Tiny Ruys

{{short description|Dutch football player and coach (1957–2025)}}

{{Infobox football biography

|name = Tiny Ruijs

|image =

|full_name = Martinus Johannes Maria Ruys

|birth_date = {{birth date|1957|05|08|df=y}}

|birth_place = Cuijk, Netherlands

|death_date = {{death date and age|2025|01|11|1957|05|08|df=y}}

|death_place = Riemst, Belgium

|youthyears1 =

|youthclubs1 = JVC '31

|years1 = 1975–1977

|clubs1 = NEC

|caps1 = 13

|goals1 = 0

|years2 = 1977–1986

|clubs2 = Fortuna Sittard

|caps2 = 225

|goals2 = 61

|totalcaps = 238

|totalgoals = 61

|manageryears1 = 2001

|managerclubs1 = United Arab Emirates

|manageryears2 = 2006–2007

|managerclubs2 = Al Ain (caretaker)

|manageryears3 = 2011–2012

|managerclubs3 = Fortuna Sittard

|manageryears4 = 2013

|managerclubs4 = MVV

|manageryears5 = 2015–2025

|managerclubs5 = SV Meerssen

|manageryears6 = 2016–2017

|managerclubs6 = Fortuna Sittard

|manageryears7 = 2018–2019

|managerclubs7 = EVV

}}

Martinus Johannes Maria "Tiny" Ruys (8 May 1957 – 11 January 2025) was a Dutch football player and coach.[https://www.voetbalkrant.com/apphulp/nl/spelers/ruijs-tini Unknown]{{Dead link | date=February 2025 | fix-attempted=yes}}

Playing career

Ruijs joined Fortuna Sittard from NEC and played 231 games for the club, clinching promotion to the Eredivisie with them in 1981.{{cite web|url=https://fortunasittard.nl/nieuws/fortunees-tini-ruijs-67-overleden|title=Fortunees Tini Ruijs (67) overleden|website=Fortuna Sittard|language=nl|date=11 January 2025|access-date=12 January 2025}} He played in 13 Eredivisie matches for NEC and 65 for Fortuna.{{cite web|url=https://www.voetbalstats.nl/spelerere.php?persid=28492|title=Tiny Ruys|website=Voetbalstats|language=nl|access-date=12 January 2025}}

Managerial career

Ruys was in charge of the United Arab Emirates in 2001,{{cite web|url=http://www.vi.nl/nieuws/tiny-ruys-met-emiraten-stap-dichter-bij-wk.htm|title=Tiny Ruys met Emiraten stap dichter bij WK|date=5 October 2001|accessdate=22 June 2014|language=Dutch|publisher=Voetbal International}} and has also managed Dutch club teams Fortuna Sittard{{cite web|url=https://www.gelderlander.nl/overig/cuijkenaar-tiny-ruys-trainer-fortuna-sittard~a9030e36/?referrer=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.google.nl%2F|title=Cuijkenaar Tiny Ruys trainer Fortuna Sittard|newspaper=Gelderlander|language=nl|date=29 December 2011|access-date=12 January 2025|first=Niels|last=Gerritsen}} and MVV.{{cite web|url=http://www.dichtbij.nl/maastricht/regionaal-nieuws/artikel/2800655/mvv-en-de-winnaar-istiny-ruys.aspx|title=MVV: En de winnaar is...Tiny Ruys?|date=14 May 2013|accessdate=22 June 2014|language=Dutch|publisher=Dichtbij}} He left MVV after he was threatened by his own supporters{{cite web|url=https://www.mvv.nl/nieuws/oud-mvv-trainer-tini-ruijs-overleden|title=Oud MVV-trainer Tini Ruijs overleden|website=MVV|language=nl|date=12 January 2025|access-date=12 January 2025}} and then managed SV Meerssen{{Cite web | title=In de Wandelgangen - Tini Ruijs nieuwe trainer SV Meerssen | url=http://www.indewandelgangen.com/article/read/4901/Tini-Ruijs-nieuwe-trainer-SV-Meerssen | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150319065826/http://indewandelgangen.com/article/read/4901/Tini-Ruijs-nieuwe-trainer-SV-Meerssen | access-date=8 February 2025 | archive-date=19 March 2015}}{{Cite web| title=Nieuwe spelers en assistenttrainer | language=nl | trans-title=New players and assistant coach | url=http://www.verenigingmvvmaastricht.nl/2013/images/nieuwsbrief/nieuwsbrief10.pdf | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160304083500/http://www.verenigingmvvmaastricht.nl/2013/images/nieuwsbrief/nieuwsbrief10.pdf | archive-date=4 March 2016}} and EVV whom he left early due to health issues.{{cite web|url=https://www.limburger.nl/regio/echt-susteren/trainer-tini-ruijs-per-direct-weg-bij-evv/21958336.html|title=Trainer Tini Ruijs per direct weg bij EVV|newspaper=Limburger|language=nl|date=2 June 2019|access-date=12 January 2025|first=Paul|last=Cluitmans}}

Death

Ruys died on 11 January 2025, at the age of 67.{{Cite web |title=Tiny Ruijs {{!}} Uitvaartzorg Barthels |url=https://www.dela.be/nl/uitvaartzorg-barthels/overlijdensberichten/overlijden-detail/11-01-2025/tiny-ruijs |access-date=14 January 2025 |website=Dela |language=nl}}