Dutch international forward Dirk Kuyt announced on Saturday he was calling time on his career with the Oranje after a decade playing for the national side.
The 34-year-old Fenerbahe player has 104 caps for the Netherlands, scoring 28 goals since his debut in September 2004.
"I no longer have the desire to play so infrequently while investing a lot of energy in the Netherlands for two more years," Kuyt said in a statement published by the Dutch Football Federation (KNVB).
"I've taken this decision after some very good and open discussions with the national coach (Guus Hiddink)," he added.
The former Feyenoord and Liverpool player was a member of the Dutch team that were runners-up at the 2010 World Cup and third at the 2014 tournament in Brazil.
Kuyt will however remain at the disposal of the Oranje "in case of emergency," the statement said.
"This could give rise to a situation like Edwin van der Sar in 2008, who had left the national side but still played two games because of the large number of injuries," the KNVB said.
Known as a versatile and reliable player, Kuyt started his career as a forward, moving into a winger's position, and during the World Cup in Brazil he played mostly as a left back.
AFP
source: newshub archive
