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This time, the "Tribune" section of the website visitor Erikas suggests that everyone should be interested in the short career history of one of his favorite players - the real goal scoring "machine" Ruud van Nistelrooy. Please note that you can send your articles to [email protected]. Name, surname: Date of birth: July 1, 1976 Place of birth: Oss, Netherlands Height: 188 cm Weight: 78 kg Position: forward Current club: Born in the town of Oss (in the south central Netherlands), Ruud van Nistelrooy became interested in sports in school. His true talent was revealed while playing soccer, tennis, and doing gymnastics. As a boy, he played as a center-back in the town's team, but his football career began in 1993 when he moved to the second division team "Den Bosch". Here, in his first professional club, he showcased his skills playing as a forward. After four years of experience, Ruud van Nistelrooy moved on to the first division of the Netherlands. He represented the team "Heerenveen," where he truly became a striker. Ruud's new coach instructed him to improve his technique and watch Dennis Bergkamp play. Ruud was even willing to travel 200 kilometers just to observe how Bergkamp played. In order to study the game of the timid Dutchman, i.e. analyze every element, every move, every touch of the ball, every burst he used in his game. It was not in vain, as Ruud started the championship by scoring 13 goals in 30 matches. On his 22nd birthday, he was bought for around 6.5 million euros by Eindhoven's "PSV". This was a record sum in the history of Dutch clubs. He quickly made a name for himself, scoring his first league goal in August while playing for "PSV". Ironically, the first goal came against his former club. In late October, Ruud excelled in a match against "Sparta," scoring a hat-trick. The footballer was in great form and on November 18, 1998, he made his debut for the Netherlands national team in a friendly match against Germany, which ended in a draw at 1-1. At the end of the first season, in May 1999, he marked his name 31 times and became the top scorer in the Dutch league, also taking second place in the European "Golden Boot" standings. He was also chosen as the Dutch Player of the Year. Representing the "PSV" team, van Nistelrooy set a stunning record of 60 goals over two seasons. During the 1999-2000 season, he scored two hat-tricks against "Ajax". After the second one, held in Eindhoven, he stated that he had never played better before. Before signing a contract with R.van Nistelrooy, "Manchester United" wanted to make sure everything was alright. In April 2000, a medical examination revealed his right knee injury. It happened in a friendly match against "Silkeborg" in that same month. United wanted to operate on his knee, but Ruud refused in order to participate in "Euro 2000". Later, he agreed to surgery. After returning to Eindhoven two days later, Ruud collapsed at the training base due to the pain caused by a torn knee ligament. Due to the injury, he was admitted to a clinic in Vail, Colorado, where he watched "Euro 2000" on satellite television and touched Dutch hearts by rejoicing in the goals of the Dutch national team - celebrating like an eighteen-year-old and waving his flags enthusiastically. He received many words of support from players like Ronaldo and Marco Overmars. Conversations with Sir Alex Ferguson also inspired Ruud. Strength was also given to him by the stories of Roy Keane and Lothar Matthaus, who had experienced similar injuries. Meetings with Sir Alex Ferguson gave R.van Nistelrooy more courage to heal his injury. Working with a personal trainer, Ruud recovered from his injury. Hours spent in the pool gave him more endurance, while hours spent at the training base developed his strength, improved his skills. All this while he was still healing his knee. In March 2001, Ruud could return to the main "PSV" team and continue scoring goals. However, on April 23, 2001, after rejecting a late offer from Madrid's "Real", his dream came true to move to "Man Utd" for a record-breaking sum of £19 million in Great Britain. The first season with goals aplenty and Ruud's play may have seemed sensational, but it was short-lived. The striker stood out in the debut English "Charity Shield" where "Liverpool" beat "Man Utd" 2-1. That season Ruud scored 36 goals and was unstoppable. Despite all this, when it seemed that his career might end due to injury, it seemed incredibly unbelievable. All those goals were in vain as the "Reds" ended the season without titles and trophies for the first time in four years. Ruud was determined to win the English "Premier" league title, which only came true in the 2002-2003 season. Many who doubted that van Nistelrooy could repeat his successful first season got their answer. An incredible result - 44 goals for the "United" team and the conquered title of the English "Premier" league champions, when it seemed lost already. Two goals against "Real"... goals that unfortunately did not help Sir Alex Ferguson's students reach the Champions League final. It is probably fair to say that without Ruud, "Man Utd" would not have won the titles of the 2002-2003 English "Premier" league season. In the last months of the 2001-2002 season, he seemed tired, but thanks to his abilities the next season he scored fifteen goals in the last ten matches and helped "Man Utd" overtake "Arsenal". Ruud finally won the title.
