# Ruud Knol

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**Ruud Knol** (born 13 March 1981) is a Dutch professional [football](/source/Association_football) coach and former player. He most notably played as a [centre-back](/source/Centre-back) for [Vitesse](/source/SBV_Vitesse) between 2000 and 2007.

## Club career

Knol was born in [Zevenaar](/source/Zevenaar), in the province of [Gelderland](/source/Gelderland) and started his career at OBW, where he was spotted by [Vitesse](/source/SBV_Vitesse) scouts.[2] He made his professional debut for Vitesse on 8 September 2000, replacing [Theo Janssen](/source/Theo_Janssen) in the 80th minute of a 2–2 draw against [Willem II](/source/Willem_II_(football_club)).[3] He played six years for Vitesse and was called up once by then Netherlands coach [Louis van Gaal](/source/Louis_van_Gaal) for the [Netherlands national team](/source/Netherlands_national_football_team).[4] 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.[5] Despite receiving interest from various clubs, including [1. FC Köln](/source/1._FC_K%C3%B6ln) and [Southampton](/source/Southampton_F.C.), Knol remained without a team for an extended period.[6] Then, on 18 August, it was revealed that Knol had signed a two-year contract with Greek club [PAOK](/source/PAOK_FC).[7] After one season in Greece, he returned to the Netherlands to play for [Sparta Rotterdam](/source/Sparta_Rotterdam).[8]

Starting from the preseason of the [2011–12 season](/source/2011%E2%80%9312_Eredivisie), Knol maintained his fitness at Vitesse while waiting for an attractive offer from abroad. Vitesse's coach, [John van den Brom](/source/John_van_den_Brom), had previously indicated that Knol was not in consideration for a contract with Vitesse.[9] As a result, Knol made every effort to find a new club. However, after an unsuccessful trial at [Coventry City](/source/Coventry_City_F.C.) and other attempts, he decided to retire from professional football.[10]

## 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](/source/Jong_Vitesse).[11][12]

Jong Vitesse's stay in the [Tweede Divisie](/source/Tweede_Divisie) was short-lived, lasting only one year. The team, under the leadership of [John Lammers](/source/John_Lammers_(footballer)) and Knol, finished seventeenth, which led to their relegation to the [Derde Divisie](/source/Derde_Divisie).[13] During the 2019–20 season, Knol worked as an analyst at [De Graafschap](/source/De_Graafschap).[14]

## Career statistics

Appearances and goals by club, season and competition[15] Club Season League KNVB Cup Europe Other Total Division Apps Goals Apps Goals Apps Goals Apps Goals Apps Goals Vitesse 2000–01 Eredivisie 14 0 0 0 1[a] 0 — 15 0 2001–02 Eredivisie 24 3 3 0 — — 27 3 2002–03 Eredivisie 2 0 0 0 — — 2 0 2003–04 Eredivisie 12 2 0 0 — 4[b] 1 16 3 2004–05 Eredivisie 3 0 1 0 — — 4 0 2005–06 Eredivisie 27 1 0 0 — 6[c] 0 33 1 2006–07 Eredivisie 23 3 0 0 — 6[c] 1 29 4 Total 105 9 4 0 1 0 16 2 126 11 PAOK 2007–08 Super League 23 0 0 0 — — 23 0 Sparta Rotterdam 2008–09 Eredivisie 26 5 2 0 — — 28 5 2009–10 Eredivisie 12 0 2 0 — 4[b] 0 18 0 2010–11 Eerste Divisie 17 3 1 0 — — 18 3 Total 55 8 5 0 — 4 0 64 8 Career total 183 17 9 0 1 0 20 2 213 19

1. Appearances in [UEFA Cup](/source/UEFA_Europa_League)

1. Appearances in [Eredivisie](/source/Eredivisie) promotion/relegation playoffs

1. Appearances in Eredivisie European play-offs

## References

1. ["R. Knol: Profiel"](https://www.vi.nl/spelers/ruud-knol/profiel). *[Voetbal International](/source/Voetbal_International)*. [Archived](https://web.archive.org/web/20231112152637/https://www.vi.nl/spelers/ruud-knol/profiel) 12 November 2023 at the Wayback Machine. Retrieved 12 November 2023.

1. ["Ruud Knol: 'Waarom ben ik niet geschikt voor de Top Drie?'"](https://www.vi.nl/nieuws/ruud-knol-waarom-ben-ik-niet-geschikt-voor-de-top-drie) (in Dutch). *Voetbal International*. 13 September 2006. [Archived](https://web.archive.org/web/20231112153031/https://www.vi.nl/nieuws/ruud-knol-waarom-ben-ik-niet-geschikt-voor-de-top-drie) 12 November 2023 at the Wayback Machine. Retrieved 12 November 2023.

1. ["Willem II – Vitesse 2:2 (Eredivisie 2000/2001, 4. Round)"](https://www.worldfootball.net/match-report/ma1935292/lineup/). *WorldFootball.net*. HEIM:SPIEL. Retrieved 12 November 2023.

1. ["Van der Vaart alsnog in Oranje"](https://www.vi.nl/nieuws/van-der-vaart-alsnog-in-oranje) (in Dutch). *Voetbal International*. 6 October 2001. [Archived](https://web.archive.org/web/20231112153611/https://www.vi.nl/nieuws/van-der-vaart-alsnog-in-oranje) 12 November 2023 at the Wayback Machine. Retrieved 12 November 2023.

1. ["'Schandalig dat ik als geldwolf word neergezet'"](https://www.vi.nl/nieuws/schandalig-dat-ik-als-geldwolf-word-neergezet) (in Dutch). *Voetbal International*. 25 July 2007. [Archived](https://web.archive.org/web/20231112151105/https://www.vi.nl/nieuws/schandalig-dat-ik-als-geldwolf-word-neergezet) 12 November 2023 at the Wayback Machine. Retrieved 12 November 2023.

1. ["'Knol weigert contract bij Southampton'"](https://www.vi.nl/nieuws/knol-weigert-contract-bij-southampton) (in Dutch). *Voetbal International*. 11 August 2007. [Archived](https://web.archive.org/web/20231112151303/https://www.vi.nl/nieuws/knol-weigert-contract-bij-southampton) 12 November 2023 at the Wayback Machine. Retrieved 12 November 2023.

1. ["Ruud Knol zet handtekening bij PAOK"](https://www.trouw.nl/home/ruud-knol-zet-handtekening-bij-paok~ba70dfc8/) (in Dutch). *Trouw*. 21 August 2007. Retrieved 12 November 2023.

1. ["Ruud Knol naar Sparta Rotterdam"](https://web.archive.org/web/20080831225112/http://www.sparta-rotterdam.nl/content/nieuws/default2007.asp?id=4886) (in Dutch). *Sparta Rotterdam*. 18 August 2008. Archived from [the original](http://www.sparta-rotterdam.nl/content/nieuws/default2007.asp?id=4886) on 31 August 2008.

1. Dam, Erik van (22 July 2011). ["Vitesse laat werkloze ex-verdediger zonder bijbedoelingen meetrainen"](https://www.voetbalzone.nl/nieuws/vitesse-laat-werkloze-ex-verdediger-zonder-bijbedoelingen-meetrainen/142969) (in Dutch). *Voetbalzone*. [Archived](https://web.archive.org/web/20231112151915/https://www.voetbalzone.nl/nieuws/vitesse-laat-werkloze-ex-verdediger-zonder-bijbedoelingen-meetrainen/142969) 12 November 2023 at the Wayback Machine. Retrieved 12 November 2023.

1. ["Wereldreiziger Knol: 'Meer in het leven dan voetbal'"](https://www.vi.nl/nieuws/wereldreiziger-knol-meer-in-het-leven-dan-voetbal) (in Dutch). *Voetbal International*. 9 February 2012. [Archived](https://web.archive.org/web/20231112152502/https://www.vi.nl/nieuws/wereldreiziger-knol-meer-in-het-leven-dan-voetbal) 12 November 2023 at the Wayback Machine. Retrieved 12 November 2023.

1. ["Ruud Knol verlaat Vitesse opnieuw"](https://vitesse.org/nieuws/ruud-knol-verlaat-vitesse-opnieuw/) (in Dutch). *Supportersvereniging Vitesse*. 27 May 2018. Retrieved 12 November 2023.

1. ["Knol vertrekt bij Vitesse: "Was geen ruimte bij het eerste elftal""](https://www.fcupdate.nl/voetbalnieuws/2018/05/knol-vertrekt-bij-vitesse-was-geen-ruimte-bij-het-eerste-elftal) (in Dutch). *FCUpdate.nl*. 26 May 2018. [Archived](https://web.archive.org/web/20231112154318/https://www.fcupdate.nl/voetbalnieuws/2018/05/knol-vertrekt-bij-vitesse-was-geen-ruimte-bij-het-eerste-elftal) 12 November 2023 at the Wayback Machine. Retrieved 12 November 2023.

1. Janssen, Eugène (6 May 2017). ["Jong Vitesse degradeert naar derde divisie"](https://www.gelderlander.nl/voetbal-arnhem/jong-vitesse-degradeert-naar-derde-divisie~ac5fceed/) (in Dutch). *De Gelderlander*. Retrieved 12 November 2023.

1. Steenbergen, Mark van (1 October 2019). ["De Graafschap schakelt ex-prof Knol in als analist"](https://www.gelderlander.nl/de-graafschap/de-graafschap-schakelt-ex-prof-knol-in-als-analist~ac4e7f53/) (in Dutch). *De Gelderlander*. Retrieved 12 November 2023.

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Adapted from the Wikipedia article [Ruud Knol](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ruud_Knol) by Wikipedia contributors ([contributor history](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ruud_Knol?action=history)). Available under [Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 4.0 International](https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0/). Changes may have been made.