Liverpool favourite Dirk Kuyt set for first senior managerial role

The former Liverpool forward retired in 2017 and is now set to kick-off his managerial career in the Eredivisie with a formal presentation already organised for later this week

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Liverpool cult hero Dirk Kuyt is reportedly set to take his first venture into management with Dutch outfit ADO Den Haag.

The former forward retired from football in 2017 with Feyenoord – only making a brief return to the game with amateur outfit Quick Boys a year later – and for a time also coached the Feyenoord under-19 side. He left that role over a year ago, citing the opportunity to build on his managerial experience as a factor in his departure.

However, he now appears to be closing in on a return with reports in the Netherlands stating that the 41-year-old is now set for his first coaching role. According to AD, he will be announced as the new manager of Eredivisie outfit ADO Den Hag, with a formal presentation organised for Thursday.

The club’s general manager Edwin Reijntjes has confirmed that talks have already taken place with the former Red. He said: “I do not deny that Dirk Kuyt has been spoken to. I can also say that there will be a press conference here this week in which the new coach will be presented.”

Kuyt is set to take over a side stuck in the second-tier of Dutch football. They suffered relegation to the Eerste Divisie at the end of the 2020/21 season, finishing fourth in the division this term.

They reached the third round of the promotion playoffs but lost to Excelsior on penalties following a 4-4 draw on aggregate. The side will now attempt to earn promotion once again under Kuyt as he ventures into management for the first time.

Will Dirk Kuyt prove to be a good manager? Have your say in the comments below.

The Dutchman first arrived on English shores in 2006 in a move from Feyenoord to Liverpool. He made 286 appearances for the Merseyside outfit during a six-year spell at Anfield, helping the club to a League Cup. Meanwhile, Kuyt also managed to accumulate 104 appearances for the Netherlands national team throughout his playing career.

Whilst he has opted to take the reins with Den Haag, he has previously admitted that he would jump at the chance to become Steven Gerrard ’s assistant should the former midfielder be appointed manager at Anfield.

Speaking with Ziggo Sport, he said: “I think it would be great if Steven Gerrard went on to manage Liverpool. He is a child of the club, and he spent his entire playing career with Liverpool.

“Hopefully, he will go on to experience similar levels of success as a manager. I get on very well with him, and we are still in contact with one another from time to time.

“If he wanted me to be his assistant, I would like that a lot. In principle I see myself going on to work as a head coach, but there are always exceptions. And this would certainly be one of them.”