Dirk Kuyt: “I demand a lot of myself, just as I always did as a player”
This interview with Dirk Kuyt took place during his early period as head coach of Beerschot, as he was building a new chapter in Antwerp after a career shaped by hard work, leadership, and resilience. Looking back, the conversation captures a former player who is still drawn to pressure and purpose, while reflecting more openly on rest, identity and life beyond the pitch.
The Dirk Kuyt Interview
At this stage of his career, Dirk Kuyt is no longer the tireless winger or emergency striker people remember from Feyenoord, Liverpool and the Netherlands. Yet, the same themes still define him: discipline, responsibility, and the need to keep moving forward. In Antwerp, he sounds at home in a city that reflects much of what has always suited him.
”Those cities attract certain type of people. Hard workers. No-nonsense. People who keep both feet on the ground and who do not stop working hard after success in order to reach the next ideals.”
A New Life in Antwerp
As Beerschot coach, Kuyt had found a different rhythm in Belgium. After a difficult spell at ADO Den Haag, Antwerp offered something calmer and more fitting for this stage of his development. He speaks warmly about the city, its atmosphere and the way life there differs from the Netherlands.
”Antwerp is said to be the most Dutch city in Belgium. It is beautiful there.”
What stands out is not just his appreciation of the place, but the sense that he needed it. Belgium, in his words, felt “more easy-going” and “softer”, especially compared to the intensity with which coaches are treated in the Netherlands. That contrast seems to have given him room to work, reflect and grow into the role more naturally.
Starting Too Quickly
Kuyt also speaks with honesty about how quickly he moved into coaching after retiring as a player. In hindsight, he feels he gave himself too little time to breathe. The fear of the so-called black hole pushed him straight into new responsibilities, before he had really stepped away from the pace of football.
”I should have given myself more time and rest, but I was only busy doing things. Getting my coaching badges and immediately working in the Feyenoord academy. I was afraid of that notorious black hole.”
That self-awareness gives the interview extra weight. Kuyt is not romantic about his transition into management. He understands now that stepping away for a while might have helped, but he also makes clear that he has always needed a goal to work on towards.
Still Searching for that Feeling
One of the most revealing parts of the conversation comes when Kuyt reflects on the feeling that football gives you before and during matches. Speaking about a trip with Life After Football and several former players, he describes the shared search for what he calls that “substance”. He refers to the rush that comes with competition, pressure and performance.
”We are all actually looking for that substance. The substance that is released before and during matches. I love that tension around matches.”
That line says a lot about Kuyt. Even after retirement, he is still drawn to the build-up, the nerves and the responsibility of having to deliver. Coaching, for him, is the closest thing to that old feeling. It may not be the same as playing, but it still gives him a thrill and sense of purpose.
Pressure as Part of the Job
Kuyt does not deny the cost of coaching. He knows the profession is unstable, demanding and mentally consuming. But instead of avoiding that pressure, he almost welcomes it. Just as he once pushed his body as a player, he now pushes his mind as a manager.
”Coaches are sacked on average after around seven months. I know all of that, but I still want to feel that pressure. I put that on myself as well. I demand a lot of myself, just as I always did as a player.”
That pressure now shows up differently. As he explains, his body no longer does the work, but his head never really stops. Match plans, player development and tactical choices follow him constantly. At the same time, he has learnt that rest matters too, and that stepping away from football now and then is necessary to stay sharp.
Leadership Learned from the Best
Leadership remains one of the clearest threads running through Kuyt’s story. By the end of his playing career, he had become one of Feyenoord’s senior figures, but he is quick to point to the players from whom he learnt most. Above all, one name stands out: Steven Gerrard.
”But the best leader I ever experienced is Steven Gerrard.”
Kuyt’s description of Gerrard is revealing because it also reflects the kind of leadership he values himself. Not empty shouting or status, but standards, consistency and example. Gerrard, he says, led through what he did every day, and that kind of quiet authority clearly left a lasting impression on him. Kuyt sees similar leadership qualities in players around him now, which shows how closely he still studies dressing-room dynamics in his work as a coach.
Always Working Towards the Next Thing
What comes through most strongly in this interview is that Kuyt has never really been someone who stands still. Whether as a player or a coach, he is driven by ideals, structure and the need to feel that something is at stake. Even when commercial work or television offered a more comfortable life, he knew it was not enough.
”If I had no ideals, I would do something else.”
That may be the line that defines him best. Dirk Kuyt has always been associated with work ethic, but this conversation shows that it goes deeper than effort alone. It is about meaning, pressure and always having a reason to keep pushing forward.
Check out Dirk Kuyt’s Hall of Fame profile here!
Ready for more?
If you want to read more interviews with players, check out our article on the interview with Arjen Robben during his peak at Bayern Munich.
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