Dirk Kuyt: The hero, never the star

Dirk Kuyt was never a very glamorous player, both on and off the field. He didn’t command the spotlight as so many football players do, and from the looks of it, he didn’t want to either. He donated a part of his salary to his foundation’s charitable efforts, which comes as a contrast to the way we see most footballers live their lives through tabloids. There was an unbelievable humility surrounding him, a decorum with which he always carried himself.

It must be considered just how stressful it is to stand in the six-yard-box in the dying embers of the game, but Kuyt displayed his professionalism and reliability as he ensured Liverpool got a point from the game.

Despite all his gallantry, Kuyt never truly escalated to the level where he was regarded as a “legend” for the club, at least unanimously. Perhaps it was because he didn’t get as many goals. After coming in with the reputation of a “goalscorer” as his three seasons at Feyenoord had yielded an impressive 83 goals in 122 games, the anticipation was high that he would be as prolific. However, he never ended up scoring as much for the Reds. That can be put down to different reasons including his employment in different positions through his time. At a club which has seen the likes of Kenny Dalglish, Ian Rush, and recently Luis Suarez and Steven Gerrard don the famous Red shirt, Kuyt doesn’t usually elicit a mention in the same breath, but all his other qualities have ensured his name is firmly imprinted with one of the most honourable labels there can be - he was, and is, a “cult hero”. Like Manchester United’s Ole Gunnar Solskjaer, Chelsea’s Jimmy Hasselbaink and Arsenal’s Ray Parlour, Dirk Kuyt is fondly remembered by the Kop faithful for his immense contribution he made in the club’s interest.

A quality that endeared him further to the fans was that he looked like he had worked immensely hard to come where he had. It wasn’t necessarily a god-gifted skill and something which he took for granted. He was genuine in everything he did, and even his celebrations were heartening and didn’t seem flashy. He was always more a hero than a star.

Brendan Rodgers, who ironically was the manager who ended up selling the player to Fenerbahce, was infamous for his overuse of the word ‘character’ — a quality he sought from his players. Dirk Kuyt was the personification of this quality. The character he displayed on the pitch, the dirty work, all the running (to and fro), the sheer effort he put in is what encapsulated the 'character' that any player should aspire for. He had the right attitude, he possessed the application and he had the determination to win. There may have been plenty of players with more flair than Kuyt, but you need someone like him who can be the heart of the team.

(Also Read: Thank you, Brendan Rodgers, for this mediocrity – A Liverpool fan’s lament)