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FIFA World Cup
Germany 2006 player's profile
On 1 July, just as the semi-final line-up for the 2006 FIFA World
Cup is being completed, Ruud van Nistelrooij will be celebrating
his 30th birthday. If this landmark is to be reached with the
Netherlands still in Germany, and still chasing a prize that
has previously proved so elusive, Marco van Basten will need
the man widely viewed as his natural on-field successor to be
at his free-scoring best.
Those seeking to make comparisons between Van Basten the player
and his present-day counterpart might want to listen to the legendary
Rinus Michels, who was Van Bastens coach during the Netherlands
triumphant 1988 UEFA European Championship campaign. Michels
described Van Nistelrooy as the more decisive finisher
of the two, which is ominous for the Oranjes rivals in
Germany.
Certainly few can contain the
Manchester United striker when he is fit, confident and in form
and, if all these boxes can be ticked ahead of Germany 2006,
the Netherlands established No. 9 could well feature among
the front-runners the tournaments coveted Golden Shoe.
This, of course, will be the Dutchmans first-ever FIFA
World Cup after his countrys failure to qualify in 2002,
and he is approaching the tournament believing that it will be
his last.
Van Nistelrooij heads to Germany
in the traditional peak years of a centre-forwards career
and, having been lauded as a gift from God by the
previous Netherlands manager, Dick Advocaat, a goal or two in
a perilous-looking group containing Argentina, Côte d'Ivoire
and Serbia and Montenegro would certainly be heaven-sent for
Van Bastens side.
Goals have rarely proved hard
to come by for Van Nistelrooij, who has averaged a strike every
other game in close to half a century of appearances at international
level. For his clubs, he has proved even more deadly, as an amazing
62 goals from 67 appearances for PSV and a record of 20 goals
or more in four of his five seasons at Old Trafford goes emphatically
to prove.
Van Nistelrooijs playing
career began in 1993 with FC Den Bosch and it took four seasons
in the second tier of Dutch football before he was signed by
Heerenveen, for whom he went on to score 13 goals in 30 appearances
in his debut season in top-flight football. Within months, PSV
Eindhoven had seen enough and, in the summer of 1998, parted
with £4.2 million, a record between Dutch clubs, to sign
the striker on his 22nd birthday.
PSVs faith was quickly
rewarded, with Van Nistelrooij ending his first season in Eindhoven
as his countrys Player of the Year and also its top scorer
with 31 goals - a total which saw him finish second in the European
Golden Shoe rankings. It was also during that season that he
made his international debut in a 1-1 draw with Germany on 18
November 1998. The following campaign Van Nistelrooy picked up
where he had left off, firing 29 goals by March 2000.
Manchester United had already
agreed a £19 million deal with PSV when disaster struck
on 6 March in a friendly with Silkeborg. Van Nistelrooij picked
up a knee injury and, while attempting a comeback in training
the following month, he collapsed in agony with what soon transpired
to be a devastating cruciate ligament injury.
This did not prevent him being
voted Dutch Player of the Year for the second successive term,
nor from finishing runner-up once again in the European scoring
charts, but that was of scant consolation to a player whose dream
move had collapsed and who now faced a year on the sidelines.
However, any doubts about his long-term future were quickly dispelled
upon his return the following March and, after finally sealing
his move to Old Trafford that summer, he made a spectacular impact
on English football, his contribution including 25 goals as United
won the Premiership title in 2002/03.
He has smashed his fair share
of records at United, the most notable being Denis Laws
longstanding European goal tally, and, currently, only Raul and
the great Alfredo di Stefano can lay claim to more goals in the
European Champion Clubs Cup.
Chances to shine on the biggest
international stages have proved in shorter supply, with EURO
2004 where Van Nistelrooij struck in all three group games
the solitary exception. Now, with his place at Old Trafford
no longer guaranteed thanks to the combined talents of Louis
Saha and Wayne Rooney, the Dutchman will be more determined than
ever to reaffirm his credentials as one of the worlds premier
marksmen.
© 2001-2006 FIFA, All Rights Reserved
UEFA Champions League 2005-06 player's profile
Prolific striker Ruud van Nistelrooij holds the record for the
most goals in a UEFA Champions League season.
Club
Van Nistelrooij started on the road to stardom at FC Den Bosch,
playing just behind the strikers. He moved further upfield following
a switch to SC Heerenveen. PSV Eindhoven broke the Dutch transfer
record to sign him on his 22nd birthday for 6.3m, and he
rewarded them with 31 goals in his first season - the second
highest tally in Europe - and was named Dutch Footballer of the
Year. He was set to join Manchester United FC in April 2000 but
the deal collapsed over injury fears.
However a year later United
paid a then British-record fee of 30m and Van Nistelrooij
proved a bargain. He emerged as the ten-goal top scorer in the
2001/02 UEFA Champions League - when he England's Footballer
of the Year - and the following term struck a record 12, as well
as winning the Premiership. Scored twice in the 2004 FA Cup final
victory against Millwall FC, his last honour with United, but
did not play in the 2006 League Cup final success.
National team
He made his debut for the Netherlands against Germany and scored
his first international goal against Morocco in 1999. A hat-trick
against Scotland helped the Dutch reach UEFA EURO 2004
via the play-offs, and he scored four times in Portugal before
the semi-final loss to the hosts. Van Nistelrooij scored once
in the 2006 FIFA World Cup, but was not involved when the Dutch
went out to Portugal in the last 16.
Did you know?
He was encouraged by his coaches at Heerenveen to watch and learn
from Dennis Bergkamp.
©uefa.com 1998-2006. All rights reserved.
UEFA EURO 2004 player's profile
The complete striker, Ruud van Nistelrooij combines determination
with tremendous strength, ball-playing ability and lethal finishing.
One of the most feared attackers in world football.
National team
He made his debut for the Netherlands against Germany, aged 22,
and scored his first international goal against Morocco in 1999.
Injury ruled him out of the 2000 UEFA European Championship.
UEFA EURO 2004 qualifying
A hat-trick against Scotland helped the Dutch reach Portugal
via the play-offs and ensured Van Nistelrooij would finish as
his country's leading scorer in the campaign ahead of Patrick
Kluivert with five goals, having already scored against the Czech
Republic and Moldova.
Club
Van Nistelrooij started on the road to stardom at FC Den Bosch,
playing just behind the strikers. He moved further upfield following
a switch to SC Heerenveen.
1998: PSV Eindhoven broke the Dutch transfer record to
sign him on his 22nd birthday for 6.3m, and he rewarded
them with 31 goals in his first term at the club - the second
highest tally in Europe - and was named Dutch Footballer of the
Year. Another prolific season followed and he was set to join
Manchester United FC in April 2000 but the deal collapsed over
injury fears, which were soon realised.
2001: A year later many people wondered if Sir Alex Ferguson
had made the right decision in paying a then British-record fee
of 30m for the centre-forward. Van Nistelrooij proved a
bargain, two goals on his Premiership debut against Fulham FC
setting the tone, and he emerged as the top scorer in the 2001/02
UEFA Champions League with ten goals as his side reached the
semi-finals. Named the Professional Footballers Association Player
of the Year. After registering 36 goals in his debut campaign,
Van Nistelrooij followed up with 44 in 2002/03, his 25 league
strikes helping United reclaim their league title from Arsenal.
2003/04: Scored 20 goals in 32 Premiership appearances
as United finished third. Van Nistelrooij picked up his first
FA Cup winners medal, scoring twice in the 3-0 final victory
against Millwall FC.
Did you know?
He was encouraged by his coaches at Heerenveen to watch and learn
from Dennis Bergkamp.
©uefa.com 1998-2006. All rights reserved.
BBC's UEFA EURO 2004 player's profile
A natural goal-scorer, Van Nistelrooy has thrived since joining
Manchester United from PSV Eindhoven.
He was snapped up for a then-British record of £19m in
2001, and racked up 100 goals in just 131 games.
Despite his prolific scoring record, Van Nistelrooy's place in
the Dutch side is not certain.
He was dropped for the last Euro 2004 group qualifier against
Moldova, but returned with a hat-trick in the crucial 6-0 win
over Scotland.
Van Nistelrooy missed Euro 2000 with a serious knee injury which
delayed his move to Old Trafford.
But the striker, who has won players' player of the year awards
in Holland and England, is now one of the most feared strikers
in the world.
©bbc.co.uk 2004. All rights reserved.
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