LEONTIEN Slaats is the wife of former Man United striker Ruud van Nistelrooy.
Here’s what we know about Leontien and her relationship with Ruud, who has stepped into the Red Devils’ hot-seat following the sacking of former manager Erik ten Hag.
Ruud Van Nistelrooy is married to Leontien Slaats[/caption]
Leontien Slaats was born in the Netherlands, though her date of birth is not publicly known.
Meeting Ruud van Nistelrooy
She and Ruud van Nistelrooy reportedly got together in 2002.
Very little information is available about their early relationship.
They dated for two years before getting married.
Wedding
Ruud and Leontien tied the knot on July 10, 2004.
At the time, van Nistelrooy was at the height of his career, playing for Manchester United in the Premier League.
Ruud married Leontien in a private service near his hometown of Oss, North Brabant.
The couple were pronounced man and wife at around noon at the Heesch town hall.
A small group of friends and family then attended the ceremony in a Catholic church.
Crowds of fans cheered as the couple arrived at the Maria Magdalena Church in the village of Geffen, about 100 kilometers (60 miles) southeast of Amsterdam.
Leontien wore a white dress, while Ruud, who had turned 28 earlier the same week, wore a beige suit.
The couple refused to allow a webcam or any media in the church during the ceremony.
The same year the Dutchman finished among the top three scorers at Euro 2004 in Portugal, with four goals for the Netherlands.
Kids
The couple has two children together.
Ruud van Nistelrooy of the Netherlands kissing his wife Leontien Slaats after their wedding ceremony[/caption]
Their daughter Moa Annette was born in September 2006.
They also have a son named Liam, who was born in March 2008.
Despite the footballer’s fame, Ruud and Leontien have maintained a relatively private family life, and shielded their children from excessive public attention
Charity work
One area where Leontien has made a public impact is through her charitable work.
Together with her husband, she has been involved with SOS Children’s Villages, an international organisation dedicated to protecting the rights of children.
Ruud was officially appointed as a FIFA for SOS Children’s Villages Ambassador in the Netherlands on September 1, 2001.
