With Leeds United chairman Peter Ridsdale looking to sign a 'big name' at the club round about the same time he came close to landing Mark van Bommel, Ruud van Nistelrooy was on the Yorkshire club's radar long before he ever became a Manchester United star. Van Nistelrooy was starting to come to prominence with PSV Eindhoven at the time and had scored an incredible 75 goals in 91 total appearances for the Dutch club, making him one of Europe's leading marksmen. The Dutchman impressed Leeds manager David O'Leary, who wanted him to spearhead his strike force at Elland Road. Unfortunately for The Whites, however, the prolific forward instead opted for a move to the other side of the Pennines and joined their hated rivals Manchester United in 2001, where he went on to score 95 Premier League goals in 150 appearances. How different things might have been if they'd signed the Van Man.
Joseph is an accredited football journalist and has interviewed nearly all of the current 20 Barclay's Premier League managers. He is also a correspondent for Bleacher Report and has written for Caught Offside and Give Me Football.
