Leicester City manager Ruud van Nistelrooy enjoyed a successful playing career.
Ruud van Nistelrooy was a prolific striker in his prime, most notably at Manchester United and Real Madrid.
The Dutchman had a glittering five-year stint at Old Trafford, where he netted 150 goals in 219 appearances.
Van Nistelrooy was a key figure in the rivalry between Man United and Arsenal and had a number of infamous battles with Martin Keown.
So when the pair crossed paths at the King Power Stadium last month, it made for an awkward interaction at first until Keown decided to apologise for giving him rough treatment on the pitch over the years.
The former Arsenal defender has now revealed why he decided to apologise after all this time.
Photo by George Wood/Getty Images
Photo by George Wood/Getty Images
Martin Keown apologised to Ruud van Nistelrooy to be the ‘bigger man’
Speaking to WhatToWatch, Keown revealed that he decided to apologise to Leicester Van Nistelrooy live on national TV as he wanted to be the ‘bigger man’.
“There comes a time where you have to take a step back and be the bigger man,” Keown said.
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“It’s not just Ruud, I’ve been apologizing to strikers for the last 21 years, since I finished playing, because they all got the same treatment. Maybe Ruud got a little bit more than some of the others. I don’t have a problem. I wish him well.
“They’ve had 12 defeats from 13 now, so it’s getting tough for him. Ruud doesn’t strike me as being a manager who’s panicking in any way, and that might just be enough for them to find a way to get out of trouble.
“But Leicester have gone five games without scoring, so it’s tough. It just shows you can be a great player, but it takes something special to be a great manager as well!”
Van Nistelrooy and Keown even shared a joke
Keown’s apology was taken well by Van Nistelrooy as the former rivals made light of the situation by joking about their fierce battles on the pitch.
“What happens on the pitch stays on the pitch,” Van Nistelrooy insisted. “I am happy that I have him in front of me, not at the back of me you know. It was a good rivalry, wasn’t it?”
Keown agreed: “Great days, great days. I am glad you are standing there and not next to me because you used to love stamping on me.”
Van Nistelrooy replied: “I would like to block you out as well and then fall over.”