Ruud van Nistelrooy

From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

Jump to: navigation, search
Ruud van Nistelrooy
Personal information
Full name Rutgerus Johannes Martinius van Nistelrooy
Date of birth July 1, 1976 (1976-07-01) (age 31)
Place of birth    Oss, Netherlands
Height 1.88 m (6 ft 2 in)
Playing position Striker
Club information
Current club Real Madrid
Number 17
Senior clubs1
Years Club App (Gls)*
1993–1997
1997–1998
1998–2001
2001–2006
2006–
Den Bosch
Heerenveen
PSV
Manchester United
Real Madrid
Total
069 (17)
031 (13)
067 (62)
150 (95)
061 (41)
378 (262)   
National team2
1998– Netherlands 059 (30)

1 Senior club appearances and goals
counted for the domestic league only and
correct as of 22:21, 18 May 2008 (UTC).
2 National team caps and goals correct
as of 18 November 2007.
* Appearances (Goals)

Rutgerus Johannes Martinius "Ruud" van Nistelrooy (originally spelled van Nistelrooij) (born 1 July 1976 in Oss, North Brabant) is a Dutch footballer who plays as a centre forward for Real Madrid and is a member of the Netherlands national football team. He previously starred for Manchester United, where he holds the record for being the club's top scorer in European competition, despite having only played for them for five seasons.

He has been the top scorer in three different European leagues as well as having been the top goal scorer in the UEFA Champions League on three occasions.

Contents

[edit] Club career

[edit] The Netherlands

Van Nistelrooy started his professional career in 1993 with Dutch second division side FC Den Bosch, where he was converted from a central defender to centre forward after playing part-time for Nooit Gedacht and Magriet. After netting 12 goals in 31 games in the 1996-97 campaign, he transferred for €350.000 to SC Heerenveen the next year, and scored thirteen goals in 31 matches in his only season with the club. He was then signed by PSV Eindhoven the next season for €6.3 million, a then-record transfer sum between two Dutch teams.

He scored an impressive 31 goals in 34 matches, the highest season total in the Eredivisie and second-highest in Europe overall, in addition to scoring all three of PSV's goals in a Champions League match against HJK Helsinki on November 25, 1998. Van Nistelrooy capped off the year by winning the Dutch Player of the Year award. In his second season at the club, he had netted another 29 goals and again finished with the Eredivisie scoring title.

Just days after an £18.5 million transfer to Manchester United in the summer of 2000 was shelved after United's medical staff had found problems with his medial ligaments, Van Nistelrooy suffered a knee injury during a training session. When the transaction was finalized in April 2001, United were forced to pay PSV an additional £500,000 for the player's services. After he successfully passed a medical, Van Nistelrooy joined Manchester United for a total of £19 million, and signed a five-year contract with the then reigning Premier League champions.[1]

[edit] Manchester United

During his first season, van Nistelrooy scored 23 goals in 32 league games, ending the year on a league-record eight-game consecutive scoring streak. He also scored ten Champions League goals, and ended his debut season by being named the PFA Players' Player of the Year, scoring 36 goals in the process. Van Nistelrooy held the record for most goals in a debut season in the English Premier League (23) until Fernando Torres of Liverpool broke his record by scoring his 24th on the last day of the 2007/8 season.

In the 2002-03 season, van Nistelrooy scored 44 goals in 52 games in all competitions. He scored 12 Champions League goals in 10 games, as well as two in Champions League qualifying. He was the leading scorer in the Premier League scoring 25 goals in 34 games, including three hat-tricks, and he ended the season with another eight-game scoring streak.[2]

Van Nistelrooy started the 2003–04 season by scoring twice in his first two league games, which boosted his consecutive-games record to ten. He scored his 100th and 101st goals for the club in a 4–3 victory over Everton F.C. on February 7, 2004, while also breaking Denis Law's European club goalscoring record.[3]

He missed a large part of the 2004–05 season due to injury, but nonetheless scored a Champions League-best eight goals despite Manchester United's elimination in the knockout stage by A.C. Milan. He is currently the third-highest European scorer in the UEFA Champions League, behind Raúl and Andriy Shevchenko, with 57 goals.

At the start of the 2005–06 season, van Nistelrooy scored in United's first four Premiership games. He went on to finish as the second-highest scorer in the Premiership with 21 goals, behind Thierry Henry of Arsenal.

The Dutchman struck 100 goals in his first three seasons in Manchester, and overtook Denis Law's title as the club's all-time top scorer in European competition in his fourth term, and by the end of his fifth year at Old Trafford he'd reached 150 goals in fewer than 200 starts.

[edit] Exit from Manchester United

van Nistelrooy against Chelsea in April 2006.
van Nistelrooy against Chelsea in April 2006.

Van Nistelrooy was an unused substitute in the League Cup final against Wigan Athletic, fueling speculation of a rift between him and Ferguson, which van Nistelrooy denied. He was nonetheless left on the bench for six consecutive league matches, and though he then returned to the starting lineup and scored match-winners against West Ham United and Bolton Wanderers F.C., his earlier lack of playing time enabled Henry to overtake him as the Premiership's leading scorer. Fresh doubt spread over van Nistelrooy's future when he was benched for the season finale against Charlton Athletic, won 4-0 by United. Ferguson claimed that van Nistelrooy was angry at the decision and left the stadium three hours before kick-off.

On 9 May 2006, Setanta Sports reported that van Nistelrooy's exclusion from the squad was due to a training-session fight between him and teammate Cristiano Ronaldo. Van Nistelrooy allegedly criticised Ronaldo's tendency to hold onto the ball instead of passing to his teammates, which sparked the fight, after which the Dutch international remarked, "Go crying to your daddy." The article claimed that this was not a reference to Ronaldo's father (who had died earlier in the season), but to United's Portuguese assistant coach Carlos Queiroz.[4] Both players have since denied that the incident ever took place.

Van Nistelrooy signed with La Liga side Real Madrid C.F. on July 14, 2006, departing Manchester United after five seasons with a total of 150 goals in 200 starts and nineteen substitute appearances, as well as the club's all-time European scoring mark with 38 goals.

[edit] Real Madrid

Van Nistelrooy with team-mates celebrating a goal against Bayern Munich
Van Nistelrooy with team-mates celebrating a goal against Bayern Munich

On 14 July 2006, Ferguson confirmed that van Nistelrooy wanted to leave Manchester United, and Real Madrid announced on 27 July 2006 that van Nistelrooy was transferring to Real (there had been speculation about a possible move to Bayern Munich).[5] His transfer fee was reported to be €18 million (£12.3m), and he signed a 3-year contract with the club on 28 July.

[edit] 2006–2007 season

In his second match in the Spanish Primera División, van Nistelrooy scored a hat-trick against newly promoted Levante UD. He scored two goals on a Real Madrid 5-1 win over Dynamo Kyiv in the first group stage of the UEFA Champions League. During the el clasico match on 22 October 2006, van Nistelrooy scored seven minutes into the second half to help defeat league champions FC Barcelona. On 12 November 2006, he scored all four of Real Madrid's goals in a 4-1 win against CA Osasuna.

Real Madrid went on to win the 2006/2007 La Liga title on the final day of the season. Van Nistelrooy finished top scorer in his first season with the club with 25 goals, and equalling the longest consecutive scoring streak in La Liga history by hitting the target in seven straight matches; a feat only achieved by Hugo Sanchez.[6]

[edit] 2007–2008 Season

Van Nistelrooy getting off a plane with Real Madrid
Van Nistelrooy getting off a plane with Real Madrid

Van Nistelrooy scored his first league goal for the new season against Villarreal CF that got Real Madrid in first place in the league for the defending champions. On 18 September Van Nistelrooy scored the winning goal against Werder Bremen, as well as setting up a Raúl header in the 16th minute, to give Real Madrid the 3 points of the group stages in the UEFA Champions League. On October 3, 2007, he scored two goals against Lazio in the second match in the group stages. Against Levante, van Nistelrooy scored two goals in the last 15 minutes giving Real Madrid three more points. In March 2008, van Nistelrooy underwent surgery to repair his ankle[7]. He made his return in the El Clásico match on 07 May 2008, scoring a penalty two minutes after coming on as a substitute[8].

Van Nistelrooy extended his current contract until 2010, keeping him in the Spanish capital until one day before his 34th birthday.[9] Despite an injury-plagued season, the striker managed to score 20 goals in 32 appearances in 2007-08.

In 2007, Van Nistelrooy was selected as a nominee for the FIFA World Player of the Year.[10]

[edit] National team

In Euro 2004 van Nistelrooy and the Czech Republic's Milan Baroš were the only players to score in all three group stage matches.

Van Nistelrooy played in the 2006 World Cup, for which he served as the official FIFA/SOS ambassador.[11] He was substituted in all three group stage matches, and scored against the Ivory Coast. He was dropped for the Netherlands' knockout stage loss against Portugal.

Van Nistelrooy training with the Netherlands
Van Nistelrooy training with the Netherlands

Netherlands coach Marco van Basten left van Nistelrooy off the squad for a friendly against the Republic of Ireland.[12] Dirk Kuyt replaced van Nistelrooy in their next match against Portugal.[13] After Klaas-Jan Huntelaar was injured and unavailable for upcoming Euro 2008 qualifiers against Bulgaria and Belarus, van Nistelrooy rejected van Basten's request to take his place on the roster.

Van Nistelrooy in Germany during the World Cup.
Van Nistelrooy in Germany during the World Cup.

On 23 January 2007, van Nistelrooy announced his retirement from international football.[14] However, he has been quoted as saying he would like to represent the Netherlands at the 2008 Summer Olympics in Beijing. However, after several phone conversations, van Nistelrooy and van Basten restored the peace between them and the latter announced on 25 May 2007, that van Nistelrooy would return to the Oranje and that they would work together again.[15][16] Confirming this fact, van Nistelrooy was among the 33-player provisional squad, and then confirmed among the 20-player definitive squad, for a friendly match between the Netherlands and Switzerland, which took place on 22 August 2007.[17][18] On September 8, 2007, Van Nistelrooy scored in his first competitive international match back from retirement in the Euro 2008 Qualifying 2-0 home win over Bulgaria[19], and only four days later scored the winning goal in injury time of the Netherlands's away clash with Albania.

Van Nistelrooy was named by Pelé as one of the top 125 greatest living footballers in March 2004.[20]


International goals[21]
# Date Venue Opponent Score Result Competition
1 1999-04-28 Gelredome, Arnhem, Netherlands Flag of Morocco Morocco 1-2 1-2 Friendly
2 2001-04-25 Philips Stadion, Eindhoven, Netherlands Flag of Cyprus Cyprus 4-0 4-0 2002 FIFA World Cup qualification
3 2001-04-15 Lilleküla Stadium, Tallinn, Estonia Flag of Estonia Estonia 2-2 2-4 2002 FIFA World Cup qualification
4 2001-04-15 Lilleküla Stadium, Tallinn, Estonia Flag of Estonia Estonia 2-3 2-4 2002 FIFA World Cup qualification
5 2001-08-15 White Hart Lane, London, England Flag of England England 0-2 0-2 Friendly
6 2005-04-06 Philips Stadion, Eindhoven, Netherlands Flag of Estonia Estonia 5-0 5-0 2002 FIFA World Cup qualification
7 2001-10-06 Gelredome, Arnhem, Netherlands Flag of Andorra Andorra 3-0 4-0 2002 FIFA World Cup qualification
8 2001-10-06 Gelredome, Arnhem, Netherlands Flag of Andorra Andorra 4-0 4-0 2002 FIFA World Cup qualification
9 2002-11-20 Arena Auf Schalke, Gelsenkirchen, Germany Flag of Germany Germany 1-3 1-3 Friendly match
10 2006-03-29 De Kuip, Rotterdam, Netherlands Flag of the Czech Republic Czech Republic 1-0 1-1 UEFA Euro 2004 Qualifying
11 2003-04-02 Sheriff Stadium, Tiraspol, Moldova Flag of Moldova Moldova 1-1 1-2 UEFA Euro 2004 Qualifying
12 2003-11-19 Amsterdam ArenA, Amsterdam, Netherlands Flag of Scotland Scotland 3-0 6-0 UEFA Euro 2004 Qualifying
13 2003-11-19 Amsterdam ArenA, Amsterdam, Netherlands Flag of Scotland Scotland 4-0 6-0 UEFA Euro 2004 Qualifying
14 2003-11-19 Amsterdam ArenA, Amsterdam, Netherlands Flag of Scotland Scotland 6-0 6-0 UEFA Euro 2004 Qualifying
15 2004-06-15 Estádio do Dragão, Porto, Portugal Flag of Germany Germany 1-1 1-1 UEFA Euro 2004
16 2004-06-19 Estádio Municipal de Aveiro, Aveiro, Portugal Flag of the Czech Republic Czech Republic 2-0 2-3 UEFA Euro 2004
17 2004-06-23 Estádio Municipal de Braga, Braga, Portugal Flag of Latvia Latvia 1-0 3-0 UEFA Euro 2004
18 2004-06-23 Estádio Municipal de Braga, Braga, Portugal Flag of Latvia Latvia 2-0 3-0 UEFA Euro 2004
19 2004-10-13 Amsterdam ArenA, Amsterdam, Netherlands Flag of Finland Finland 2-1 3-1 2006 FIFA World Cup qualification
20 2004-10-13 Amsterdam ArenA, Amsterdam, Netherlands Flag of Finland Finland 3-1 3-1 2006 FIFA World Cup qualification
21 2005-03-30 Philips Stadion, Eindhoven, Netherlands Flag of Armenia Armenia 2-0 2-0 2006 FIFA World Cup qualification
22 2005-06-08 Helsinki Olympic Stadium, Helsinki, Finland Flag of Finland Finland 0-1 0-4 2006 FIFA World Cup qualification
23 2005-09-03 Hanrapetakan Stadium, Yerevan, Armenia Flag of Armenia Armenia 0-1 0-1 2006 FIFA World Cup qualification
24 2005-09-07 Philips Stadion, Eindhoven, Netherlands Flag of Andorra Andorra 3-0 4-0 2006 FIFA World Cup qualification
25 2005-09-07 Philips Stadion, Eindhoven, Netherlands Flag of Andorra Andorra 4-0 4-0 2006 FIFA World Cup qualification
26 2006-05-27 De Kuip, Rotterdam, Netherlands Flag of Cameroon Cameroon 1-0 1-0 Friendly
27 2006-06-04 De Kuip, Rotterdam, Netherlands Flag of Australia Australia 1-0 1-1 Friendly
28 2006-06-16 Gottlieb-Daimler-Stadion, Stuttgart, Netherlands Flag of Côte d'Ivoire Côte d'Ivoire 2-0 2-1 2006 FIFA World Cup
29 2006-06-04 Amsterdam ArenA, Amsterdam, Netherlands Flag of Bulgaria Bulgaria 2-0 2-0 UEFA Euro 2008 qualifying
30 2006-06-04 Qemal Stafa, Tirana, Albania Flag of Albania Albania 0-1 0-1 UEFA Euro 2008 qualifying

[edit] Personal life

Van Nistelrooy married his girlfriend, Leontien Slaats, in July 2004. The couple had their first child, a girl named Moa Annette on 26 September 2006 and their second child, a boy named Lian on 22 March 2008.[22][23][24]

[edit] Statistics

[edit] Club

Club Performance League Cup League Cup Continental Total
Season Club League Apps Goals Apps Goals Apps Goals Apps Goals Apps Goals
Netherlands League KNVB Cup League Cup Europe Total
1993-94 Den Bosch Eerste Divisie 2 0 - -
1994-95 15 3 - -
1995-96 21 2 - -
1996-97 31 12 - -
1997-98 Heerenveen Eredivisie 31 13 - -
1998-99 PSV Eindhoven Eredivisie 34 31 - 7 6
1999-00 23 29 - 8 3
2000-01 10 2 - -
England League FA Cup Football League Cup Europe Total
2001-02 Manchester United Premier League 32 23 1 2 1 1 11 10 45 36
2002-03 33 25 3 4 4 1 10 14 50 44
2003-04 30 20 3 6 1 0 7 4 41 30
2004-05 17 6 3 2 0 0 6 8 26 16
2005-06 28 21 2 0 1 1 8 2 39 24
Spain League Copa del Rey Copa de la Liga Europe Total
2006-07 Real Madrid La Liga 38 25 1 2 - 7 6 46 33
2007-08 24 16 1 0 - 7 4 32 20
Total Netherlands 167 92 - 15 9 182 101
England 140 95 12 14 7 3 42 38 201 150
Spain 61 41 2 2 - 14 10 78 53
Career Total 367 226 7 3 71 57

[edit] National team

All-Time National Team Performance
National Team Year Friendlies International
Competition
Total Goals per match
App Goals App Goals App  Goals
Netherlands 1998 1 0 0 0 1 0 .000
1999 8 1 0 0 8 1 .125
2000 1 0 0 0 1 0 .000
2001 2 1 5 6 7 7 1.000
2002 3 1 1 0 4 1 .250
2003 2 0 6 5 8 5 .625
2004 4 0 7 6 11 6 .545
2005 1 0 8 5 9 5 .555
2006 2 2 3 1 5 3 .600
2007 1 0 4 2 5 2 .400
Total 25 5 34 25 59 30 .508

[edit] Awards and honours

[edit] Club

[edit] Individual

[edit] References

  1. ^ "Man Utd clinch Van Nistelrooy deal", BBC Sport Website, 23 April, 2001. 
  2. ^ "Van Nistelrooy bio", manutdzone.com. 
  3. ^ "Ruud lays down Law", bbc.co.uk, 16 September, 2004. 
  4. ^ "The facts behind Ruud's walk-out", Setanta Sports, 2006-05-10. Retrieved on 2006-08-18. 
  5. ^ "Real Madrid sign Dutch striker Van Nistelrooy", Reuters UK, 2006-07-27. Retrieved on 2006-08-18. 
  6. ^ "Van Nistelrooy goals rescue Real", BBC Sport. Retrieved on 2007-07-04. 
  7. ^ "Van Nistelrooy has ankle surgery", fifa.com, March 19, 2008. 
  8. ^ "Real Madrid 4-1 Barcelona", bbc.co.uk, May 07, 2008. 
  9. ^ "Van Nistelrooy extends contract with Real Madrid to 2010", reuters.com, January 10, 2008. 
  10. ^ "Italians lead FIFA World Player of the Year nominees", sports.yahoo.com, October 10, 2007. 
  11. ^ "FIFA for SOS Children's Villages Ambassadors", SOS Children's Villages, 2006-02-21. Retrieved on 2006-08-18. 
  12. ^ "Van Basten drops Van Nistelrooy", The Australian, 2006-08-12. Retrieved on 2006-08-18. 
  13. ^ "Van Nistelrooij haalt uit naar bondscoach", nos.nl, 2006-09-26. Retrieved on 2007-09-06. (Dutch) 
  14. ^ "Van Nistelrooy in Dutch decision", news.bbc.co.uk, 2007-01-23. Retrieved on 2007-01-23. 
  15. ^ "Ruud to make Holland return", home.skysports.com, 2007-05-25. Retrieved on 2007-05-25. 
  16. ^ "Ruud primed for Dutch return", RTÉ Sport, 2007-05-25. Retrieved on 2007-05-25. 
  17. ^ "Holland to make Ruud awakening", home.skysports.com, 2007-08-06. Retrieved on 2007-08-10. 
  18. ^ "Van Nistelrooy en Van Persie terug in Oranje", www.vi.nl, 2007-08-17. Retrieved on 2007-08-18. 
  19. ^ uefa.com - UEFA EURO 2008 - Fixtures & Results - Match Specific
  20. ^ "Ruud van Nistelrooy", The FIFA 100. Retrieved on 2006-08-18. 
  21. ^ Gespeelde wedstrijden. KNVB. Retrieved on 2007-05-16.
  22. ^ "New father Van Nistelrooy rejoins Real squad", Yahoo! Sport, 2006-09-26. Retrieved on 2007-09-06. 
  23. ^ "Proud dad Ruud set for Real berth", CNN.com, 2006-09-26. Retrieved on 2007-09-06. 
  24. ^ "Van Nistelrooy happy", RealMadrid.com, 2006-09-26. Retrieved on 2007-09-06. 

[edit] External links

Wikimedia Commons has media related to:


Awards and achievements
Preceded by
Flag of the Netherlands Jaap Stam
Dutch Footballer of the Year
19982000
Succeeded by
Flag of the Netherlands Mark van Bommel
Preceded by
Flag of England Teddy Sheringham
PFA Players' Player of the Year
2002
Succeeded by
Flag of France Thierry Henry
Preceded by
Flag of England Steven Gerrard
PFA Fans' Player of the Year (Premiership)
2002
Succeeded by
Flag of France Thierry Henry
Preceded by
Flag of Spain Raúl González
UEFA Champions League Best Forward
2002 – 2003
Succeeded by
Flag of Spain Fernando Morientes
Preceded by
Flag of Greece Nikos Machlas
Dutch Eredivisie Topscorer
1998 – 2000
Succeeded by
Flag of Serbia Mateja Kežman
Preceded by
Flag of France Thierry Henry
Premier League top scorer
2002 – 2003
Succeeded by
Flag of France Thierry Henry
Preceded by
Flag of Cameroon Samuel Eto'o
Pichichi Trophy
2006 – 2007
Succeeded by
Flag of Spain Daniel Güiza

‹The template Lifetime is being considered for deletion.› 

Personal tools