Dirk Kuyt Bio

Kuyt was seen as one of the best strikers in Europe after dominating the Dutch League with Feyenoord, where he scored 71 goals in 101 games, but has reverted back to winger during his time at Liverpool.

It was his prolific record as a striker that persuaded Liverpool to part with £9million for the Holland international's services in August 2006 but he became a peripheral figure, thanks in part to Rafa's rotation system, until he was shunted out to the right wing for the 2007/08 season.

His assets as a quick and strong player, with an excellent work-rate meant he revelled in his role on the flank and played an important role for Liverpool.

He finished the season with 11 goals and seven assists in 36 starts and his ability to play in a more reserved role persuaded Dutch manager Marco Van Basten to include Kuyt in his squad for Euro 2008.

Kuyt had made his international debut in Van Basten's first game as manager against Liechtenstein in September 2004.

The Dutch forward began his career aged 5 as a youth player with Quick Boys, he broke into the first team in 1998 where he soon caught the eye of Eredivise side FC Utrecht.

Aged 18, he signed professionally for the club that summer and immediately established himself as a first-team player, although more on the wing than as a striker.

However, in 2002/03 season, Utrecht got a new coach in Foeke Booy, who converted Kuyt into a striker. Kuyt repaid the coach's faith in him with 20 goals that season, helping the side to a Dutch Cup win over Feyenoord, where he turned in a Man of the Match performance in the 4-1 win.

At the end of the season though, Kuyt's potential was noted by Feyenoord, who snapped him up for only £1million to replace Pierre Van Hooijdonk.

His first season at Feyenoord saw him break 20 goals again, and he ended the season as the Eredivisie's top scorer with 29 goals - a career high.

Summer 2005 saw him recognised as a top striker, and he was linked with moves to Tottenham Hotspur and Liverpool, but no transfer materialised. In a bid to keep him, Kuyt was handed the club captaincy and he went on to net 25 goals in all competitions.

A year later though, Kuyt made the move away from Holland and signed for Liverpool for a fee of around £9million.

Despite being something of an easy going character Kuyt generally raises his game on the big stage. He scored the winning penalty in the 2007 Champions League semi-final shoot-out against Chelsea, and scored the consolation goal in the Reds' 2-1 defeat to AC Milan in the final.