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Ruud van Gol: enough is enough

August 14th, 2008 | By: Jan | 18 Comments »

Almost ten years after his debut in Oranje Ruud van Nistelrooy decided to stop as international. The 32 year old striker wants to focus fully on his career with Real Madrid.

He already told new team manager Bert van Marwijk that the WC2010 is a bridge too far. Van Nistelrooy said he didn’t take his decision lightly. He already speculated about stopping this last spring among friends. But right after the loss against Russia at this EC, he publicly stated that he would go on in Oranje. He was mentally broken after the defeat, but he said he still had an enormous hunger.

But, after a summer holiday of reflection and talks with his family and friends made his future clear. “I’ve checked the programs of both Madrid and Oranje and I immediately saw it would be too much for me, physically. The combination of competition in Spain, the national cup, the Champions League… I will have to make a choice… I can’t combine it with the National team anymore. That’s what I feel.”

“I highly enjoyed this last EC, honestly. I look back at it with satisfaction, despite our loss.”

Van Nistelrooy had a long talk with Van Marwijk, weeks ago already. But both decided to wait a while with making his decision public.

“I can only respect his decision,” Van Marwijk said. “Obviously, I’m sorry he made this decision and that I can’t use him and his skills in the qualifications. With his experience and mentality, let alone his abilities, he will be sorely missed. I wish him all the best in Madrid.”

Van Nistelrooy is the second pillar to quit Oranje after skipper Van der Sar’s retirement. Two other 30somethings - Gio van Bronckhorst and Andre Ooijer - have told Van Marwijk they will be available.

Van Nistelrooy’s decision raises some questions on the full pro calendar these days. Van Gol once calculated that he had two free Wednesday nights last year. The rest of the weeks were planned with midweek matches. He said he got a fright seeing all those full up dates in his schedule.

For this reason, Van der Sar negotiated days off during friendlies with Marco van Basten.

Ruud van Nistelrooy, father of two young kids, was first selected by Frank Rijkaard. As a PSV player he made his debut in a friendly in 1998 against Germany (1-1)

He was 22 years old then. The 2008 EC was his third big tournament. Van the Man wasn’t able to win any silverware. His biggest upsets in Oranje were the fight with his team manager Van Basten and the EC2000 in Holland which he missed due to injury.

In ten years Oranje, Ruud played 64 games, scoring 33 times (as much as JC did). At the last EC he decided to go for Patrick Kluivert’s record of 40 goals. He won’t be making the seven goals that separate them.

Tags: Background stories, Cruyff, Holland, International, Kluivert, Madrid, Oranje, Sar, Van Basten, Van Marwijk, van Nistelrooy

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Comments

By Bob | August 14th, 2008 at 11:18 am

I have always respected Ruud van N as a player and representative of his country. I believe that he has achieved wonderful success in football by giving every effort in maximizing his somewhat limited talents. His successes and records speak for themselves, and I will miss him on the national team. What I do hope, however, is that he respects his own decision and sticks to it. In the US, we often have top level professionals “retire”, then whine about the decision and beg to come back, again and again. Recently, there is an American football player named Bret Favre, who retired last season in an emotional, tear-jerking retirement ceremony. Now, at age 39!, he has begged to come back and created much more publicity than his return is worth. In my opinion, a complete act of immaturity. Professional athletes do struggle with the decision to retire, in part because so many of them have no other interests or particular talents. To some extent, I feel this way about Marc Overmar’s recent announcement. At 35, Marc, it is time to “hang up the spikes” and look to do something else. I hope that Ruud does not make this mistake.

Posted from United States

By Mario Rosado (Dutch admirer) | August 14th, 2008 at 12:22 pm

Ruud will be sorely missed. He gave so much to the national team but I think we didn’t take advantage of him as we should have, in my opinion his best tournament was the 2004 EC because the team really played for him and we could enjoy his great performances. I wouldn’t mind if he came back to the national team, in fact I hope he comes back if we qualify.

Thanks for your football Ruud.

By dave | August 14th, 2008 at 1:30 pm

@ bob, i hear what you are saying about guys retiring and coming back, but its their life and if playing makes them happy and someone will pay them to do it, who are any of us to complain or get upset about it?

Posted from United States

By OhYeah | August 14th, 2008 at 1:51 pm

Bye, Van the Man. One of the best strikers in the world without a doubt.

Now I assume The Hunter will be the go-to man?

Posted from Estonia

By goose | August 14th, 2008 at 3:03 pm

@Bob; when you say “with limited talents” i assume you mean technical talents? cause i think Ruud was one of the most talented strikers i have ever seen; his talent to score goals, the most importent talent for a striker by a mile…strikers dont need tricks, they need to score and Ruud is a fine example (Gerd Mueler?)
i do agree on the retire thing..dont think you need to worry bout Ruud though, hell never play for Oranje ever again

did you realize Overmars actually never officiale quit Oranje!! haaha

btw; Fc Twente lost 2-0 to Arsenal yesterday

Posted from Netherlands

By Caleb | August 14th, 2008 at 4:05 pm

Spot on Goose - Ruud is one of the most talented goal scorers I’ve ever seen, and that is indeed the most important skill for a striker. It doesn’t matter if you score with a trick-filled dribble from the halfway line or if you get a simple tap-in by being in the right place at the right time. Scoring is scoring, and Ruud has that ability down to a science!
I’m glad I can still watch him at Madrid (where he is looking sharp already this pre-season).

Posted from Canada

By Jason | August 14th, 2008 at 4:14 pm

Hey guys, Ruud is hugely under-rated for his technical ability. By far he is a talent that will be sorely missed for his link up play, exceptional eye for the game, passing skills and obviously his killer instinct in the 18 yard box (most people only credit him with being vicous in the six yard box but that is just not accurate enough for this guy).

Considering his age, how many Berbatovs would it take to equal one Van Nistelrooy? I would say about about three Berbs to one RVN.

Posted from Canada

By Michel-Olivier | August 14th, 2008 at 5:49 pm

RVN was a great player for the dutch team. the team will be fine with or without him. Hunter, koevermans, kuijt, or amrabat can take over now.

Posted from United States

By Jan | August 14th, 2008 at 7:59 pm

I do believe Bob means that Ruud as a youngster wasn’t seen as a good player. Merely a good point man up front. And he has developed tremendously by force of will and hard work. There have been much better and more skilled players who didn’t get it all out of their career like Ruud has.

I also believe Marc O was joking about Oranje. He enjoys playing so much he’s happy to guide the youngsters at the Jupiler level of Go Ahead Eagles. Whether you end your career in the top of amateur football or the bottom of pro football, it’s not a big difference in level…

By Van Basten | August 14th, 2008 at 9:09 pm

I am willing to bet you all guys that Ruud Van Gol will play during the WC2010…In fact, he does not even need to play with the national team, he can remain at Madrid, and when the competition starts, he will join the team. I think Van der Sar did the same during the Euro(right)? Robben too was not all that present with the team, but he was busy with staying fit and Real. Van Basten required all of his squad players to play impressively for their respective clubs as the requirement to earn a spot for the national team. So yeah…Van Nilsterooy will be back… I know it with absolute certainty!
Although I believe that Ruud is one of the best strikers of this decade, he has disappointed as a member of Oranje. I do hope he wins a CL.But I doubt that he will ever be ranked among the top 15 greatest strikers of all time(Van Basten being the unanimous no.1). But Ruud is a selffless man, he is simple and could care less about his name among the top great.
Don’t be surprised to see him back…You will all say…I told You So!
See You Ruud Van Gol!

Posted from United States

By Ayl | August 14th, 2008 at 10:01 pm

He’s always been one of my favourite players and it’s a sad time in a way. I do hope that you are right ‘Van Basten’, it’d be great if he does rejoin the squad to play, providing that he earns his spot. At least we have a new generation climbing the ranks, which is exciting. Anyone see Huntelaar’s goal v Arsenal the other week?? Nice strike! Both Ajax goals were good.

By Jan | August 14th, 2008 at 11:22 pm

Interesting remark by Van Basten… Why not? Ruud in the WC2010! Let’s see how he does this season.

Best strikers ever?

1. Van Basten
2. Thierry Henry
2. Alan Shearer
3. Gerd Mueller
4. Ruud van Nistelrooy
5. Batistuta
5. Rudi Voller
6. Ian Rush
7. ???
???
???
???

By Prabal Rakshit | August 15th, 2008 at 12:26 am

Jan, Best strikers ever….nice thread to start..
excluding Cruyff, Platini and Maradona as brilliant attacking midfielders, should we not include the likes of Pele, Romario and Ronaldo?

I would have Mario Kempes (maybe a shade better than Batigol), George Best, Ferenc Puskas, Gigi Riva, Roberto Baggio as well.

By Carlos | August 15th, 2008 at 3:40 am

Best Strikers ?

Van Basten ? Can anyone remember him scoring another goal in a major tournament AFTER his spectacular goal in 1988 ?

He sure was good for Milan though

Jan I can’t find any news on our boys just north of Singapore ? Thats both good and bad huh ?

Posted from Singapore

By goose | August 15th, 2008 at 4:07 am

My top 5 best strikers;

1. Gerd Mueller
2. Pele (in his younger years)
3. Ronaldo (the brasilian one ofcourse)
4. vBasten
5. Romario

Posted from Netherlands

By Michel-Olivier | August 15th, 2008 at 7:35 am

my top 6 target men
1. Ronaldo
2. Batistuta
3. van Nistelrooij
4. Trezeguet
5. Muller
6. Kluivert

my top 6 supporting strikers
1. Maradona
2. Pele
3. Bergkamp
4. Henry
5. Cruijff
6. Baggio

Posted from United States

By Jan | August 15th, 2008 at 5:32 pm

Yeah, to be honest… Ronaldo, Romario, Pele, Maradona, C Ronaldo… I don’t see them as strikers… I honestly never liked Ronaldo and Romario… I mean, they play a sort of football I am not really fond of…

By --HedonistiX | August 16th, 2008 at 10:37 am

@Jan,

On the best striker ranking, I think Gary Lineker is at least couple levels better than Shearer or Voeller and should be on the shortlist.

Great hypothesis by Van Basten on RvN and WC 2010. I do hope that will happen, Real Madrid and the Spanish La Liga is not a bad “training ground” for RvN for the next 2 years.

–H

P.S.: our Olympic team is garbage …..

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