Ruud began his playing career with FC Den Bosch in the
Dutch Second Division in the 1993/94 season. After four
seasons in the lower Leagues, he was bought by top flight
club Heerenveen in 1997, and went on to score 13 goals in
30 appearances in 1997/98.
His strike rate caught the eye of PSV Eindhoven who
swooped for the striker, signing him on his 22nd birthday in
1998 for £4.2 million, a record between two Dutch clubs.
After scoring his first goal for PSV against Heerenveen,
Ruud ended his first season in Eindhoven, 1998/99, as
top scorer in the Dutch League with 31 goals. He made his
international debut on 18 November 1998 in a 1-1 draw with
Germany, and finished second in the European Golden
Boot rankings. Not surprisingly, he was voted Dutch Player
of the Year by his fellow professionals.
After having scored 29 goals in 1999/2000, Ruud picked up
a knee injury in a friendly against Silkeborg on 6 March
2000. The next month, a proposed move to Manchester
United fell through because he could not complete a
medical at United, causing the deal to be postponed.
Days later, he collapsed in training with PSV Eindhoven
and damaged his cruciate ligament. His season was over,
but he was still voted Dutch player of the year for the
second successive term by his colleagues, and again
finished runner-up in the European Golden Boot charts.
After a year of rehabilitation, Ruud made his comeback by
scoring twice in a Reserve match against Sparta
Rotterdam on 1 March 2001. His first team return came
two days later, as a substitute against Roda JC.
Ruud finally signed for Manchester United on 23rd April 2001, for a British record of £19 million.
It was almost exactly twelve months to the day after his original
move to Old Trafford had collapsed. Recently, Ruud scored for Holland when he came
on as substitute in their 4-0 win over Cyprus and twice again as substitute in a 4-2 win against Estonia.
From the moment he first put on a United shirt Ruud Van Nistelrooy couldn't stop scoring. After scoring in pre-season friendlies and the Charity Shield clash with Liverpool it quickly became obvious United had got a striker of the highest quality in world football.
In his Old Trafford debut he got two against Fulham, goals followed against Newcastle, Spurs then a double at home to Deportivo. Ruud got his first hat-trick for the reds at home to Southampton in the 6-1 win as well as scoring twice against Boavista, Spurs, Sunderland. Vital goals also came in European away trips to Bayern Munich and Deportivo. A highlight was the FA Cup 3rd Round tie away to Aston Villa. With United 2-0 down, Van Nistelrooy came off the bench to score twice in two minutes and seal a memorable 3-2 victory.
What was most impressive was the variety of goals Ruud scored. He can score tap-ins, one-on-ones with the keeper, headers or spectacular shots all with equal ease. Like all experts, he makes it look easy. He also became the club's first choice penalty taker, converting seven with deadly accuracy.
Breaking a Premiership record by scoring in eight consecutive league games, top scorer in the season's Champions League and joining the elite few United forwards to ever score over 20 league goals in a season: Considering he didn't play for almost a year with injury, Ruud had an amazing first season at Old Trafford.
But, if the first year was amazing, Ruud's second season at Old Trafford topped even that. Goals, goals, goals - 44 in total in all competitions including three hat-tricks and 12 penalties. Hat-tricks against Newcastle, Charlton and Fulham all came at critical points in the season whilst his ruthlessness on the penalty spot was incredible.
And his goals, again, weren't all tap-ins. There were great goals: fantastic solo efforts at FC Basel and home to West Ham, a superb goal at Highbury against Arsenal and clever goals against Juventus at old Trafford and away to Bayer Leverkusen. The best one though, was a goal of the season candidate that even Ryan Giggs would envy and showed, yet again new elements to van Nistelrooy's explosive talents. Against Fulham, Ruud picked up possession in a seemingly innocuous position close to the halfway line. Spotting a gap, he brushed off five Fulham defenders, charged into the box. and slotted at an angle to beat the Cottagers keeper.
Although he missed out on the PFA award to Thierry Henry, Ruud's 25 Premiership goals won him the Golden Boot and Barclaycard Player of the Year. He was also the top scorer in the Champions League with 12 goals (excluding 2 in the qualifying round). Its hard to think of a United player more deserving of his Championship winners medal and one who enjoyed the title triumph over Arsenal more.
