Dirk Kuyt

Dirk Kuijt , commonly known as Dirk Kuyt (born 22 July 1980) is a Netherlands professional football (soccer) who currently plays for English club Liverpool F.C.. Dirk Kuyt is renowned for Dirk Kuyt work-rate in Dirk Kuyt primary position as a Forward (association football), but now Dirk Kuyt is more often deployed as a Winger (sport) for both Liverpool and Netherlands national football team.

Kuyt began Dirk Kuyt professional career with FC Utrecht in 1998 and quickly became part of their first team. Dirk Kuyt spent five years at the club and in Dirk Kuyt final season Dirk Kuyt won Dirk Kuyt first senior honour, the Dutch Cup, and was chosen as the season's Dutch Golden Shoe Winner. Following this, Dirk Kuyt left Utrecht in a Euro1 million transfer to Feyenoord. Dirk Kuyt became the club captain (association football) in 2005 and was a prolific goalscorer at the Rotterdam club; Dirk Kuyt 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.

Dirk Kuyt left Feyenoord after three years, having scored 71 league goals in 101 appearances, and joined Premier League side Liverpool for £10 million. Dirk Kuyt made Dirk Kuyt Premier League debut in late 2006 and immediately became part of the first team squad. Dirk Kuyt scored in Dirk Kuyt first 2007 UEFA Champions League Final but the team lost to AC Milan.

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

Biography

Early life

Kuyt is the third of four children. Dirk Kuyt grew up in the fishing town of Katwijk, where Dirk Kuyt father was a fisherman. Kuyt completed a move to Liverpool on 18 August for an undisclosed fee.

Kuyt missed only five games over seven seasons from 1999 until 2006, making 233 appearances. Between March 2001 and April 2006 Dirk Kuyt played 179 consecutive matches.

Liverpool

Upon joining Liverpool, Kuyt stated "I only wanted to leave Feyenoord for a really big club, and that is what Liverpool are. They are a fantastic big club and it will be a real pleasure to play here."

After sitting out the first game Kuyt made Dirk Kuyt Liverpool debut as a Substitute (football) against West Ham United F.C. on 26 August, 2006. Dirk Kuyt first start came against PSV Eindhoven in the UEFA Champions League and Dirk Kuyt has been first choice in most games since. Dirk Kuyt immediately got praises for the new defensive approach by a striker.
In Dirk Kuyt third start for the club on 20 September, 2006 Kuyt scored Dirk Kuyt first goal against Newcastle United in a FA Premier League game at Anfield, and followed up with another against Tottenham Hotspur in the next game. Dirk Kuyt scored Dirk Kuyt third goal for Liverpool with Dirk Kuyt father watching the game at Anfield, contributing to Liverpool's 3–1 win over Aston Villa. Two weeks later Dirk Kuyt bagged a brace, as the only scorer in the Reds' 2–0 victory against Premiership newcomers Reading.

Kuyt won much praise for Dirk Kuyt early performances, with Daily Mirror stating: "The Dutch striker has the look of a cult hero in the making" and The People reporting that Dirk Kuyt is "propelling himself towards iconic status." One of the reasons for Dirk Kuyt early popularity is Dirk Kuyt post match courtesy to the fans. After each match Dirk Kuyt walks to every corner of the ground, and applauds the Liverpool supporters.

On 20 January, 2007, Dirk Kuyt opened the scoring against Chelsea after only 4 minutes after a Peter Crouch flick-on. Liverpool went on to defeat the champions 2–0. It was the first time Rafael Benítez had defeated José Mourinho in the Premiership. It was also the first goal scored by Liverpool against a top four club in the league in the Premier League 2006-07 in the semi-finals of the UEFA Champions League 2006-07 Dirk Kuyt had a goal disallowed for offside from Xabi Alonso's strike. Kuyt also scored the winning penalty in the shoot-out, and scored a consolation goal in their 2–1 defeat to AC Milan in the 2007 UEFA Champions League Final.

Dirk Kuyt bagged Dirk Kuyt first goals of the 2007–2008 season in Liverpools 4–0 victory over Toulouse FC in their 3rd round qualifying encounter at Anfield on 28 August 2007.

Kuyt scored two penalties against Everton F.C. in the Merseyside derby to give Liverpool the edge and win 2-1.

Despite Dirk Kuyt promising first season and start to Dirk Kuyt second, Kuyt failed to score in 13 games for Liverpool, before netting against Barnsley FC in the fifth round of the FA Cup.

However on 19 February 2008, Kuyt scored the first goal in the first leg of the round of 16 of the UEFA Champions League 2007-08 against favourites FC Internazionale Milano. The end result was 2–0 for Liverpool on a dramatic European night with Steven Gerrard scoring the second.

Starting in early 2008, Kuyt began to be employed as a right winger and set up two of Fernando Torres's goals against West Ham United F.C. in March. Dirk Kuyt adapted to this new role and soon regained Dirk Kuyt overall form, playing himself into the starting XI again after putting on various vital team performances. On 2 April 2008, Kuyt scored an equalising goal against Arsenal F.C. at the Emirates stadium.

On 22 April 2008, in the first leg of the Champions League all-English semi-final against Chelsea at Anfield, Kuyt scored the opening goal just before half time, making the most of a mistake from Chelsea's Claude Makélélé then putting through the legs of Chelsea keeper Petr Čech. However, Liverpool went on to draw the match 1–1 with John Arne Riise scoring a late own goal. In the second leg at Stamford Bridge (stadium), Chelsea advanced to the 2008 UEFA Champions League Final.

Dirk Kuyt scored a late extra time goal against Standard Liège in the 2008–09 Champions League qualifiers return match to put Liverpool through to the group stages of the competition. In Dirk Kuyt next game, a 2–1 win in the Premier League against Manchester United F.C., Dirk Kuyt assisted fellow countryman Ryan Babel's winning goal.

Kuyt has gained a reputation at Liverpool for being a "Big Game Player". By this, they refer to Kuyt's tendency to score goals at vital moments in important games, such as the last minute strike against Standard Liege and an injury time winner against Manchester City on 5 October 2008. Dirk Kuyt further cemented that reputation by scoring twice in Liverpool's 3–2 comeback win over Wigan Athletic on 18 October 2008, when playing in Dirk Kuyt natural position of striker rather than right winger, due to the absence of Liverpool's first choice striker Fernando Torres.

International career

When Marco van Basten took over as coach of the Netherlands national football team Dirk Kuyt dropped many established players, including strikers Roy Makaay and Patrick Kluivert. Kuyt was to benefit as in September 2004 Dirk Kuyt made Dirk Kuyt international debut in van Basten's first game against Liechtenstein national football team. Dirk Kuyt has been a permanent fixture in the Dutch squad ever since, making the starting line-up for eleven of the Netherlands' twelve 2006 FIFA World Cup qualification (UEFA) matches.

2006 World Cup

At the 2006 FIFA World Cup, Kuyt found himself relegated to the substitutes bench. Although Dirk Kuyt made an appearance as a 69th minute replacement in the first game against Serbia and Montenegro national football team, Dirk Kuyt sat the entire second game out. With the team already qualified for the next round van Basten decided to rest many of Dirk Kuyt first choice players for the final group game against Argentina national football team, and Kuyt was handed a start in the right wing position.

For the Netherlands' Round of 16 tie against Portugal national football team, Kuyt was given a surprise start ahead of star-striker Ruud van Nistelrooy. However, Kuyt did not have a successful game and the Netherlands eventually lost 1–0 in a game that was more reputable for its record breaking disciplinary record (4 red cards and 16 yellow cards).

Euro 2008

Kuyt was selected for the Dutch squad for UEFA Euro 2008. On 9 June, Dirk Kuyt played in their opening UEFA Euro 2008 Group C match, a 3–0 victory over 2006 FIFA World Cup Final Italy national football team, assisting in two goals, Dirk Kuyt most notable act being the header that provided the link between Giovanni van Bronckhorst's crossfield pass and Wesley Sneijder's goal to make it 2–0 on 31 minutes. On 13 June, Kuyt contributed in Dirk Kuyt team's second next game of Group C, a 4–1 victory over 2006 World Cup finalists France national football team by opening the scoring with a ninth minute header from a corner, taking Dirk Kuyt tally of international goals to eight.

During Euro 2008, Kuyt was employed as a winger, partnering with Sneijder and Rafael van der Vaart in the midfield due to the team's change of formation (association football) from 4-3-3/4-4-2 to 4-2-3-1.

International goals

Personal life

Kuyt's wife Gertrude has found favour in the Dutch media for her down-to-earth attitude. She continued to work as a nurse in an old people's home after marrying Kuyt until their daughter, Noelle, was born. Kuyt and Dirk Kuyt wife now carry out extensive charity work off the pitch. Most notably, Dirk Kuyt and Dirk Kuyt wife set up the Dirk Kuyt Foundation to help disadvantaged children in Dirk Kuyt homeland and the Third World. One of the ways the foundation raises money is by selling DK-branded clothes. The couple have two sons Roan, born 11 April 2007. and Jordan.

Kuyt's father died of cancer on 29 June 2007.