"But really, I can only be dangerous for the team in one place, and that is in the box"
About this Quote
The subtext is almost defiant in an era that increasingly romanticizes the all-action forward. Van Nistelrooy is drawing a line against the modern obsession with versatility and "complete" players. He frames specialization not as a weakness but as a kind of professional honesty: danger is not a vibe you carry everywhere; its a repeatable skill in a specific environment. In the box, touches are fewer, defenders are closer, and excuses vanish. Thats where movement becomes language - the half-yard of separation, the near-post dart, the delayed run to meet a cutback. His identity is precision under compression.
Context matters: van Nistelrooy built a career on ruthless efficiency, often thriving on service rather than spectacle. The quote reads like a message to teammates and coaches: if you want goals, design the team to feed the zone where Im lethal. Its also a subtle critique of pundit culture that scolds poachers as passengers. He reclaims the role: not a passenger, a specialist weapon, activated in the penalty area.
Quote Details
| Topic | Sports |
|---|---|
| Source | Help us find the source |
| Cite |
Citation Formats
APA Style (7th ed.)
Nistelrooy, Ruud van. (2026, January 17). But really, I can only be dangerous for the team in one place, and that is in the box. FixQuotes. https://fixquotes.com/quotes/but-really-i-can-only-be-dangerous-for-the-team-81622/
Chicago Style
Nistelrooy, Ruud van. "But really, I can only be dangerous for the team in one place, and that is in the box." FixQuotes. January 17, 2026. https://fixquotes.com/quotes/but-really-i-can-only-be-dangerous-for-the-team-81622/.
MLA Style (9th ed.)
"But really, I can only be dangerous for the team in one place, and that is in the box." FixQuotes, 17 Jan. 2026, https://fixquotes.com/quotes/but-really-i-can-only-be-dangerous-for-the-team-81622/. Accessed 19 Feb. 2026.







