Ruud Geels

Geertruida Maria "Ruud" Geels (; 28 July 1948 – 18 November 2023) was a Dutch professional footballer who played as a striker. He obtained 20 caps for the Netherlands national team, scoring eleven goals. A prolific striker known for his heading skills, Geels is the only player to win the Eredivisie topscoring title five times (followed by Marco van Basten with four titles), and is the second most scoring player in the Dutch top football division, behind Willy van der Kuijlen. He is also known for being the first of only two footballers (the second being Ronald Koeman) to play for the big three teams in Dutch football - Ajax, PSV and Feyenoord. He helped the Netherlands win a third place at the UEFA Euro 1976 by scoring two goals against Yugoslavia in the play-off for the third place.

Style of play

A fast, agile striker, Geels was one of the most prolific goalscorers in Europe in the 70's. He was renowned for his heading skills and aerial abilities. In an interview with Voetbal International, Geels explained that he practiced his heading skills at Telstar by using an old English head gallow, noting that "You always have to be a beat ahead of your opponent". In a NRC article about Geels, Jaap Bloembergen wrote that no one jumped higher and headed a ball harder than Geels.

Personal life

Geels was the father of Luciène Geels, who played for the Dutch women's softball team for many years and participated in the 1996 Summer Olympics.

Geels died on 18 November 2023, at the age of 75, having suffered from Alzheimer's disease for a long time.

Division!!Apps!!Goals!!Apps!!Goals!!Apps!!Goals!!Apps!!Goals!!Apps!!Goals Telstar 1965–66 Eredivisie

1966–67 Eredivisie

1967–68 Eredivisie

1968–69 Eredivisie

1969–70 Eredivisie

1970–71 Eredivisie

1971–72 Eredivisie

1972–73 Belgian First Division

1973–74 Belgian First Division

1974–75 Eredivisie

1975–76 Eredivisie

1976–77 Eredivisie

1977–78 Eredivisie

Anderlecht 1978–79 Belgian First Division

1979–80 Eredivisie

1980–81 Eredivisie

1981–82 Eredivisie

1982–83 Eredivisie

NAC 1982–83 Eredivisie

International + Appearances and goals by national team and year Eredivisie: 1968–69 KNVB Cup: 1968–69 Belgian Sports Merit Award: 1978 NetherlandsFIFA World Cup runner-up: 1974 UEFA European Championship third place: 1976Individual''' Eredivisie Top Scorer: 1974–75, 1975–76, 1976–77, 1977–78, 1980–81 World XI: 1976