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RUUD VAN NISTELROOYTim Adams Wednesday, June 06, 2001 13:48 GMTBirthplace: Oss, Holland, 1 July 1976 Height: 188cm - 6ft 2in Weight: 79.37kg - 12st 7lb Full International: Holland (12 caps, 4 goals) Position: Forward Appearances : 0 Goals: 0 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 he 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 23 April 2001, almost exactly twelve months to the day after his original move to Old Trafford had collapsed. Two days after setting a British record with his £19 million transfer to United, Ruud scored for Holland when he came on as substitute in their 4-0 win over Cyprus. Ruud will link up with his international colleague Jaap Stam at United when he officially joins the club on 1 July 2001. International stats correct at 05.06.01. |
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