Pranav Nair
How Sir Alex Ferguson denied Ruud van Nistelrooy the Golden Boot in 2002
In some interesting news, former Manchester United star Ruud van Nistelrooy has revealed the role Sir Alex Ferguson played in denying him the Golden Boot in 2002.
Playing in his debut season in England, Nistelrooy finished the Premier League season on 23 goals. This placed him joint-second alongside Jimmy Floyd Hasselbaink and Alan Shearer.
That year’s Golden Boot was won by Arsenal legend Thierry Henry who finished with 24 goals to his name. Nistelrooy, who sat out our final game of the season believes it was a ploy by Sir Alex to deny him the personal accolade.
“The gaffer left me out in the last game of the season.”
The revelation was made by the Dutchman on Rio Ferdinand Presents Five on Youtube on Friday.
Rather than there being any grudge, it was just Ferguson displaying his ethos of the team over self. With the Red Devils finishing seven points behind champions Arsenal, he believed Nistelrooy had no job fighting it out for personal glory.
“You’re not challenging for the Golden Boot, we didn’t win the league son, you’re out’. He left him on the stands man, not even on the bench. I didn’t even have a hope.”
With the team already haven fallen short, there was no time for individual glory.
Delayed not denied!
Nistelrooy could only watch on from the stands as Arsenal and Henry waltzed their way to glory.
However, Ferguson’s ploy worked, and both United and the Dutchman came back stronger the next season. United retained the Premier League title in 2003, with Nistelrooy picking up not just the Golden Boot but the best player award.
It is fair to say that the Dutchman rose to the challenge and how.
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The Dutchman was one of the most prolific United strikers in the Premier League. He spent just five years at United but left for Real Madrid having scored an impressive 150 goals and 20 assists in 219 games for the club. (h/t Transfermarkt)
