5. Ruud Van Nistelrooy (Netherlands)
Of all the overseas nations who have served as birthplaces for United players throughout the years, Holland seems to have the best record, having given the team the previously mentioned Edwin Van Der Sar and Jaap Stam, as well as reliable 80s midfielder Arnold Muhren and current first team members Robin Van Persie and Alex Buttner, though the jury is still out on whether the latter will eventually be comparable with his compatriots or whether he will turn out in the vein of 90s flop Jordi Cruyff. The greatest Dutchman to ever wear the red shirt however, was Ruud Van Nistelrooy. Sir Alex Ferguson first tried to buy the player in 2000, though a failed medical meant that he had to wait an additional year for the £19 million pound signing from PSV Eindhoven to arrive at Old Trafford. With 95 goals in 150 league games (150 in 219 in all competitions), Van Nistelrooy has one of the best goals-to-games ratio of any player in the clubs history, with a selection of goals coming during a streak in 2003 where he scored in ten consecutive games. Though he only won one league title in his five years at the club, the Dutch striker is amongst the clubs top scorers of all time, and will likely remain in that position for some time. He couldve placed much higher on the list had he not, like so many before and after him, fell out with Sir Alex and departed from the club in his prime.