United Icons | Ruud Van Nistelrooy

Ruud Van Nistelrooy Tra La La La La...

Now, for a look at one of our greatest ever strikers.

Author | Lee Francis

At PSV, he caught the eye of some of Europe’s biggest clubs after scoring 77 goals in 90 matches. Ruud was seemingly only interested in a move to Old Trafford.

In the spring of 2000, he looked set to complete a club record £18.5 million transfer to Manchester United. He was to be unveiled at a press conference four days later, but this was instead used to announce that the transfer had been postponed over concerns about his fitness. Not long after, he suffered a rupture of his anterior cruciate ligament during a training session, leaving him injured for a year.

Eventual move and success at Old Trafford

In his first season at Old Trafford, he scored 36 goals in 49 appearances. One of his best performances came in a 3-2 FA Cup win over Aston Villa. Despite his goals, Manchester United finished the season trophyless. 

His goal record improved again during the following season, scoring 44 goals. The best season of his career as helped United retain the Premier League.

Towards the end of that successful journey to the title, he scored some important goals, including one at Arsenal and hat-tricks against Fulham and Charlton Athletic.

Personal rivalry with Arsenal

The next season was mixed for the striker and the whole club. United finished 3rd in the Premier League but won the FA Cup. Ruud scored 30 goals, but there was a definite low point. A missed penalty against Arsenal became a symbol of United's whole season.

In the following season, he got revenge. Scoring a penalty that played a part in United ending Arsenal's historic unbeaten run. In his final season (2005/2006), he won the League Cup with United but there were signs that his career at Old Trafford was coming to an end. 

Departure from Old Trafford, success at Real Madrid and eventual retirement

He left Old Trafford in the summer of 2006. He finished his team with 150 goals in 219 games. The striker moved to Real Madrid where he won La Liga twice. The Dutch legend retired in 2012 after brief spells at Hamburg SV and Malaga.