Dutchman Van Nistelrooy's decision to retire may have surprised some, but it is the culmination of an innings well played. Here's how and why...
Manchester united (2001-06)
>>u00a0u00a0Moved from PSV Eindhoven to Manchester United in 2001 at a English Premier League record fee of £19m.
>>u00a0u00a0Set Premiership record of scoring in 8 consecutive matches in his first season.
>>u00a0u00a0Became Champions League’s top scorer with 30 goals (2001-02) & also wins PFA Player of the Year.
>>u00a0u00a0Scores 25 goals as Utd win EPL (2003).
>>u00a0u00a0Wins 2004 FA Cup scoring twice in 3-0 win over Millwall 3-0 in the final.
>>u00a0u00a0Alex Ferguson leaves him on the bench for the 2006 Carling Cup final.
>>u00a0u00a0Scored 150 goals for Man U before announcing he wants to leave at the end of 2006.
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Real madrid (2006-10)
>>u00a0u00a0Joined Real Madrid in 2006 for 24 million Euros.
>>u00a0u00a0Scored 25 & 20 goals respectively as Real won La Liga in the La Liga in 2006-07 and 2007-08.
>>u00a0u00a0Also won the Spanish Super Cup in 2008.
Malaga (2011)
>> Joined Malaga in 2011 from Germany’s Hamburg, where he scored 12 times.
>>u00a0u00a0Scored five times in 32 appearances to help them to their first top four finish and enter Champions League.
>>u00a0u00a0Remains the Champions League’s all time second-highest scorer with 60 goals, behind Raul (71).