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DIRK KUYT
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| Position:
Striker
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| Date of Birth:
22/07/1980
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| Height:
6'0
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| Weight:
13st 2
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| 1st team games:
164
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| 1st team goals:
44
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| International caps:
57
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| International goals:
13
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| Former clubs:
FC Utrecht, Feyenoord
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| Birth Place:
Katwijk, Netherlands
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Dutch international Dirk Kuyt is among the hardest working attackers in the game.
Selfless and versatile, he has become one of the first names on Rafa Benitez's teamsheet since signing from Feyenoord for a fee of about A#10million in the summer of 2006.
Kuyt was born in the small fishing village of Katwijk and joined his local amateur side Quick Boys at the age of five.
When he was 12 he was told to choose between being a footballer and a fisherman: he either joined his father at sea or pursued his dream of being a professional sportsman.
Thankfully, he chose the latter, and in the summer of 1998, after just six senior appearances for Quick Boys, the 18-year-old signed his first pro contract with Eredivisie team FC Utrecht.
The youngster played 30 times in his debut season, mostly on the wing. Still, he managed to bag himself six goals.
Kuyt's career followed a similar path until 2002-03 when Utrecht appointed Foeke Booy manager. Booy played him up front for the entire season - and was rewarded with 23 goals. One of these came in the Dutch Cup final victory over Feyenoord, in which the forward was named man of the match.
Their noses may have been out of joint, but Feyenoord liked what they saw, and in the summer of 2003 they signed Kuyt as a replacement for the out-going Pierre Van Hooijdonk.
He notched up an impressive 22 goals during his first season in Rotterdam, though this was just a taste of things to come. In the opening game of 2004-05, Kuyt scored a hat-trick against De Graafschap. By the end of the campaign his tally had reached 36 - making him the country's top scorer.
International recognition was inevitable, and the marksman made his Holland debut under new coach Marco van Basten against Liechtenstein in September 2004. He scored his first international goal nine days later in a World Cup qualifier against Macedonia.
Back at the De Kuip Stadium, the Blonde Bombshell had become a firm fans' favourite and was handed the club captaincy before the 2005-06 season. The campaign saw him net another 25 goals and reach an incredible tally of 179 consecutive appearances since 2001. No wonder a host of Premiership clubs were circling.
Next up was the World Cup in Germany where he made three appearances - though much of his pitch time was spent on the right wing.
Following months of uncertainty over his future, Kuyt signed for Liverpool on August 18, 2006. He left Feyenoord with a record of 83 goals in 122 appearances.
The new boy made his debut as a substitute against West Ham at Anfield on August 26. Although he didn't score, his all-action style ensured nods of appreciation from the Kop.
The following week he returned to Holland after being named Dutch Player of the Year. The presentation was made by his late dad Gerrit, who was suffering from cancer.
Kuyt's first Liverpool goal came against Newcastle United on September 20, 2006, and he'd net a further 13 in his debut season.
Again the Dutchman was proving a hit with the fans, not least for his habit of applauding all four stands after each game.
The 2006-07 campaign ended with the Champions League final. Kuyt fired the winning penalty in the semi-final triumph over Chelsea and was rewarded with a starting place against AC Milan. It was he who scored the Reds' late consolation in Athens.
One of the No.18's finest moments in a red shirt arrived in October 2007 with a penalty brace at Goodison Park as Liverpool clinched a dramatic last-minute win over their bitter rivals.
This came just months after the death of his father, a personal tragedy which, by his own admission, impacted upon his game.
However, by the end of 2007-08 Kuyt had returned to top form, with priceless goals against Marseille, Inter Milan and Arsenal helping the Reds reach another Champions League semi-final. Defeat to Chelsea followed despite another goal in the Anfield leg to take his tally for the season to 11.
Such exploits made it impossible for van Basten to leave the Liverpool man out of his Euro 2008 squad, and he featured in all four of Holland's games until defeat to Russia.
By the start of 2008-09, Benitez had moulded the six footer into an indispensable right winger, from where he scored 15 times to help Liverpool take champions Manchester United right to the wire.
Kuyt carries out extensive charity work off the pitch. Most notably, he and his wife Gertrude set up the Dirk Kuyt Foundation to help disadvantaged children in his homeland and the Third World. One of the ways the foundation raises money is by selling DK-branded clothes.
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