The decision will inevitably cause concern to Reds fans though, many of whom were hoping the prolific striker would choose Anfield as his next home. But Kuyt said he was delighted his new found role.
"I found it important to know how the team would stand against the decision. After all the intention is that the leadership within the squad won't come to rest on the shoulders of one man, but that we do it together. That's why I first thought about it, before I accepted the offer," he told the club website.
He added, "I'm 24-years-old. That’s a pretty young age to be captain of Feyenoord. But I think that I could be a good captain. The last two seasons I have played all the games for Feyenoord. This maybe comes at the right moment.''
And Erwin Koeman, Feyenoord boss, said it was an easy decision to make.
''Dirk is a lad who is a leader within the team. Besides he is popular with his team-mates, crowd and press. It was a logical choice to make him captain," he told the club website.