Liverpool’s recent hunt for a new assistant manager brought intrigue that a former player could return to Anfield.

There has been a fairly recent trend in football of high-profile retired players coming back to feature behind the scenes at their former clubs.

Following John Heitinga’s exit as Arne Slot’s number three, there was a feeling that this could potentially happen at Liverpool.

The main man in question was Dirk Kuyt, who enjoyed a six-year spell with the Reds in the mid to late 2000s.

Dirk Kuyt lands new managerial role	Federico Chiesa takes extra steps ahead of Liverpool return as transfer decision beckons	'Magnificent club': Liverpool coach confirms he has left his position 'earlier than expected' with emotional post

Kuyt was said to be ‘definitely in the mix‘ to take Heitinga’s place, with Slot having previously offered the 44-year-old a job as his assistant with AZ Alkmaar.

However, Kuyt’s former Netherlands teammate Giovanni van Bronckhorst ultimately won the race.

And with Van Bronckhorst soon set to start work with Liverpool, Kuyt has found himself a new job as a head coach.

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Although it would have been delightful to see Kuyt back at Liverpool under Slot, Van Bronckhorst is an exciting appointment nonetheless.

The former Barcelona defender has had a successful career as a head coach, winning the Eredivisie title with Feyenoord and reaching the Europa League final with Rangers.

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Kuyt, on the other hand, has had a fairly difficult transition to the dugout.

He was sacked after just 16 matches in his first role with ADO Den Haag, and although he took Beerschot to the Belgian top division, he was let go earlier this month having taken them back down again.

Now, Liverpool’s former No.

18 has landed at Dutch second division side FC Dordrecht.

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“FC Dordrecht has appointed Dirk Kuyt as its new head coach,” the club posted on their Instagram page on Friday.

“The 44-year-old from Katwijk signs a contract for one season, until mid-2026, and will start working at the Krommedijk immediately.”

You have to hand it to Kuyt.

After a career at the top of the game which took in a Champions League final and a World Cup final, he is really trying to make it work as a manager.

Plenty who have had a career like his in the game would have called it quits in management by now.

However, Kuyt was a determined and tenacious player and it seems he has the same approach to his time on the other side of the touchline.

Just as he did with ADO Den Haag and Beerschot, the 104-cap Netherlands international has now taken on a job at another second division side.

FC Dordrecht play in the Eerste Divisie, the second tier of Dutch football, where they finished fifth last season.

With their last spell in the Eredivisie coming in 2014/15, Kuyt has a big job on his hands to get the Sheep Heads back to the top.
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