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Everything to know about Leicester City head coach Ruud van Nistelrooy, including his prolific playing career, a falling out with Cristiano Ronaldo at Manchester United, his managerial career and tactics, as well as his personal life and wealth.
Who is Ruud van Nistelrooy?
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Ruud van Nistelrooy is a Dutch football manager and former player widely regarded as one of the greatest strikers of his generation.
He is the head coach of Premier League club Leicester City, following his appointment on November 29, 2024.
Ruud van Nistelrooy Biography
Ruud van Nistelrooy is a Dutch football manager and former player renowned as one of the most lethal strikers of his generation.
Born in Oss, Netherlands, in 1976, he began his career at Den Bosch before rising to prominence with Heerenveen and PSV Eindhoven.
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His prolific goalscoring attracted the attention of Manchester United, where he achieved iconic status between 2001 and 2006.
At Old Trafford, Van Nistelrooy won the Premier League, FA Cup, and League Cup, while claiming the Premier League Golden Boot in 2003. He was renowned for his predatory instincts and ability to score spectacular goals.
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After a spell with Real Madrid, where he won two La Liga titles, the Dutchman concluded his playing career with Hamburg and Malaga.
He represented the Netherlands national team 70 times, scoring 35 goals.
Following retirement, Van Nistelrooy transitioned into coaching, starting with youth teams at PSV. He then managed PSV's senior team in the 2022-23 season, guiding them to a second-place finish in the Eredivisie and winning the KNVB Cup.
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In 2024, he briefly served as interim manager of Manchester United before taking the helm at Leicester City in November.
Van Nistelrooy is known for his emphasis on attacking football and dedication to developing young talent.
How old is Ruud van Nistelrooy?
Ruud van Nistelrooy was born on July 1, 1976. He is 48 years old.
Where is Ruud van Nistelrooy from?
Ruud van Nistelrooy is from Oss, Netherlands. It is a municipality in the southern part of the Netherlands. He was born and raised there.
Ruud van Nistelrooy Height
Ruud van Nistelrooy is 1.88 meters (6 feet 2 inches) tall.
He was quite a presence on the pitch as a striker, using his height to his advantage in aerial duels and to hold up the ball.
Who did Ruud van Nistelrooy play for?
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Youth career
Nooit Gedacht: 1981–1990
RKSV Margriet: 1990–1991
Den Bosch: 1991–1993
Senior career
Den Bosch: 1993–1997
Heerenveen: 1997–1998
PSV Eindhoven: 1998–2001
Manchester United: 2001–2006
Real Madrid: 2006–2010
Hamburg: 2010–2011
Malaga: 2011–2012
Ruud van Nistelrooy Manchester United
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Ruud van Nistelrooy's time at Manchester United (2001-2006) was defined by his incredible goal-scoring prowess.
He quickly became a fan favourite, scoring 150 goals in 219 appearances, with his predatory instincts, clinical finishing, and aerial ability making him one of the most feared strikers in the world.
He won the Premier League title in 2003 and the FA Cup in 2004. He also claimed the Premier League Golden Boot in 2003 with 25 goals and was the top scorer in the Champions League for three seasons (2001-02, 2002-03 and 2004-05).
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Van Nistelrooy scored memorable goals for Sir Alex Ferguson’s Red Devils side, including volleys, headers, and tap-ins, cementing his place in the club's history.
Despite his success, the Dutchman was reported to have fallen out with Cristiano Ronaldo and Ferguson, and his time at United ended with a transfer to Real Madrid in 2006.
Ruud van Nistelrooy vs Ronaldo
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The incident between Ruud van Nistelrooy and Cristiano Ronaldo at Manchester United was a heated training ground argument that ultimately led to Van Nistelrooy's departure from the club.
Tensions were already simmering between the star players due to their contrasting playing styles and perceived rivalry.
During a training session in May 2006, Van Nistelrooy reportedly made an insensitive comment to Ronaldo about his recently deceased father, offending the Portuguese.
A vexed Ferguson sent Van Nistelrooy home and ultimately decided to sell the Dutchman to Real Madrid.
Ruud van Nistelrooy Netherlands
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Ruud van Nistelrooy had a prolific career with the Netherlands national football team, although it was somewhat marred by unfortunate timing and injuries.
A serious knee injury ruled him out of Euro 2000, co-hosted by the Netherlands, and the Oranje did not qualify for the 2002 World Cup.
Van Nistelrooy did score four times at Euro 2004 and twice at the finals four years later, which marked his final tournament for the national team.
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The retired striker scored 35 times in 70 appearances for the Oranje.
Ruud van Nistelrooy Stats
According to Transfermarkt, Ruud van Nistelrooy scored 331 goals in 523 club appearances from the 1994-95 season till the 2011-12 campaign.
The former striker netted 150 times for Manchester United, 64 playing for Real Madrid, 77 representing PSV, and 17 in Hamburg colours, with 14 and five scored for Heerenveen and Malaga, respectively.
Van Nistelrooy notched 95 goals in the Premier League, more than in any other competition, with the Eredivisie (75), Champions League (56), and LaLiga (50) completing the ex-striker's favourite competitions.
Ruud van Nistelrooy Managerial Record
Despite spells with youth sides, Ruud van Nistelrooy's only first-team head coach role was with PSV from May 2022 for 12 months.
According to Transfermarkt, he managed the Eredivisie giants in 50 games, winning 34, drawing eight and losing as many. Nistelrooy's PSV scored 127 goals and conceded 60 in that period.
Additionally, the former striker took temporary charge of Manchester United for four games after Erik ten Hag's departure, notching three wins and playing out a draw.
Ruud van Nistelrooy Leicester
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Ruud Van Nistelrooy was appointed Leicester City head coach on November 29, 2024, replacing Steve Cooper, who was sacked after a poor start to the season.
He signed a two-and-a-half-year contract that will keep him at the King Power Stadium until the summer of 2027.
Leicester were struggling near the bottom of the Premier League table when he took over, falling to a 4-1 loss against Brentford on November 30 with the former striker in the stands at the Gtech Community Stadium.
Van Nistelrooy will lead the team for the first time against West Ham United at the King Power Stadium on Tuesday, December 3, 2024.
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Ruud van Nistelrooy Salary
As of November 30, 2024, the exact details of Ruud van Nistelrooy's salary at Leicester City are still unknown.
Ruud van Nistelrooy Tactics
Ruud van Nistelrooy's tactics are characterised by a direct, attacking style with an emphasis on width and quick transitions.
In possession, his teams focus on moving the ball forward quickly, rather than prolonged possession, with wingers to stretch the opposition and create crossing opportunities.
Out of possession, Van Nistelrooy prefers a mid-block defensive approach, leaving space in behind but closing down passing lanes.
He wants his teams to press intensely when the opposition play the ball out wide, although they typically drop into a deeper defensive block when necessary.
According to Fbref, Van Nistelrooy favours a 4-2-3-1 and 4-3-3, even if the team's shape morphs depending on the phase of play.
Ruud van Nistelrooy Achievements
Player
PSV
Eredivisie: 1999–2000, 2000–01
Johan Cruyff Shield: 1998
Manchester United
Premier League: 2002–03
FA Cup: 2003–04
Football League Cup: 2005–06
FA Community Shield: 2003
Real Madrid
La Liga: 2006–07, 2007–08
Supercopa de Espana: 2008
Manager
PSV
KNVB Cup: 2022–23
Johan Cruyff Shield: 2022
Individual
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Dutch Footballer of the Year: 1998–99, 1999–2000
Eredivisie top goalscorer: 1998–99, 1999–2000
Sir Matt Busby Player of the Year: 2001–02, 2002–03
ESM Team of the Year: 2001–02
UEFA Champions League top goalscorer: 2001–02, 2002–03, 2004–05
UEFA Champions League top assist provider: 2001–02
FA Cup top goalscorer: 2002–03, 2003–04
PFA Fans' Player of the Year: 2001–02
PFA Players' Player of the Year: 2001–02
PFA Team of the Year: 2001–02 Premier League, 2003–04 Premier League
IFFHS World's Top Goal Scorer of the Year: 2002
Premier League Player of the Season: 2002–03
Premier League Golden Boot: 2002–03
UEFA Club Forward of the Year: 2002–03
UEFA Team of the Year: 2003
FIFA 100
UEFA Euro Team of the Tournament: 2004
Pichichi Trophy: 2006–07
ESPN World Team of the Decade: 2009
IFFHS World's Top Goal Scorer of the Last Decade: 2012
Ruud van Nistelrooy Wife
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Ruud van Nistelrooy is married to Leontien Slaats. They had a private wedding ceremony in July 2004. The couple have a daughter, Moa Annette, and a son, Liam.
Leontien is involved in charitable work alongside Ruud, particularly with SOS Children's Villages. They are both dedicated to supporting children's rights and well-being.
Ruud van Nistelrooy Net Worth
According to multiple sources, Ruud van Nistelrooy's net worth is between $30 million and $40 million.
This wealth has been accumulated through his successful career as a professional footballer and his subsequent ventures as a football manager and coach.
Van Nistelrooy played for some of the biggest clubs in the world, including Manchester United and Real Madrid, earning substantial salaries and bonuses during his playing days.
The Dutchman was sponsored by Nike during his playing days, contributing to his wealth.
Ruud van Nistelrooy Social Media
Ruud van Nistelrooy is active on Instagram (@rvnistelrooij) and X (@RvN1776), formerly Twitter. As of November 2024, he has 1.1 million followers on Instagram and 1.5 million on X.
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