Ruud van Nistelrooy

At 47 years old, Ruud van Nistelrooy has this physical status:

Rutgerus Martinus "Ruud" van Nistelrooy (born 1 July 1976) is a Dutch football coach and former player.

He is currently the head coach of the PSV Eindhoven under 19s team.

With 56 goals, he is the sixth best goalscorer in UEFA Champions League history.

He has been a top scorer in three European domestic leagues as well as a top scorer. Van Nistelrooy started his career with Den Bosch before heading to Heerenveen, where he made a name for himself at PSV Eindhoven, where he won two Eurvence titles.

PSV's goalscoring record attracted attention from Manchester United; a deal was in place in the summer of 2000 but a year later for a then British record fee of £19 million was agreed.

His time with United was fruitful, winning the Premier League, FA Cup, Football League Cup, and FA Community Shield, as well as winning the Sir Matt Busby Player of the Year twice.

Van Nistelrooy scored 150 goals in just 219 games for United, as well as being their all-time European record goalscorer, but he fell out of favour towards the end of his tenure.

In 2006, Real Madrid obtained his services.

Despite a serious injury that marred his time with Madrid, he won La Liga twice and the Supercopa de Espaa before deciding for Hamburger SV in January 2010.

He returned to Spain with Málaga in the summer of 2011.

On May 14, 2012, his football career was announced. Van Nistelrooy, a Dutch immigrant, represented the Netherlands on 70 occasions, netting 35 times.

He was a member of the Euro 2004 World Cup and Euro 2008 teams.

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Club career

Van Nistelrooy, a born in Oss, North Brabant, began his playing for local clubs Nooit Gedacht and RKSV Margriet in 1993, where he went from a central midfielder to centre-forward, with Dutch Eerste Divisie side Den Bosch. After scoring 12 goals in 31 games in the 1996–97 season, he moved to Heerenveen for €360,000 and scored 13 goals in 31 games in his first season with the club. He was then signed by PSV Eindhoven for €6.3 million, a then-record transfer sum between two Dutch teams.

In comparison to scoring all three of PSV's goals against HJK Helsinki on November 25, he scored 31 goals in 34 matches, the highest in Europe overall and second-highest in Europe overall. Van Nistelrooy closed the year off by winning the Dutch Player of the Year award for the first time. With 29 goals, he won his second Ethio scoring title in the following season. Darren, his son, who was at try-outs for Eivisie rival Heerenveen at the time, begged his father, "You've got to sign Van Nistelrooy right away." We've been following him for the past few years. Ferguson sent team members to PSV's next league game and the next day, Van Nistelrooy was signed.

Van Nistelrooy appeared to be on-going to Manchester United in the summer of 2000, a club record £18.5 million transfer. He was supposed to be announced at a press conference four days later, but this was later used to announce that the transfer had been postponed due to injuries with his knee. PSV refused to commit to further medical examinations, and the next day, he sustained a rupture in his anterior cruciate knee ligament ligaments, leaving him injured for a year.

After passing his medical, Van Nistelrooy signed a five-year deal a year later. To journalists, he downplayed United's £19 million investment, adding, "The price is not heavy on me because it gives the United States a great deal of trust in me."

Van Nistelrooy made his Charle Shield debut against Liverpool, scoring in a 2–1 loss. Van Nistelrooy made his Premier League debut against Fulham at Old Trafford on August 19 and scored two goals to help the United defeated by 3–2 victory. In a 3–2 loss to Deportivo La Corua, he scored his first Champions League goals on October 17th.

Van Nistelrooy scored his first Premier League hat-trick in a 6–1 victory over Southampton on December 22. Van Nistelrooy started on the bench for the third round match against Aston Villa due to a groin strain, but United's Luke Chadwick was switched on for Luke Chadwick in the second half, who scored two "sublime" goals in three minutes to help United advance to the fourth round with a 3–2 win.

Van Nistelrooy scored 23 goals in 32 league games in his first season. He set a new record for him, alongside Mark Stein, Alan Shearer, and Thierry Henry by scoring in eight consecutive league games. He has also scored ten Champions League goals and been named PFA Players' Player of the Year.

He finished as the best Premier League scorer in 34 games in 2014, with a goal against Everton, earning him the Golden Boot ahead of Arsenal's Thierry Henry. Against Newcastle United, Fulham, and Charlton Athletic, he had three hat-tricks. Since United won the championship, he scored in every one of the last eight games of the season. In 2003, Van Nistelrooy was named Premier League Player of the Season. He was credited with leading United's title win with a goal total of "astonishing." He was named by UEFA as Europe's best striker after scoring 12 Champions League goals in nine straight matches.

Van Nistelrooy started the 2003-2004 season by scoring twice in his first two league matches. This meant he had scored in ten straight league games before setting a Premier League record, which stood until 2015, when Jamie Vardy scored in 11 consecutive matches. Van Nistelrooy was at the center of one of the most controversial events of the Arsenal–Manchester United rivalry in a 0–0 draw on September 21, 2003, later identified as the Battle of Old Trafford. Van Nistelrooy was kicked by Martin Keown, sparking a brawl between several players from both teams; five Arsenal players, including Keown, received various bans and fines, while the club itself was fined £175,000. He had been fouled by Patrick Vieira, who had been suspended for his second bookable offence earlier in the game. On Vieira, Vieira and his boss Arsène Wenger accused Van Nistelrooy of colluding and stamming, triggering Alex Ferguson's vociferous defense.

In a 4–1 win over Leicester City on September 27, he scored a hat-trick against Leicester City. In a 3-2 victory over Everton on February 7, the player scored his 100th goal for the team.

Van Nistelrooy scored twice in the FA Cup fifth round derby against Manchester City, and twice in the quarter-final against Fulham as United came from behind to win 2–1. In United's win over Millwall in the 2004 FA Cup Final, he scored two more goals, one on penalty.

Van Nistelrooy missed a significant portion of the 2004-05 season due to illness, but he did have a Champions League-best eight goals. One of them was his 30th European goal, he scored in a 2–2 Champions League group stage draw with Lyon on September 15, overtaking Denis Law's previous club record of 28 goals. "I'm thrilled for Ruud," the law later told reporters. It could not happen to a nicer guy."

Arsenal returned to Old Trafford for another thrilling match on October 24th. Arsenal had a 49-game unbeaten run and had been nicknamed "The Invincibles," but United defeated them 2–0. Van Nistelrooy scored the first goal from the penalty spot last year, atoning for the penalty miss the previous year, with Wayne Rooney scoring his second. Van Nistelrooy was banned for three games for a foul foul on Ashley Cole that the referee had missed. Van Nistelrooy scored all four goals in a 4–1 victory over Sparta Prague on November 3, 2016. He scored two goals in the FA Cup semi-finals against Newcastle on April 17, 2005, but United lost the final on penalties to Arsenal.

Van Nistelrooy scored in United's first four Premier League games at the start of the 2005–06 season. With 21 goals, he ranked second in the league scoring standings, behind Arsenal's Thierry Henry. However, he was disqualified for the League Cup Final against Wigan Athletic, fueling rumors of a rift between him and Alex Ferguson, which Van Nistelrooy denied. He was also on the bench for six straight league games, and although he later returned to the starting line-up and scored match-winners against West Ham United and Bolton Wanderers, a fresh doubt was put on Van Nistelrooy's future after being suspended for United's season finale victory over Charlton Athletic. Ferguson said that Van Nistelrooy was furious at the decision and left the stadium three hours before kick-off. Van Nistelrooy's suspension from the squad was due to a training session match between him and teammate Cristiano Ronaldo on May 9, 2006. After which Van Nistelrooy remarked, "What are you going to do?" Ronaldo's habit to hold the ball rather than passing it to his teammates, which triggered the brawl, which culminated in the feud.

Complain to your daddy?"

This was in reference to United's Portuguese assistant manager, Carlos Queiroz, but Ronaldo took the occasion seriously and reportedly burst into tears because his father, José, had died eight months before. Van Nistelrooy later apologized to Ferguson for his behavior in the previous few months.

Van Nistelrooy signed with Real Madrid in Spain on July 28th, bringing him to a total of 150 goals in 219 appearances, with his last game coming against Bolton on April 1st. He is also the club's second all-time European goalscorer, with 38 goals.

Ferguson revealed on July 15, 2006, that Van Nistelrooy wanted to leave Manchester United, and Real Madrid revealed two weeks later that he had signed a three-year deal after being sold for €14 million.

Van Nistelrooy made his debut for the Spanish club in a 1–0 friendly victory over Reggina on August 4, 2006. In his second league match against Levante, Van Nistelrooy scored all four of Real Madrid's goals, beating Osasuna on November 12, 2006. He was a teammate of Ronaldo, a player whom Van Nistelrooy regards as the best he ever played with for the first six months. Real Madrid defeated Real Madrid with 25 goals, breaking a league record held by Hugo Sánchez.

Van Nistelrooy signed a work extending him to Madrid until 2010, just one day shy of his 34th birthday. He underwent ankle surgery in March and returned to El Clásico derby against Barcelona on May 7th, in which he scored a penalty two minutes after arriving as a replacement. In 33 appearances, he had scored 20 goals on the season.

Real Madrid announced in November 2008 that Van Nistelrooy would miss the remainder of the 2008–09 season after exploratory arthroscopic surgery revealed a partially torn meniscus in his right knee, with a predicted recovery time of six to nine months following a second operation to repair the damage. Van Nistelrooy returned to the United States to see Richard Steadman, who had operated on the same knee before in 2000. He had scored in 12 club appearances for the season at the time of his injury. Following the accident, he was deregistered by Real Madrid for the remainder of the 2008–09 season, and his shirt number was given to Dani Parejo. Van Nistelrooy stepped on the pitch for the first time since his injury and played the game against Rosenborg on August 24, 2009, substituting Kaká. In his first La Liga match since recovering from his injury, Van Nistelrooy came on for Cristiano Ronaldo in the 80th minute against Xerez. He scored a Karim Benzema goal in the 81st minute and finished it with his own 88th goal. During his attack, however, he sustained a thigh injury, which was later announced by Real Madrid that he would be out of first team action for up to six weeks. Van Nistelrooy made his second comeback of the season by being a replacement for Ral in the Copa del Rey's 71st minute.

Van Nistelrooy signed an 18-month deal with the German club Hamburger SV until June 2011. After coming off the bench in Hamburg's 3–3 draw with 1. he made his first appearance for the club. FC Köln takes the field on February 6th. After playing the game just a few minutes before, Van Nistelrooy scored his first two goals for Hamburg against VfB Stuttgart on February 13, 2010, defeating the game in the 75th and 77th minutes of a 3–1 win. In the 40th minute of Hamburg's match against Anderlecht, he scored his first UEFA Europa League goal.

In a 5–1 victory over Torgelower SV Greif in the first round of the 2010–11 DFB-Pokal, van Nistelrooy scored his second competitive hat-trick with Hamburg on August 15, 2010. In Hamburg's season opener against Schalke 04, which the team defeated 2–1. He played against his colleague and former Real Madrid teammate Ral, who was making his Bundesliga debut. Van Nistelrooy's return to Real Madrid had been linked to his return to the club, and it could have been used as a short-term replacement, although Mourinho was unable to return to the club as Mourinho left the door open for him. Van Nistelrooy said he seriously considered returning to the club if the offer had been made. However, the club turned down Van Nistelrooy's transfer request, giving the club a warning that Hamburg intends to hold on to him until the transfer window closed. Despite being angry about his removal from Real Madrid, Van Nistelrooy said he would remain committed to Hamburg. On April 16, 2011, Van Nistelrooy sustained a calf injury that kept him out until the last matchday.

In his first full season with Hamburg, Van Nistelrooy scored seven goals and two assists in 25 appearances.

Van Nistelrooy signed to Spain on a free transfer on June 1st, 2011, marking his return to Spain from Spain. Van Nistelrooy was unveiled at La Rosaleda Stadium after being welcomed by 15,000 Málaga supporters. On the first game of the 2011–12 season, he made his debut in a 2–1 loss against Sevilla.

Van Nistelrooy scored his first goal against Getafe on October 1st. Málaga defeated 3–2 on aggregate in the Copa del Rey on Sunday, with a volley on the 21st day. Van Nistelrooy scored two more goals in the league against Espanyol and Racing Santander later this season, with the former being his last goal of his career. Van Nistelrooy made his last appearance of his career when he arrived as a replacement in the 75th minute for goalscorer Salomón Rondón, who scored the only goal in Málaga's league match against Sporting Gijón.

Van Nistelrooy announced his retirement from football on May 14 at the age of 35. He told Sport1 that he had previously hinted that his football career was coming to an end after insisting that Málaga be his last team.

International career

Van Nistelrooy played for 70 caps and scored 35 goals for the Netherlands. In a friendly match against Germany on 18 November 1998, he made his national team debut. However, Van Nistelrooy was also ruled out of Euro 2000 due to a cruciate ligament injury that postponed his transfer to Manchester United.

Van Nistelrooy did not make his tournament debut for the Netherlands until Euro 2004, where he and the Czech Republic's Milan Baro were the only ones to score in all three group stage matches as the Dutch failed to qualify for the 2002 World Cup. The Netherlands qualified to the semi-finals, where they were defeated by Portugal 2–1. Van Nistelrooy was selected in the tournament's all-star squad.

He scored in the Dutch's 4–0 victory over bottom-placed Andorra and was banned for going to Andorra player Antoni Lima and celebrating in front of him after an incident six minutes before, when Van Nistelrooy missed a penalty and Lima booed him. He was a member of coach Marco van Basten's squad for the 2006 World Cup finals, for which he served as the official FIFA/SOS ambassador. He started and was recalled in all of the Netherlands' group stage games, and he scored his lone goal against the Ivory Coast on Friday. Van Nistelrooy was tossed to the bench by Van Basten without explanation for the Netherlands' second round match, which saw them being defeated by Portugal for the second time.

On August 16, 2006, Van Basten was left out of the squad for a friendly against the Republic of Ireland. In their upcoming match against Portugal in September, Dirk Kuyt replaced Van Nistelrooy. Van Nistelrooy refused to take his place on the roster after Klaas-Jan Huntelaar was out for Euro 2008 qualifiers against Bulgaria and Belarus due to illness.

Van Nistelrooy declared his withdrawal from international football on January 23, 2007 following sporadic differences with Van Basten, which had started in 2006 during the World Cup finals matches. Both player and coach differed after several phone calls and the arrest of veteran goalkeeper Edwin van der Sar, but neither player and coach put aside their differences. Van Nistelrooy was returning to the Oranje four months after the Oranje was revealed four months earlier. Van Nistelrooy scored in a 2–0 victory over Huntelaar on September 8th, as previously stated. He also scored in the Netherlands' winning goal four days later in injury time during the Netherlands' victory over Albania.

Van Nistelrooy scored for the Netherlands in their 3–0 victory over Italy in the group stage, as well as their equalizer in their eventual 3–1 loss to Russia in the quarter-finals. He resigned from international competition on August 4th.

Van Nistelrooy made himself available during the 2010 World Cup, but Bert van Marwijk, the Netherlands' new coach, was left out. After being left out of the World Cup, Van Nistelrooy said he had no choice but to accept the fact that his international career has ended.

Van Marwijk offered Robin van Persie, the Netherlands' main striker, a chance to regain his position as the Netherlands' main striker after undergoing an injury during a match with his club Arsenal. Van Nistelrooy was invited to two Netherlands' Group E qualification matches against San Marino and Finland for Euro 2012, a first for the Netherlands. He scored in the 5–0 victory over San Marino on September 3, 2010.

After injury to strikers Klaas-Jan Huntelaar, Arjen Robben, and Theo Janssen, Van Nistelrooy was brought to the squad for two Euro 2012 qualification games against Hungary. He appeared as a late replacement for Dirk Kuyt in the away game on March 25, but he came off the bench for his 35th international goal. As Berend Scholten told Berend Scholten, "it's thrilling to be able to contribute something to this Oranje team."

Coaching career

Van Nistelrooy joined PSV as a coaching intern with the under-17s on June 22, 2013. In February 2016, he was named as the under-17s, 19s, and the reserve team's new striker coach.

After the 2014 World Cup, Van Nistelrooy will help Guus Hiddink.

Van Nistelrooy, the PSV under-19s' current manager, took over Mark van Bommel, who left the PSV under-19s on June 25, 2018.

After Kees van Wonderen recently resigned as an assistant manager with Ronald Koeman's backroom staff as an assistant manager before the Euro 2020, it was announced in December 2019 that beyond his work at PSV.

Van Nistelrooy was appointed as the replacement for outgoing Roger Schmidt as PSV's head coach in March 2022. He began working for the 2022–23 season, and he started his three-year term.

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