

Kuyt is the third of four children. He grew up in the fishing town of Katwijk aan Zee.

His football career began when he joined the local amateur team Quick Boys at age 5. He broke into the first team in March 1998, playing the last six games of the season, and catching the eye of Eredivisie team FC Utrecht. Kuyt still regularly visits Katwijk and his old club Quick Boys, who benefited from a £300,000 windfall as a result of the player's move to Liverpool.

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