Ruud Hesp
Encyclopedia
Rudolfus 'Ruud' Hubertus Hesp (born October 31, 1965 in Bussum
, North Holland
) is a retired Dutch
footballer, who played as a goalkeeper. After his active career, he started working as a keeper trainer. Currently he works at FC Groningen and for the Dutch national team.
. After two seasons where he rarely played, he moved to another side in the top flight
, Fortuna Sittard
, where he would remain the following seven years. During his first ten professional seasons (one with Fortuna was spent in the second level
), he did not miss a single match.
After three seasons with Roda JC, Hesp joined Spain
's FC Barcelona
, as the Catalans
were being managed by countryman Louis van Gaal
, also newly signed. He easily beat competition from Portuguese
Vítor Baía
, playing in 73 out of 76 possible La Liga
contests, as Barça won back-to-back leagues (in 1997–98, the double befell).
In his last season at the Camp Nou
, Hesp split first-choice status with youth graduate Francesc Arnau
, then moved back to Holland and Fortuna, retiring at almost 37 in 2002. Subsequently, he worked with FC Groningen as a goalkeepers' coach.
for its UEFA Euro 1996 and 1998 FIFA World Cup
squads, he never actually won a cap
for the national team, acting as understudy to both first-choice Edwin van der Sar
and his substitute Ed de Goey.
, was also a professional footballer, in the defender
position. The pair shared teams in 1994–95, at Roda.
Bussum
Bussum is a municipality and a town in the Netherlands, in the province of North Holland.-History:Bussum was first mentioned in 1306. In this time, Bussum was a large heathland with many small farms, sheep pens and forests as is shown on old maps. Since Bussum is situated near the fortified town...
, North Holland
North Holland
North Holland |West Frisian]]: Noard-Holland) is a province situated on the North Sea in the northwest part of the Netherlands. The provincial capital is Haarlem and its largest city is Amsterdam.-Geography:...
) is a retired Dutch
Netherlands
The Netherlands is a constituent country of the Kingdom of the Netherlands, located mainly in North-West Europe and with several islands in the Caribbean. Mainland Netherlands borders the North Sea to the north and west, Belgium to the south, and Germany to the east, and shares maritime borders...
footballer, who played as a goalkeeper. After his active career, he started working as a keeper trainer. Currently he works at FC Groningen and for the Dutch national team.
Club career
Hesp started his career in the 1985–86 season at HFC HaarlemHFC Haarlem
HFC Haarlem was a Dutch football club from the city of Haarlem, established in 1889. The club won the Dutch national title in 1946 and reached five Cup finals, winning in 1902 and 1912...
. After two seasons where he rarely played, he moved to another side in the top flight
Eredivisie
The Eredivisie is the highest football league in the Netherlands. The league was founded in 1956 two years after the start of professional football in the Netherlands. It is currently ranked the ninth best league in Europe by UEFA....
, Fortuna Sittard
Fortuna Sittard
Fortuna Sittard is a football club in Sittard, Netherlands. The club currently plays its football in the 12,500 capacity Trendwork Arena and features in the Dutch Eerste Divisie. The club was a merger of former clubs 'Fortuna 54' and 'Sittardia' to merge as the Fortuna Sittard Combinatie on July 1,...
, where he would remain the following seven years. During his first ten professional seasons (one with Fortuna was spent in the second level
Eerste Divisie
The Eerste Divisie is the second-highest division of football in the Netherlands. It is linked with the top-level Eredivisie via a promotion/relegation system. It is also known as the Jupiler League due to sponsorship, which is the same name as the top league in Belgium...
), he did not miss a single match.
After three seasons with Roda JC, Hesp joined Spain
Spain
Spain , officially the Kingdom of Spain languages]] under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages. In each of these, Spain's official name is as follows:;;;;;;), is a country and member state of the European Union located in southwestern Europe on the Iberian Peninsula...
's FC Barcelona
FC Barcelona
Futbol Club Barcelona , also known as Barcelona and familiarly as Barça, is a professional football club, based in Barcelona, Catalonia, Spain....
, as the Catalans
Catalonia
Catalonia is an autonomous community in northeastern Spain, with the official status of a "nationality" of Spain. Catalonia comprises four provinces: Barcelona, Girona, Lleida, and Tarragona. Its capital and largest city is Barcelona. Catalonia covers an area of 32,114 km² and has an...
were being managed by countryman Louis van Gaal
Louis van Gaal
Aloysius Paulus Maria "Louis" van Gaal OON is a Dutch football manager formerly in charge of Ajax, Netherlands, Barcelona, AZ and Bayern Munich...
, also newly signed. He easily beat competition from Portuguese
Portugal
Portugal , officially the Portuguese Republic is a country situated in southwestern Europe on the Iberian Peninsula. Portugal is the westernmost country of Europe, and is bordered by the Atlantic Ocean to the West and South and by Spain to the North and East. The Atlantic archipelagos of the...
Vítor Baía
Vítor Baía
Vítor Manuel Martins Baía, OIH , is a retired Portuguese footballer who played as a goalkeeper.His career was intimately connected with F.C...
, playing in 73 out of 76 possible La Liga
La Liga
The Primera División of the Liga Nacional de Fútbol Profesional , commonly known as La Liga or, for sponsorship reasons, Liga BBVA since 2008, is the top professional association football division of the Spanish football league system...
contests, as Barça won back-to-back leagues (in 1997–98, the double befell).
In his last season at the Camp Nou
Camp Nou
Camp Nou , sometimes called "the Nou Camp" in English, is a football stadium in Barcelona, Catalonia, Spain. The stadium, located in the west of the city, has been the home of FC Barcelona since its construction in 1957....
, Hesp split first-choice status with youth graduate Francesc Arnau
Francesc Arnau
Francesc Xavier Arnau Grabulosa is a retired Spanish footballer who played as a goalkeeper....
, then moved back to Holland and Fortuna, retiring at almost 37 in 2002. Subsequently, he worked with FC Groningen as a goalkeepers' coach.
International career
Although Hesp was picked by the NetherlandsNetherlands national football team
The Netherlands National Football Team represents the Netherlands in association football and is controlled by the Royal Dutch Football Association , the governing body for football in the Netherlands...
for its UEFA Euro 1996 and 1998 FIFA World Cup
1998 FIFA World Cup
The 1998 FIFA World Cup, the 16th FIFA World Cup, was held in France from 10 June to 12 July 1998. France was chosen as host nation by FIFA on 2 July 1992. The tournament was won by France, who beat Brazil 3-0 in the final...
squads, he never actually won a cap
Cap (sport)
In sports, a cap is a metaphorical term for a player's appearance on a select team, such as a national team. The term dates from the practice in the United Kingdom of awarding a cap to every player in an international match of association football...
for the national team, acting as understudy to both first-choice Edwin van der Sar
Edwin van der Sar
Edwin van der Sar OON is a former footballer who played as a goalkeeper for AFC Ajax, Juventus, Fulham and Manchester United. He is the most capped player in the Netherlands national football team's history...
and his substitute Ed de Goey.
Personal
Hesp's younger brother, DannyDanny Hesp
Danny Petrus Hesp is a retired Dutch professional footballer, who played as a defender.-Football career:Born in Amsterdam, Hesp started at local giants AFC Ajax, but only appeared nine times in three seasons combined, all in his first year.Released in 1990, he resumed his career with SC...
, was also a professional footballer, in the defender
Defender (association football)
Within the sport of association football, a defender is an outfield player whose primary role is to prevent the opposition from attacking....
position. The pair shared teams in 1994–95, at Roda.