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Dirk Kuyt at Feyenoord: Ex-Liverpool man revelling in role as De Kuip hero

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Feyenoord forward Dirk Kuyt is back 'home' in Rotterdam and searching for silverware, writes Adam Bate.

Think of Dirk Kuyt and words such as workmanlike, commitment and effort are likely to spring to mind. Former manager Rafael Benitez used to call him Mr Duracell. Louis van Gaal played him at left wing-back, right-back and centre forward - and that was just one game. He does a job for the team. You wouldn't be totally shocked to find him taking the kit home for a clean.

However, just try selling this functional image of Kuyt to the Feyenoord fans at De Kuip. The 35-year-old Dutchman has returned to the Rotterdam club and it's difficult to imagine any returning hero would have experienced such warmth emanating from the famous old stadium.

Feyenoord players, including Dirk Kuyt, walk on the pitch during the team's presentation to supporters on an Open Day at De Kuip on July 19, 2015
Image: Kuyt enjoys a great relationship with the Feyenoord fans at De Kuip

Firstly, there was the video that went viral of Kuyt presenting his children with Feyenoord kits and thus heralding his return. Their excitement was shared by the crowd of thousands that greeted him upon his arrival – in a helicopter painted in Feyenoord colours, naturally.

Three games in and the fairy tale continues. Kuyt has scored in all of them. Penalties one and all, with the first of them, the 200th league goal of his career, even sparking a frenzy among photographers as they scrapped for the perfect shot of the moment.

So why the fuss? Well, Kuyt's record at the club is remarkable. He scored 20 or more goals in each of his three seasons with Feyenoord. In fact, including his preceding year with FC Utrecht, he is the last man to reach the 20-goal mark in four consecutive Eredivisie seasons.

 Dirk Kuyt
Image: The 35-year-old Kuyt has taken the captaincy on his return to Feyenoord

That period in his career earned him a move to Liverpool and a new bond was forged. But Feyenoord stayed with him. The other half of his 'K2' partnership at the club, Salomon Kalou, expressed it in firm terms in 2012 as follows: "K2 loves De Kuip. Really, you know."

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For Kuyt, Feyenoord is where he belongs. "I'm coming home after the summer and I can't wait to play again in De Kuip," he said, quoted in De Telegraaf. "Feyenoord have always been a draw. We talked about a return when I left Liverpool but it didn't happen."

After a three-year sojourn in Turkey with Fenerbahce, he is finally back, armed with a one-year contract, the club captaincy and the trust of his coach – former international team-mate Giovanni van Bronckhorst.

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At 35, sober judges might suggest Kuyt is past his best. Don't be so sure. This is a man who used to have a healer called Henk de Gier fly in from Holland and perform a move ominously known as "the shaker" to get him loose again. And besides, he's got unfinished business.

"One of the disappointing things from my first spell is that I never won a trophy," added Kuyt. "I certainly have the ambition to do that this time. Feyenoord's financially difficult period is behind it, and a very talented team has been put together."

Talent is one thing but Kuyt brings far more to a team both on and off the field. Van Gaal recognised that as his unfancied Netherlands team progressed to the semi-finals in Brazil last summer. It takes a lot to unite Van Gaal with Johan Cruyff but Kuyt can do that.

ROTTERDAM, NETHERLANDS:  PSV Eindhoven's Alex (R) duels with Feyenoord's Dirk Kuyt (R) during their match in the Dutch premier league 12 December 2004
Image: Kuyt in action against PSV defender Alex in an Eredivisie game in 2004

"Robben might be the star, Sneijder might be the tragic hero who has sacrificed himself but the symbol of this team is Dirk Kuyt," said Cruyff. "You're blessed as a team when you have someone like him walking around. With Kuyt you can, at a tactical level, go in all directions."

The direction Feyenoord are heading this weekend is south and a 70 mile trip to Eindhoven. PSV provides the first major test. But Kuyt has history having scored the only goal the last time he faced them at De Kuip. He couldn't, could he? Never write off Dirk Kuyt.

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