Football
ESPN staff 9y

Feyenoord's Dirk Kuyt targets trophies to repay fans' 'warm welcome' back

Dirk Kuyt want to reward Feyenoord fans' faith with silverware after being treated to a huge reception in his first training session back with the club.

Kuyt, 36, who played for Feyenoord between 2003 and 2006, trained at the Varkenoord complex on Thursday for the first time since rejoining the Eredivisie club on a one-year deal.

Hundreds of fans turned up to greet the former Utrecht, Liverpool and Fenerbahce forward, and the ex-Netherlands international wants to repay their welcome with trophies.

"The welcome at Feyenoord was a very warm one in both senses of the word,' he told a news conference at the club's De Kuip stadium. "People were very appreciative and respectful when it was first announced that I would join Feyenoord.

"To also experience a first day of training like this, with so many people showing an interest, has an effect on you.

"One of the disappointing things from my first spell is that I never won a trophy. I certainly have the ambition to do that this time.

"Feyenoord's financially difficult period is behind it, and a very talented team has been put together. Last season, they showed that there's a lot of quality here -- not least against Roma, Sevilla and PSV [in the Europa League].

"It's just that the end of the season did not go as planned. This season the focus is on reproducing the performances in those good matches and keeping it going longer than last year."

The player -- who has been used as a forward, winger and full-back during his career -- has been handed his old No. 7 jersey by the club, and is confident he can still offer Feyenoord something on the pitch to improve on their fourth-placed finish last season.

"What's most important is leading the way on the field, as I tried to do in my first period," he added. "I've returned to Feyenoord full of ambition and I feel as strong as I ever have in the past."

Kuyt made 104 appearances for Netherlands, playing his final game at wing-back for the Oranje at the 2014 World Cup in the 3-0 third-place playoff victory over hosts Brazil.

The versatile player won the Turkish Super Lig with Fenerbahce in 2014, and finished as a runner-up in the 2010 World Cup.

He also finished as a runner-up with Liverpool in the Premier League (2009), Champions League (2007), FA Cup and League Cup (both 2012).

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