For 18 years – 18 long years – Feyenoord had gone without the Dutch title.
In that time, the Rotterdam club’s supporters had watched on as the Netherlands’ other big two clubs, PSV Eindhoven (nine) and Ajax (six) had won 15 Eredivisie titles between them. Even the likes of AZ Alkmaar and FC Twente had been Dutch champions more recently than the former European Cup winners.
But on Sunday afternoon, their near-two decade wait for league glory came to an end.
Feyenoord were one point clear of Ajax entering the final day of the season and knew that a win at home to Heracles would be enough to seal the title regardless of what their great rivals from Amsterdam did in their game away at Willem II.
Absolute scenes https://t.co/zb63rGSacZ
— FootballJOE (@FootballJOE) May 14, 2017
Inspired by a 36-year-old Dirk Kuyt, Feyenoord won 3-1. The former Liverpool man, who returned to the club in 2015, sealed the title by scoring all three goals, the second of which bringing about this reaction from supporters watching the game outside of the ground.
Incredible scenes🙌
The Feyenoord fans celebrating the second of three Dirk Kuyt goals in their title winning game⚽
🎥 @Feyenoord pic.twitter.com/T8LsiQc6q7
— Empire of the Kop (@empireofthekop) May 14, 2017
Clearly, this was an emotional day for Kuyt, who had spent three years with Feyenoord before his 2006 move to Anfield.
With seconds remaining in the match and the title all but confirmed, cameras were trained on him as the full-time whistle approached. Looking visibly moved by the occasion, Kuyt can be seen dropping to his knees as the referee eventually brings the game to an end. After being mobbed by his teammates, Kuyt breaks away from them and makes his way towards the stands, celebrating the moment with the club’s supporters.
Dirk Kuyt😭😭😭😭😭 RT @101greatgoals: The moment Feyenoord won the Dutch title for the first time in 18 years 🏆🏆🏆 pic.twitter.com/TIz1tr2hyn
— Tumi (@tumza_45) May 14, 2017
A lovely moment.
