European anniversary for Dirk Kuyt

Dirk Kuyt traded his first European Cup shirt with Fabio Cannavaro. Tomorrow, he’ll meet the Italian again, this time in his 50est game, against Real Madrid.

Kuyt: “My first European match was with FC Utrecht against the Austrian Grazer. A big thing for me and for the whole of Utrecht. It had been ten years since our last game, which was against Real Madrid by the way. Our return into Europe was tremendous. We won 3-0. That was something. In the return, they led 3-0 at half time, but in the second half I scored the 3-1 and we were through. The next game was against Parma. Not a bad side, then. I traded my shirt in that game for the first time, with Cannavaro. I collected many shirts since, but that one is special.”

Pick your best team for F**k sake, says the graffiti on the walls of Liverpool’s trainings complex. The fans are clear: stop that stupid roulation system. “There’s a lot of debate between our coach and the fans. They don’t get the roulation system. It’s February 2008. Liverpool plays a new system, with Kuyt on the right flank. The Reds win their game and Kuyt scores. “Not my most beautiful one, but still dear to me, because it settled me on that new spot. I’m a regular starter and goalscorer since that date.”

Kuyt is a relatively inexperienced CL player. His first game was in the autumn of 2006. Still, he holds a record, together with Cristiano Ronaldo. They are the only players to have scored in every round of the CL. Eto’o, Inzaghi and Steve Gerrard almost have their lists complete. “I’m proud of this statistic.

“My last two games in Europe with Feyenoord were a disaster. A low. We were ousted by Rapid Bukarest, and had to play in an empty Kuip. That was a UEFA punishment. Some idiots threw firecrackers at the goalie againt Lisbon a year before. After that match, I wanted to leave Feyenoord. I couldn’t stand it that so-called supporters would ruin it for my club. I scored against Rapid in an empty stadium. It doesn’t get more pathetic.”

In May 2007, Kuyt lost the CL finals against AC Milan. The striker did score, in the last minutes, the 2-1. “My first CL goal ever in the bloody finals! And it was worthless. Well, in a sports sense. Personally, it was a great goal for me, since it was the last one my dad would see… He died later and that match and goal are still special…”

Kuyt and Liverpool reached the finals through penalties against Chelsea. Kuyt scored the winner.

He’ll play his 31st CL game tonight, out of a potential number of 34. He was rested twice and suspended once.