Former Premier League defender Kenny Cunningham shared recollections of coming up against Ruud van Nistelrooy and what it was that set the Dutch forward apart.
Joining Manchester United in 2001, the Ruud van Nistelrooy scored an impressive tally of 95-goals in five league seasons; a total bettered only by Arsenal's Thierry Henry across this period.
Revisiting performances against Alex Ferguson's side, Cunningham disclosed the subtleties upholding van Nistelrooy's proficiency.
"He was another one who wouldn't particularly frighten you athletically or pace-wise," Cunningham explained to Off the Ball.
Instead, it all came down to movement.
It was really unnerving because you couldn't see him. He'd nudge into the back of you, nudging you toward the ball which is the last place you want to be.
"He was the first one I saw who would take that offside position," Cunningham noted of the Dutchman's movement.
"You know how centre-forwards stand offside and will stay behind you? Well, he was the first one I saw that stayed behind you in an offside position so you couldn't see him and the ball.
"It was really off-putting."
A technique at dead-ball situations that Cunningham acknowledged as common-place now, he vividly recalls the first time he faced it head on.
"I remember the first time I saw it and I was thinking, what is he doing? It was really unnerving because you couldn't see him," stated the former Republic of Ireland captain.
For further effect, Ruud van Nistelrooy's presence would be resumed in the last way a defender expected it.
"At the last minute then he'd dive back onside and kind of go again," Cunningham explained.
"He'd actually nudge into the back of you, nudging you toward the ball which is the last place you want to be.
"He's do it very subtly."
Coming up against van Nistelrooy on four separate occasions as a Birmingham City defender, Cunningham had the grave misfortune of witnessing the Dutchman score three goals from close proximity.
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