Ruud Knol
{{Short description|Dutch football player and coach (born 1981)}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=November 2023}}
{{Infobox football biography
| name = Ruud Knol
| image =
| fullname =
| birth_date = {{birth date and age|1981|3|13|df=y}}
| birth_place = Zevenaar, Netherlands
| height = 1.86 m{{cite web |title=R. Knol: Profiel |url=https://www.vi.nl/spelers/ruud-knol/profiel |website=Voetbal International |access-date=12 November 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20231112152637/https://www.vi.nl/spelers/ruud-knol/profiel |archive-date=12 November 2023}}
| position = Centre-back
| currentclub =
| clubnumber =
| youthyears1 = {{0|0000}}–1994
| youthclubs1 = OBW
| youthyears2 = 1994–2000
| youthclubs2 = Vitesse
| years1 = 2000–2007
| clubs1 = Vitesse
| caps1 = 105
| goals1 = 9
| years2 = 2007–2008
| clubs2 = PAOK
| caps2 = 23
| goals2 = 0
| years3 = 2008–2011
| clubs3 = Sparta Rotterdam
| caps3 = 55
| goals3 = 8
| totalcaps = 183
| totalgoals = 17
| manageryears1 = 2012–2013
| managerclubs1 = Vitesse U17 (assistant)
| manageryears2 = 2013–2014
| managerclubs2 = Vitesse U14
| manageryears3 = 2014–2016
| managerclubs3 = Vitesse U15
| manageryears4 = 2016–2017
| managerclubs4 = Vitesse U16
| manageryears5 = 2017–2019
| managerclubs5 = Jong Vitesse (assistant)
}}
Ruud Knol (born 13 March 1981) is a Dutch professional football coach and former player. He most notably played as a centre-back for Vitesse between 2000 and 2007.
Club career
Knol was born in Zevenaar, in the province of Gelderland and started his career at OBW, where he was spotted by Vitesse scouts.{{cite news |title=Ruud Knol: 'Waarom ben ik niet geschikt voor de Top Drie?' |url=https://www.vi.nl/nieuws/ruud-knol-waarom-ben-ik-niet-geschikt-voor-de-top-drie |access-date=12 November 2023 |work=Voetbal International |date=13 September 2006 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20231112153031/https://www.vi.nl/nieuws/ruud-knol-waarom-ben-ik-niet-geschikt-voor-de-top-drie |archive-date=12 November 2023 |language=nl}} He made his professional debut for Vitesse on 8 September 2000, replacing Theo Janssen in the 80th minute of a 2–2 draw against Willem II.{{cite web |title=Willem II – Vitesse 2:2 (Eredivisie 2000/2001, 4. Round) |url=https://www.worldfootball.net/report/eredivisie-2000-2001-willem-ii-tilburg-vitesse/ |website=WorldFootball.net |publisher=HEIM:SPIEL |access-date=12 November 2023}} He played six years for Vitesse and was called up once by then Netherlands coach Louis van Gaal for the Netherlands national team.{{cite news |title=Van der Vaart alsnog in Oranje |url=https://www.vi.nl/nieuws/van-der-vaart-alsnog-in-oranje |access-date=12 November 2023 |work=Voetbal International |date=6 October 2001 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20231112153611/https://www.vi.nl/nieuws/van-der-vaart-alsnog-in-oranje |archive-date=12 November 2023 |language=nl}} A serious injury threatened his career between 2002 and 2005 but he came back to play for Vitesse.
In December 2006, it was announced that Knol would be leaving Vitesse. His contract was set to expire, and was not renewed due to significant differences between the two parties. Furthermore, Knol expressed his desire for a fresh challenge. Some media speculated that his motivation was financial gain, which he denied.{{cite news |title='Schandalig dat ik als geldwolf word neergezet' |url=https://www.vi.nl/nieuws/schandalig-dat-ik-als-geldwolf-word-neergezet |access-date=12 November 2023 |work=Voetbal International |date=25 July 2007 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20231112151105/https://www.vi.nl/nieuws/schandalig-dat-ik-als-geldwolf-word-neergezet |archive-date=12 November 2023 |language=nl}} Despite receiving interest from various clubs, including 1. FC Köln and Southampton, Knol remained without a team for an extended period.{{cite news |title='Knol weigert contract bij Southampton' |url=https://www.vi.nl/nieuws/knol-weigert-contract-bij-southampton |access-date=12 November 2023 |work=Voetbal International |date=11 August 2007 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20231112151303/https://www.vi.nl/nieuws/knol-weigert-contract-bij-southampton |archive-date=12 November 2023 |language=nl}} Then, on 18 August, it was revealed that Knol had signed a two-year contract with Greek club PAOK.{{cite news |title=Ruud Knol zet handtekening bij PAOK |url=https://www.trouw.nl/home/ruud-knol-zet-handtekening-bij-paok~ba70dfc8/ |access-date=12 November 2023 |work=Trouw |date=21 August 2007 |language=nl}} After one season in Greece, he returned to the Netherlands to play for Sparta Rotterdam.{{cite press release |title=Ruud Knol naar Sparta Rotterdam |url=http://www.sparta-rotterdam.nl/content/nieuws/default2007.asp?id=4886 |website=Sparta Rotterdam |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080831225112/http://www.sparta-rotterdam.nl/content/nieuws/default2007.asp?id=4886 |archive-date=31 August 2008 |language=nl |date=18 August 2008 |url-status=dead}}
Starting from the preseason of the 2011–12 season, Knol maintained his fitness at Vitesse while waiting for an attractive offer from abroad. Vitesse's coach, John van den Brom, had previously indicated that Knol was not in consideration for a contract with Vitesse.{{cite news |last1=Dam |first1=Erik van |title=Vitesse laat werkloze ex-verdediger zonder bijbedoelingen meetrainen |url=https://www.voetbalzone.nl/nieuws/vitesse-laat-werkloze-ex-verdediger-zonder-bijbedoelingen-meetrainen/142969 |access-date=12 November 2023 |work=Voetbalzone |date=22 July 2011 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20231112151915/https://www.voetbalzone.nl/nieuws/vitesse-laat-werkloze-ex-verdediger-zonder-bijbedoelingen-meetrainen/142969 |archive-date=12 November 2023 |language=nl}} As a result, Knol made every effort to find a new club. However, after an unsuccessful trial at Coventry City and other attempts, he decided to retire from professional football.{{cite news |title=Wereldreiziger Knol: 'Meer in het leven dan voetbal' |url=https://www.vi.nl/nieuws/wereldreiziger-knol-meer-in-het-leven-dan-voetbal |access-date=12 November 2023 |work=Voetbal International |date=9 February 2012 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20231112152502/https://www.vi.nl/nieuws/wereldreiziger-knol-meer-in-het-leven-dan-voetbal |archive-date=12 November 2023 |language=nl}}
Coaching career
In July 2012, Knol returned to his former club, Vitesse, initially taking on the role of assistant coach for the under-17 team. However, in July 2013, he assumed the position of head coach for the under-14 team. On 16 January 2017, Vitesse announced that Theo Janssen would immediately become the coach of Vitesse O16. In response, Knol transitioned to the role of assistant coach for the reserve team, known as Jong Vitesse.{{cite web |title=Ruud Knol verlaat Vitesse opnieuw |url=https://vitesse.org/nieuws/ruud-knol-verlaat-vitesse-opnieuw/ |website=Supportersvereniging Vitesse |access-date=12 November 2023 |language=nl |date=27 May 2018}}{{cite news |title=Knol vertrekt bij Vitesse: "Was geen ruimte bij het eerste elftal" |url=https://www.fcupdate.nl/voetbalnieuws/2018/05/knol-vertrekt-bij-vitesse-was-geen-ruimte-bij-het-eerste-elftal |access-date=12 November 2023 |work=FCUpdate.nl |date=26 May 2018 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20231112154318/https://www.fcupdate.nl/voetbalnieuws/2018/05/knol-vertrekt-bij-vitesse-was-geen-ruimte-bij-het-eerste-elftal |archive-date=12 November 2023 |language=nl}}
Jong Vitesse's stay in the Tweede Divisie was short-lived, lasting only one year. The team, under the leadership of John Lammers and Knol, finished seventeenth, which led to their relegation to the Derde Divisie.{{cite news |last1=Janssen |first1=Eugène |title=Jong Vitesse degradeert naar derde divisie |url=https://www.gelderlander.nl/voetbal-arnhem/jong-vitesse-degradeert-naar-derde-divisie~ac5fceed/ |access-date=12 November 2023 |work=De Gelderlander |date=6 May 2017 |language=nl}} During the 2019–20 season, Knol worked as an analyst at De Graafschap.{{cite news |last1=Steenbergen |first1=Mark van |title=De Graafschap schakelt ex-prof Knol in als analist |url=https://www.gelderlander.nl/de-graafschap/de-graafschap-schakelt-ex-prof-knol-in-als-analist~ac4e7f53/ |access-date=12 November 2023 |work=De Gelderlander |date=1 October 2019 |language=nl}}
Career statistics
| class="wikitable" style="text-align:center"
|+ Appearances and goals by club, season and competition{{WorldFootball.net|ruud-knol}} | ||||||||||
| rowspan="2"|Club
!rowspan="2"|Season !colspan="3"|League !colspan="2"|KNVB Cup !colspan="2"|Europe !colspan="2"|Other !colspan="2"|Total | ||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Division | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals |
| rowspan="8"|Vitesse
|14 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1{{efn|Appearances in UEFA Cup}} | 0 | colspan="2"|— | 15 | 0 | ||
| 2001–02
|Eredivisie |24 | 3 | 3 | 0 | colspan="2"|— | colspan="2"|— | 27 | 3 | |||
| 2002–03
|Eredivisie |2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | colspan="2"|— | colspan="2"|— | 2 | 0 | |||
| 2003–04
|Eredivisie |12 | 2 | 0 | 0 | colspan="2"|— | 4{{efn|name=PO|Appearances in Eredivisie promotion/relegation playoffs}} | 1 | 16 | 3 | ||
| 2004–05
|Eredivisie |3 | 0 | 1 | 0 | colspan="2"|— | colspan="2"|— | 4 | 0 | |||
| 2005–06
|Eredivisie |27 | 1 | 0 | 0 | colspan="2"|— | 6{{efn|name=EEP|Appearances in Eredivisie European play-offs}} | 0 | 33 | 1 | ||
| 2006–07
|Eredivisie |23 | 3 | 0 | 0 | colspan="2"|— | 6{{efn|name=EEP}} | 1 | 29 | 4 | ||
| colspan="2"|Total
!105 | 9 | 4 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 16 | 2 | 126 | 11 | |
| PAOK
|23 | 0 | 0 | 0 | colspan="2"|— | colspan="2"|— | 23 | 0 | |||
| rowspan="4"|Sparta Rotterdam
|Eredivisie |26 | 5 | 2 | 0 | colspan="2"|— | colspan="2"|— | 28 | 5 | |||
| 2009–10
|Eredivisie |12 | 0 | 2 | 0 | colspan="2"|— | 4{{efn|name=PO}} | 0 | 18 | 0 | ||
| 2010–11
|17 | 3 | 1 | 0 | colspan="2"|— | colspan="2"|— | 18 | 3 | |||
| colspan="2"|Total
!55 | 8 | 5 | 0 | colspan="2"|— | 4 | 0 | 64 | 8 | ||
| colspan="3"|Career total
!183 | 17 | 9 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 20 | 2 | 213 | 19 |
{{notelist}}
References
{{reflist}}
{{DEFAULTSORT:Knol, Ruud}}
Category:Footballers from Gelderland
Category:Men's association football central defenders
Category:Dutch men's footballers
Category:Dutch expatriate men's footballers
Category:Sparta Rotterdam players
Category:Eerste Divisie players
Category:Super League Greece players
Category:Expatriate men's footballers in Greece
Category:Dutch expatriate sportspeople in Greece
Category:21st-century Dutch sportsmen
Category:Dutch football coaches