10 One-Trick Footballing Ponies Who Made It At The Top Level

If you're only going to master one trick, you can do much worse than the ability to find the net from almost anywhere inside the 18-yard box.

Ruud van Nistelrooy made a career out of doing just that. In fact, only one of the Dutchman's 150 Manchester United goals came from outside the penalty area, and even that was a heavily-deflected effort that would otherwise have sailed into the goalkeeper's grateful arms.

Blessed with neither great pace nor dazzling technique, van Nistelrooy's story is one of a deftly clever striker who knew exactly how to escape the clutches of defenders and find himself a yard of space in the danger-zone.

As football moves towards false nines and high-pressing, players like the former PSV man are fast going out of fashion - which should only make us appreciate him even more.