Ruud van Nistelrooy

Dutch striker who dominated European football and became the Netherlands' top Champions League scorer.

Rutgerus Johannes Martinus van Nistelrooij (born 1 July 1976), commonly known by his anglicised name of Ruud van Nistelrooy, is a Dutch professional football manager and former player. He is currently working as an assistant coach of the Netherlands national football team. Widely regarded as one of the best strikers of his generation, Van Nistelrooy was the top scorer in three UEFA Champions League seasons and is the all-time Dutch top goalscorer in the competition's history with 56 goals. He has also been the top scorer in three European domestic leagues. In 2004, he was listed in the FIFA 100 of the world's greatest living players.

Quick Facts

Full name: Rutgerus Johannes Martinus van Nistelrooij
Born: 1 July 1976
Birthplace: Oss, Netherlands
Height: 1.88 m / 6 ft 2 in
Position: Striker
Total caps: 449
Total goals: 249

Lore & Background

Van Nistelrooy began his career with Den Bosch, before moving onto Heerenveen, eventually making a name for himself at PSV Eindhoven, where he won two Eredivisie titles. His goalscoring record at PSV attracted attention from Manchester United; a deal was in place in the summer of 2000, but because of injury problems, his move was secured a year later for a then British record fee of £19 million. His time at United was successful, winning the Premier League, FA Cup, Football League Cup, and FA Community Shield, along with winning the Sir Matt Busby Player of the Year twice.

Van Nistelrooy scored 150 goals in just 219 games for United, as well as becoming at the time their all-time European record goalscorer, but fell out of favour towards the end of his tenure. Real Madrid secured Van Nistelrooy's services in 2006. Although an injury blighted the end of his days with Madrid, he won La Liga twice and the Supercopa de España before signing for Hamburger SV during the January transfer window in 2010. After one and a half seasons with Hamburg, he moved back to Spain with Málaga in the summer of 2011.

He retired as a player in 2012. Internationally, Van Nistelrooy represented the Netherlands on 70 occasions, netting 35 times. He was part of the Euro 2004, 2006 World Cup, and Euro 2008 squads.

Reader's Guide

Van Nistelrooy started his career in 1993, aged 17, with Dutch Eerste Divisie side Den Bosch, where he was converted from a central midfielder to centre-forward. After netting 12 goals in 31 games in the 1996–97 campaign, he transferred for €360,000 to Heerenveen the next year, and scored 13 goals in 31 matches in his only season with the club. He was signed by PSV Eindhoven ahead of the 1998–99 season for €6.3 million. He scored 31 goals in 34 matches, the highest season total in the Eredivisie and second-highest in Europe overall.

He won the Dutch Player of the Year award. The following season, he won his second Eredivisie scoring title with 29 goals. A transfer to Manchester United in summer 2000 was postponed due to fitness concerns, then cancelled after PSV refused further medical tests; the next day he suffered a rupture to his anterior cruciate knee ligaments during training. A year later, he signed a five-year contract with Manchester United.

He made his debut in the Charity Shield against Liverpool, scoring in a 2–1 loss. In his first season, he netted 23 goals in 32 league games, broke the record for scoring in eight consecutive league games, scored ten Champions League goals, and was named PFA Players' Player of the Year. The following season, he finished as the top Premier League scorer with 25 goals in 34 games, winning the Golden Boot and the Premier League Player of the Season.

He scored 12 Champions League goals in nine consecutive matches and was named by UEFA as the best striker in Europe. In 2003–04, he scored in 10 consecutive league games, then a Premier League record. He scored his 100th goal for the club in a 4–3 victory over Everton on 7 February 2004. He scored twice in the 2004 FA Cup Final.

In 2004–05, he scored a Champions League-best eight goals, including his 30th career European goal, overtaking Denis Law's previous club record of 28 goals. He scored all four goals in a 4–1 win against Sparta Prague on 3 November 2004. At the start of 2005–06, he scored in United's first four Premier League games.