Van Nistelrooy speaks on his famous rivalry with Thierry Henry

A certain rivalry between forwards Ruud van Nistelrooy and Thierry Henry defined one of the most exciting eras of the early 2000s.

While speaking about Van Nistlerooy’s time in the Premier League, there is almost no way Thierry Henry would be left out of that conversation.

The Dutchman and the Arsenal legend are two of the most dangerous attacking players in modern Premier League history. They were both at the peak of their powers when representing their respective clubs between 2001 and 2006.

The rivalry was built on respect, however, Van Nistelrooy insists, and he says he was often left in awe by Henry’s ability.

The Manchester United legend only won the Golden Boot once during his five-year stay in England. You guessed right if you’re wondering who beat him the other four times, Thierry Henry did.

In a YouTube video chat with former team-mate Rio Ferdinand, Van Nistelrooy detailed how he was often left in awe by the ex-Arsenal man.

He said: “I admired him, I studied his game. Thierry, wow, he was doing stuff in the Premiership, oh my god. I wanted to compete with him to push myself”

In his debut Premier League campaign, Van Nistelrooy finished joint second on 23 goals, and could have overtaken Henry on the final day of the season. Sadly, Ferguson left him out of the squad entirely and the ex-Arsenal man won the Golden Boot with 24 goals.

Reflecting on being dropped, he added: “I was up there for the Golden Boot, first year I was challenging that, but in the last game of the season the gaffer left me out, he said: ‘You’re not winning the Golden Boot son, we didn’t win the league.’ Not even on the bench.

“The manager, he made me sharp in that moment, you cannot believe it. Goals, you need to connect it with titles.”