We are looking at the 25 nominees who have been shortlisted for the Premier League Hall of Fame in 2022.
The six players with the most combined votes from the fans and a Premier League Awards panel will enter the Hall of Fame. Fans had their say by voting up until 21:00 BST on Sunday 3 April.
Ruud van Nistelrooy
Ruthless in front of goal, the Dutch forward made an impact in the Premier League that few strikers can match.
He spent five years with Manchester United, whom he joined from PSV in 2001 and made an immediate impact with a brace on his debut at home to Fulham.
In total he netted 23 goals in his first season at Old Trafford as he stepped up to the Premier League with ease.
His finest campaign came in 2002/03, producing 25 goals in 34 matches to inspire Man Utd to the Premier League title. He also won the Golden Boot and the Player of the Season awards.
The striker, who netted 94 of his 95 goals in his 150 PL appearances from inside the penalty area, also scored 20+ goals in 2003/04 and 2005/06 before departing for Real Madrid in 2006.
Career in numbers
| Category | Ruud van Nistelrooy |
|---|---|
| Appearances | 150 |
| Goals | 95 |
| Assists | 14 |
| PL titles | 1 |
| Golden Boots | 1 |
| Season awards | 1 |
| Monthly awards | 3 |
What they said
"Ruud van Nistelrooy was without doubt the best finisher we have ever had at this club." - Sir Alex Ferguson
"I played with some unbelievable centre-forwards. [Andrew] Cole, [Dwight] Yorke, [Teddy] Sheringham, [Ole Gunnar] Solskjaer. There are loads. Van Persie I played with as well. Van Nistelrooy was the most devastating finisher I have ever played with." - Rio Ferdinand
“There are some unbelievable goalscorers. But to me, Ruud was the best, he was the best finisher.” - Paul Scholes
Did you know?
Van Nistelrooy scored in 10 consecutive Premier League matches between March and August 2003, a record held for over 12 years until Jamie Vardy did so in 11 in a row in 2015.
The Dutchman's record of scoring at least 20 Premier League goals in four seasons out of five in the competition is at 80 per cent the highest such ratio for any player.
