Ruud Hesp

Born in Bussum, North Holland, Hesp started his career in the 1985–86 season at HFC Haarlem. After two years where he rarely played, he moved to another club in the Eredivisie, Fortuna Sittard, where he would remain the following seven years; during his first ten professional campaigns (one with Fortuna was spent in the second division), he did not miss a single game.

After three seasons with Roda JC, Hesp signed with Spanish side 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 matches as Barça won back-to-back leagues (in 1998, 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 the Netherlands and Fortuna, retiring at almost 37 in 2002. Subsequently, he joined FC Groningen as a goalkeeper's coach.

In the 2013 summer, Hesp left Groningen for PSV Eindhoven in the same capacity.

Although Hesp was picked by the Netherlands for their 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.

He also worked with the national team as a goalkeeper coach.

Hesp's younger brother, Danny, was also a professional footballer. A defender, the pair shared teams in 1994–95 at Roda.