The Manchester United goalkeeper Edwin van der Sar will retire at the end of the season, Sir Alex Ferguson has confirmed.
The news ends several months of speculation about the 40-year-old Dutchman's future. In October United's goalkeeping coach, Eric Steele, told the Manchester Evening News that "Ed has made his mind up and said this is his last year", only for Van der Sar to strongly deny the claim. "That's complete nonsense," he said. "I don't yet know whether I will stop or continue after this season. Only in the course of this season will I think about it. Then I will decide and not before."
Last month Ferguson was quoted by The People saying: "I have come to accept this will be Edwin's last season. It's sad but the difficulty for a goalkeeper when he gets to 40 is something which happened with Peter Shilton. All of a sudden, because of age, Shilton's form just collapsed and I don't think Edwin would want that.
He is such a proud man and it's going to be a big loss."
This morning, in a press conference to preview the Boxing Day fixture against Sunderland, Ferguson returned to the theme. "We are planning for this being his last season," he said.
Given his vast experience, Van der Sar is bound to be an attractive proposition as a coach, although Ferguson admitted talks are still to take place on the matter. "We have not discussed it," he said. "But Edwin is a player who would be of interest in terms of his knowledge and standing in the game."
Having stated on numerous occasions his regret at not bringing in Van der Sar as an immediate replacement for Peter Schmeichel when the legendary Dane retired in 1999, Ferguson will want to avoid being similarly exposed this time around.
The Denmark international Anders Lindegaard arrived last month from Aalesund, while Germany's Manuel Neuer continues to be linked with a move.
Lindegaard is certainly an interesting proposition, although Ferguson has revealed his newest recruit will not be eligible until after the Premier League encounter with Stoke on 4 January.
"We can't register him until after the Stoke game because of the Bank Holiday," he said. "But he is training with us now and that is important. It will bring him to a better level of fitness because he has not played for a few weeks. We will see how his progress goes."
Van der Sar is virtually certain to start the Boxing Day encounter with Sunderland, when United will look to consolidate their position at the top of the table.
Ferguson reported the majority of his squad have shrugged off the effects of flu, which would have ruled Nemanja Vidic and Anderson out of last weekend's trip to Chelsea, if it had not been postponed.
Paul Scholes and John O'Shea are missing due to groin and calf problems respectively as United prepare for a meeting with the Wearsiders, who had the better of a draw at the Stadium of Light earlier this season.
"We were lucky to get a point at Sunderland," said Ferguson. "It is the hardest game we have had away from home all season."
As usual, Ferguson will take stock of the league table once all four Festive matches have been completed, although he accepts postponements may make it a difficult task.
"My aim is to try and be the top by 4 January. That would be good," he said. "If we are, we have done well. By that time, the top of the league will have taken shape, depending on the weather."
Running each day until the new season begins, The Premier League 60 is designed to reflect and honour the greatest players to have graced and illuminated the English top flight in the modern era, as voted for by our writers.
You might not agree with their choices, you won’t agree with the order (they didn’t), but we hope you’ll enjoy their stories. You can read Oliver Kay’s introduction to the series here.
When Peter Schmeichel decided to leave Manchester United for Sporting Lisbon in 1999, he left as a club legend and one of the best goalkeepers the Premier League ever had. He won five league titles in eight years and bowed out after a final appearance at the Nou Camp, lifting the Champions League trophy to complete the historic treble.
Following his departure, it was always going to be a difficult task for Sir Alex Ferguson to find a suitable replacement for a goalkeeper of Schmeichel’s stature. Though United did win three league titles and one FA Cup in the six years that followed, not one of the 10 goalkeepers who tried to fill Schmeichel’s gloves came close to making a similar impact.
Advertisement
In 2005, Ferguson raised eyebrows when he purchased a 34-year-old Edwin van der Sar from Fulham for £2 million. Although the Dutchman was a decorated player who had spent nearly a decade with Ajax followed by a brief spell with Juventus, he appeared to be a man at the tail end of his career rather than a long-term solution. He was seen as a one or two-season placeholder to allow United the time to develop their talented young goalkeepers — notably 22-year-old Ben Foster, who they had just purchased from Stoke City. Few would have ever predicted that Van der Sar’s signing would be the answer to all of United’s problems in between the posts and prove pivotal as they reasserted their dominance over European football in the mid- to late-2000s.
At United, Van der Sar’s past glories were quick to return as he rediscovered the form that made him one of the best goalkeepers in the world with Ajax, where he won four Eredivisie titles, a UEFA Cup and the 1994-95 Champions League. In his six seasons at Old Trafford, he won four Premier League titles, three League Cups, and a second Champions League trophy in 2007-08. Individually, he was named in the PFA Team of the Year three times, and won both the Premier League Golden Glove and UEFA Club Goalkeeper of the Year award in 2009. All of those titles and accolades might make for tedious reading, but that just speaks to the incredible longevity and consistency he was able to achieve across his 21-year professional career.
Goalkeepers are generally judged more harshly for their failures than they are praised for their successes. Consistency is one of those qualities that is easy to overlook until it is suddenly lacking, and it’s one of the hardest things to accomplish for any goalkeeper.
So how exactly did Van der Sar manage such sustained greatness? It’s all down to his superior fundamentals and the proactive style of play that he mastered over the years.
We often think of goalkeepers as reactive, since they are usually responding to the actions of the attackers in front of them. But nailing the fundamentals — proper positioning, handling and footwork — helps you become a goalkeeper who is able to prepare for the future, rather than reacting to the present. This is vital because it means you are no longer a prisoner of the moment, scrambling to stay on top of everything you need to do — check your post, take one step to your right, get set, come off your line, etc. It helps slow the game down in front of you. The fundamentals become ingrained in your psyche and you can execute them almost subconsciously as you move your focus two or three steps ahead, anticipating the play unfolding before you. This is a hidden skill that greatly benefits an ageing player.
Advertisement
This transition sounds logical, but it’s not a change all can goalkeepers make.
There are keepers who try to rely on their athleticism for the entirety of their careers only to experience a steep drop off in their early to mid-30s. Van der Sar overcame this through his approach and fundamentals. At a time when most keepers begin their decline, he continued to get better.
Van der Sar’s positioning was particularly superb and served as the foundation for the rest of his skill set. His positional awareness and technical efficiency — mainly in regards to his hand placement and footwork — meant he didn’t need to make any wild movements or adjustments as he traversed his goalmouth in preparation for each shot on target. By the time the ball was struck, he was almost always a step or two ahead of the play, and already in the optimal position with his body and hands in the correct shape to make the save.
He also took the quickest and most direct path to the ball in order to make the save. And it’s a big reason he was able to make as many saves as he did look so routine and effortless in moments when many of his peers would be wildly throwing themselves about to keep the ball out of their goal.
Schmeichel was an eccentric figure both on the field and in the dressing room, but Van der Sar never needed to be flamboyant. While it was a common occurrence to see Schmeichel barking out orders to the players in front of him, Van der Sar opted for a different, more subdued approach. He quietly but efficiently organised his defence, directing and orchestrating them into the right positions at exactly the right times to disrupt the opponent’s attack.
Often when you see a goalkeeper scream at a defender, the defender walks away and ignores the yelling or, at worst, gets into a shouting match with the keeper. This rarely happened with Van der Sar. By being calm yet constructive, he was able to get his points across while supporting his team-mates and the efforts they were giving. After all, the last thing any goalkeeper wants is for his team-mates to think that he doesn’t appreciate their work and effort.
(Photo: Mike Hewitt/Getty Images)
The goalkeeper is often an emotional foundation for a team, and Van der Sar’s relaxed nature and ability to remain even-keeled helped him appear to be an unflappable force in goal, inspiring confidence in his team-mates that allowed them to trust their own decisions and play more freely and in control of their own game.
If there was a mistake, Van der Sar’s demeanour made it possible for them to digest what happened, learn from it, and quickly move on. It may not be talked about too often, but it makes a difference and impacts the teams’ play when they actually like and trust the goalkeeper behind them.
Advertisement
That trust helped Van der Sar and his team-mates keep a record 14 consecutive Premier League clean sheets during the 2008-09 season (1,311 minutes without conceding), which will go down as one of the great records of the Premier League, and unlikely ever to be bested.
In the instances when that wasn’t enough, Van der Sar’s reactions were otherworldly, right up until his retirement at 40 years old. He was capable of outstanding fingertip stops, sweeping up the danger behind his back-line, dominating the aerial game in his box, and producing the most important saves on the biggest of stages. Van der Sar was the definition of a complete goalkeeper, as there wasn’t a glaring weakness or deficiency in his game.
4️⃣ #PL titles 🏆
1️⃣ Golden Glove 🧤
Record-holder for most consecutive PL clean sheets with 1️⃣4️⃣…@vdsar1970 joined @ManUtd #OnThisDay in 2005 pic.twitter.com/qC10xJAPHA— Premier League (@premierleague) June 5, 2020
The most memorable moment for Van der Sar would have to be the 2008 Champions League final in Moscow against Chelsea. With the score even at 1-1 after extra time, it came down to penalties.
Ironically, Van der Sar’s Achilles’ heel had always been penalty kicks up to that point in his career. He was on the losing end of several high-profile shootouts, most notably against Juventus in the 1996 Champions League final with Ajax, against Brazil in the 1998 World Cup semi-finals and against Italy in the 2000 European Championship semi-finals with Holland. For all of the emotional intelligence and calmness he displayed on the pitch, the wild fluctuations that came with penalty shootouts was something he just couldn’t overcome.
Until 2008.
While there are undoubtedly traits and skills that go into spot kicks, above all else they are an intense psychological battle between the shooter and goalkeeper — especially in shootouts, where the outcome of important, do-or-die matches often comes down to who can remain the calmest and most in control as so much hangs in the balance.
In these situations, it’s up to the goalkeeper to make the kick as difficult and uncomfortable as they possibly can for the shooter. Some choose to move their limbs frantically about, others stand disconcertingly still. Regardless of the keeper’s approach, it’s most important for them to wait as long as possible, watch the shooter’s run-up, and commit only just before, or at the very moment, the shooter strikes the ball. It’s essentially a poker game between the keeper and shooter, and it’s the goalkeeper’s job to spot their opponent’s tell.
After United took a 6-5 lead in the shootout against Chelsea, it all came down to Nicolas Anelka.
As he made his approach, with the enormous stakes of a European Cup final riding on the outcome, Van der Sar calmly stood and pointed to the left side of his goal before the Chelsea striker began his run-up.
Before the shootout, the Chelsea players were told to shoot to Van der Sar’s left, as he often dived to his right. Pointing to his left was Van der Sar’s attempt to get inside Anelka’s head. And it worked. It prompted indecision, and Anelka shot right instead — at a perfect height for Van der Sar to comfortably make the save. The grinning keeper jumped to his feet and flung his arms into the air in triumph.
(ADRIAN DENNIS/AFP via Getty Images)
Though it wasn’t the most difficult save of Van der Sar’s career, it was a defining moment and among the most important stops of his career.
Advertisement
While most players usually hang on a season or two too long as their abilities decline, Van der Sar retired at the very top of his game, leaving after becoming the oldest player to win the Premier League and the oldest to appear in a Champions League final in his last campaign.
With many quick to point to Schmeichel’s success in the 90s or, more recently, David de Gea’s peak when discussing the best goalkeepers to ever represent Manchetser United, Van der Sar sometimes slips under the radar. Whether it’s because of his personality or the way he made things look so easy for as long as he did, we shouldn’t hold that against him and forget just how special he was. Few goalkeepers have reached the heights he did across such a long period of time.
(Top photo: Getty Images; Tom Slator for The Athletic)
11:33 09/04/2013 (updated: 12:13 29.02.2016)
https://rsport.ria.ru/20130904/684834402.html
Van der Sar and van der Sar
Van der Sar and van der Sar - RIA Novosti Sport, 02/29/2016
Van der Sar and van der Sar
Edwin van der Sar is one of the strongest goalkeepers not only of the Netherlands national team, but of the entire world football.
His career in professional football lasted 21 years. During this time, the goalkeeper played 130 matches for the national team, 605 matches for clubs and even scored one goal. The years in which goalkeepers have the heyday of skill, van der Sar spent in the provincial Fulham, and when many wrote him off, he became the main goalkeeper of Manchester United for 6 years. And all this time, the number 1 in the application was not constant guest on the front pages of newspapers.He just did his job and is doing it now.0003
2013-09-04T11:33
2013-09-04T11:33
2016-02-29T12:13
/html/head/meta[@name='og:title']/@content
https://cdnn21.img.ria.ru/images/sharing/article/684834402.jpg?1456737217
RIA Novosti Sport
1
5
4.7
9000
7 495 645-6601
FSUE MIA “Russia Today”
https: //xn--c1acbl2abdlkab1og.xn-p1ai /awards/
2013
Oksana Sukhanova
Oksana Sukhanova
News --p1ai/
RIA Novosti Sport
1
5
4.
7
9000
7 495 645-6601
FSUE MIA "Russia Today"
https:////////// /xn--c1acbl2abdlkab1og.xn--p1ai/awards/
RIA Novosti Sports
1
5
4.7
96
7 495 645-6601
Federal State Unitary Enterprise MIA RUSSIA TODITION
HTTPS: // XN---------------------------------------------------------- c1acbl2abdlkab1og.xn--p1ai/awards/
Oksana Sukhanova
memories - stories - sport stories, stories - sport stories
Memories - Stories - Sport Stories, Stories - Sport Stories
Someone called him boring, uninteresting. He rarely appeared in the press. He did not have the most beautiful wife and he was not "caught" with other women. He didn't drink at Blackpool. Didn't dance on bar counters. And it's hard to imagine him running in green boxers in an advertisement for a famous brand ...
He was a merry fellow and a magician at the football goal.
It was there that he "burned", enchanted, surprised, acted as heroes - he compensated for his non-football boringness, which, in principle, is called decency. The maximum that he could afford was to increase the territory of his heroism a little further than the borders of the penalty area due to excellent footwork. For this, Edwin van der Sar was loved, respected, and because of this they did not want to let go.
But he left. He left the big sport in order to devote as much time as possible to his beloved van der Sarams: wife Annemarie, son Joey and daughter Lynn.
One of the greatest goalkeepers of our time and absolutely the best in Holland is very beautiful, like in a movie, he could not leave. In his last match (it was the final of the Champions League of the 2010/2011 season, Manchester United and Barcelona played in London), the Moscow final of 2008 could not be repeated. The team lost that day, the applause of respect was lost in the victory of Barcelona, and having received a consolation medal, he had to modestly retire from the field.
Modest and dignified, just as he spent his entire career. Modestly not by results. Although Edwin never attracted additional attention, did not rebel, did not shock. There are no examples of his bad behavior, not even some funny little thing. Although ... Can I tell a story? On one of my trips to Manchester, friends asked me to get Rooney's autograph for their son. And getting the signature of any footballer in England is not such a difficult task as it seems at first glance. Any fan will decide. To do this, you can go to the service exit and get the cherished scribbles in turn. Yes, there will be many who want to, but very often the players devote enough time to their fans and there are almost no offended ones. So… Everyone is standing and waiting. Meanwhile, club parking attendants are pushing the players' personal cars to the exit. These are always very good cars, but without pathos - this is not approved in England. And suddenly, unexpectedly for many, a Porsche convertible is brought to the entrance! In the crowd of fans, hooting, playful protrusions of the lower lip and guessing "Whose?" begin.
We decided quickly. 99 out of 100 said Nani. Whose else? But you have obviously guessed the owner. Yes, it is! Van der Sar, having signed many, many autographs, deftly jumped inside, easily fitting his entire length into a small, but expensive and fashionable typewriter. The people were silent. Silently surprised.
Eka is unseen, right? How many football players are driven in cars and more abruptly, but such chic was in no way associated with van der Sar.
And now, two years later, old Edwin does not betray himself. He has already returned to football in a new capacity, studied at the Johan Cruyff Institute where sports managers are trained, does a lot of good deeds and his interviews are still rare, but still full of positive.
First things first.
The defeat against Barcelona was forgotten in just a couple of days. Manchester United secured their 19th league title that same season and a parade was planned after the London final. On a rainy day, the team swept through the streets of Manchester with a trophy, delighted their fans, and after that most of the players went on a tour of Asian countries.
Van der Sar went too. And only after fulfilling all contractual obligations to his club, he was able to return to Amsterdam.
The Dutch football community club Ajax did not let the ex-goalkeeper rest too long. They did not want to let go of their legend just like that and on August 3, 2011 they decided to hold a farewell match.
The day before these events, "Manchester United", at home, saw off another of its fighters - Paul Scholes, (As it turned out, they did not do well. The old robber returned the gifts and decided to play again). However, in the early morning hours of 3 August, a charter flight of top United players, led by Sir Alex Ferguson and Sir Bobby Charlton, headed for Amsterdam. When the guests were just flying, the main sports arena of the Dutch capital already had a sea of Ajax fans. Their favorite club opened the season and arranged a lot of interesting events. You could see all the Ajax players, take pictures with them and the championship trophy, get autographs, participate in competitions with prizes, update your wardrobe with a new T-shirt .
.. And at 5 pm, many moved to the stadium itself to end the day in good company, and although I would like to take another look at the game of the best goalkeeper in Holland. And the company gathered was not just good, it was excellent: the already mentioned club from England, Ajax, football players and coaches of the Dutch national team of different years and about 53 thousand fans. We started without parades and high-profile performances, just with football.
The children played first. Thirteen-year-old boys from Manchester United and Ajax. For the first half of the guests captained and stood at the gate van der Sar Jr. Joey did not play perfectly, missed, which caused sincere feelings in his father. However, even then it was clear that the youngest, in addition to training at the academy, was studying with a "tutor". In the manner, technique of playing with the naked eye, the "handwriting" of the star dad was noticeable. And when the young goalkeeper was replaced, van der Sar Sr.
immediately went to his son. Send a handshake and hints for the future. The mini-bout ended in a draw 2-2. Even the first match of the evening was remembered by some amazing, I would even say loving attitude of the young “Ajaxids” to the ball. They had a uniform of enormous size, but at the same time they very skillfully and carefully drove the ball around the field, without giving it to the enemy for a long time. And the guests appeared as aggressive, bold, but at the same time funny repeaters. Almost everyone could be seen as a little Giggs or Ferdinand, and the forward number ten with the obvious nickname "Rooney", when he scored a goal, even celebrated as his prototype - famously slid on his knees to the corner flag with his arms outstretched. Well, little van der Sar practically was. And yes, in the camp of the young “Mankunians” there was still a real Meulensteen – the son of the coach of the main team “United” René Meulensteen, by the way, also a Dutchman.
And then came the turn of adults and very adults.
The second was played by the golden team of Ajax of the 1995 model (the hero of the occasion played for them) and the 1998 draft Holland team. The de Boers brothers, Patrick Kluivert, Frank Rijkaard, Mark Overmars, Edgar Davids… almost one to one repeated the same “Ajax”. And the coach was the same - Louis van Gaal. And the impromptu national team included: Giovanni van Bronkhorst, Philip Cocu, Dennis Bergkamp, Pierre van Hooydonk, etc., and Guus Hiddink as a coach. The goalkeeper of "Ajax" defended his one and a half times to zero and let Fred Grim play, who also did not spoil the picture. Mark Overmars scored the only goal in this match and secured the victory for the club team.
At the end, Ajax and the team of friends of Edwin van der Sar played, the basis of which was the current players of Manchester United, Dirk Keith, Louis Saha, Giovanni van Bronkhorst, Denis Bergkamp, John Heitinga and others. Under the strict coaching guidance of Frank de Boer and Alex Ferguson, respectively.
The game itself, football was not remembered at all. That evening, goals, passes, strokes were not important. It looks like Edwin made a couple of saves and his team won 2-1. This is because it was difficult for many spectators to watch the game with watery eyes, and for some players to play with these tears. At the last minute of the meeting, the reserve referee, and his daughter Lynn performed his duties, raised a sign announcing the replacement. To a standing ovation, Edwin van der Sar left the field and no one came out to replace him. Because there is no equivalent replacement in Holland yet.
All proceeds from ticket sales and donations during this evening went to the Edwin van der Sar Charitable Foundation. After the official end of his career, at one of the family councils, it was decided to somehow systematize his charitable activities and create a foundation. The direction, what they will do, fate suggested to them. At the end of 2009, on the eve of Christmas, when the family was ready to celebrate the holiday, Annemarie, Edwin's wife, suffered a cerebral hemorrhage.
There was a real threat to life and a full-fledged further existence. But everything went well and she was able to fully recover. Then Alex Ferguson was sympathetic and let his main goalkeeper go to his wife for as long as he needed. And as we now know, the health and well-being of loved ones is a priority for the Scottish coach - after all, he himself left for the same reasons. So, after about two years, the family began to provide real help to people who suffered this terrible blow. The authority of Edwin and the active work of Annemarie made the foundation one of the most successful charitable organizations in Holland in just one year. Now they are finding opportunities and means to help people with other diseases, if they are approached. The whole family tries to take part in all activities of the van der Saree Foundation. However, the main burden has now fallen on Annemarie, because her husband has a new job. But more on that later.
In November 2011, Edwin van der Sar and some of his friends ran the New York City Marathon (his charity run) to support their foundation.
Every year, over 45 thousand people take to the streets of New York to test themselves, overcome a real marathon distance of 42 kilometers 195 meters and do a good deed. Each marathon participant must either carry out preliminary work to raise funds for a charity of their choice, or be a direct representative of the foundation and run in order to draw attention to the problem that this organization is engaged in. Van der Sar was very actively preparing for his first marathon. Since the beginning of the football season, he has been training regularly with the Ajax double and has been running almost daily. As a result, he overcame the distance, but at the finish the Dutchman complained that it was very difficult and he was not sure that he would endure to the end. An inexperienced marathon runner took a too fast start and incorrectly distributed his forces over the distance. But the goal was achieved, and on the other side of the ocean they learned that there is such a fund, still small, but ambitious, in which the right, trustworthy people work.
A year later, van der Sar and Ko decided to repeat the feat. The Foundation team arrived in New York in advance in order to have time to go through acclimatization and adjust to local time. But on the day the numbers and important instructions were received, the organizers announced their final decision - the 2012 New York City Marathon was cancelled. Hurricane Sandy intervened in the plans of all marathon runners. It showed its greatest power in the northeastern United States and caused many casualties and destruction. Local residents were angry at the police and other important intelligence agencies that they would stop helping citizens recover from the consequences of the hurricane, but would be distracted by some kind of marathon. The organizers of the race and the mayor of New York, Michael Bloomberg, in a joint statement said that they did not want a "cloud of discontent" to hang over such a significant event and over its participants. This was the reason for the cancellation.
All failed marathon runners were asked to reschedule their registration for 2013 and many of them confirmed their participation.
Edwin van der Sar's team of runners decided not to change tickets and stayed in New York as originally planned. And our hero did not waste time in these freed days. Edwin went to basketball in the evening, watched the New York Knicks home game, and the next morning went to the pub. Quietly, he went to cheer for Manchester United, which played in the tenth round with Arsenal. With his arrival, he arranged a real holiday. Just imagine: to watch the match of your favorite team with van der Sar himself! Definitely a holiday!
And on the day of the failed marathon, Edwin, representatives of his foundation and other marathon runners from Holland put on T-shirts with the logos of their organizations and all together ran in New York's Central Park - held an alternative race. Just. Like a joint workout. We talked with nice people and got rid of the feeling that we had come in vain.
They were joined by local residents, who at the same time were jogging through the park. It is curious that during this impromptu replacement for the marathon, the van der Sar Foundation received money. Ordinary people transferred small sums, wishing to support good impulses. And they learned about this race from Twitter. Yes, the Dutchman has a twitter.
He turned it on in the midst of the 2012 European Championship. Microblogging, like the author himself, is a solid positive. Maybe one of his friends advised the ex-goalkeeper to register in this popular social network, or maybe he got bored and wanted to share his impressions of life with his fans.
He started: "Hello World! I'm flying to Jakarta and I'm a new twitterer. Looking forward to your messages. Edwin."
And then there were impressions. The retired goalkeeper, judging by his Twitter, was not able to go to Euro 2012, but he closely followed the national team of his country and shared his general impressions about the matches, and about the game of the Dutch with particular zeal, of course.
It was also possible to learn from Twitter that Edwin did not miss another sporting event of the summer - the Olympics in London. Moreover, he was able to come to England and every day sports fans found him on one of the Olympic stands: basketball, tennis, athletics, swimming ... and of course bandy, which is especially popular in Holland. The daughter of the ex-goalkeeper is just fond of this sport. Happy child! He can not only practice, but also look at the result that can be achieved and what you need to strive for. By the way, Lynn also plays tennis. It is known for sure that her favorite sparring partner is dad, and he does not always cope with a talented child.
In November 2012, Ajax Football Club announced the appointment of a new marketing director, Edwin van der Sar. He joined his former teammates, with whom he managed to play from 1990 to 1999. Previously, Marc Overmars became Ajax's director of football, while Dennis Bergkamp and Wim Jonk joined the coaching staff headed by Frank de Boer.
Some time before the official announcement, there were rumors that the ex-Ajax goalkeeper could be appointed as the club's general director. But having completed negotiations, the parties agreed that Edwin would be responsible for all kinds of non-football external relations: work with sponsors, club merchandising, ticket sales and the like. To make it clearer: if you need an extra ticket for an Ajax match, you now know who to contact. And if you are not a mercenary person and do not want to receive a free ticket just like that, become a sponsor of the Dutch club. The marketing director will come to you for negotiations.
The first signs that van der Sar and Ajax would become friends again began in the summer of 2012, when the Dutch Champions went on a pre-season tour of various countries and took the former goalkeeper with them on some trips. The future employee of the club rarely missed Ajax matches and all the time “lounged around” at the base participating in double training, but his friends apparently decided to immerse him in the process.
So that everyone together can determine what will suit Edwin and how he will be most useful to the club. Van der Sar himself has repeatedly mentioned in interviews that he is interested in the work of managers in football clubs. He often asked (and even peeped and eavesdropped) the leaders of Manchester United: how the English club works at the director level, how the various divisions work, how the ideal management is built, etc. He was fascinated by all these processes and therefore he went to study at the Cruyff Institute as a manager. Ajax took into account all these factors and found him a profile position. While van der Sar is not a great marketing wizard, he is still learning, but says he is happy with his new job. I am happy to return to the club that gave him many chances as a footballer, with whom he received his first trophies, for the game in which he was honored to be invited to the Dutch national team (where he is still the sole leader in the matches played - 130), where he found real friends and this is where he wants to work and make Ajax even more successful and modern.
How about playing, Edwin?
In fact, in April of this year, team administrators almost had to print the name "van der Sar" on the goalkeeper's jersey. A friend and colleague of the titled goalkeeper, Ajax head coach Frank de Boer faced a real personnel collapse before the match with PSV. Two of his three goalkeepers fell out of the cage. Main goalkeeper Kenneth Wermeer received a red card in the previous match and was required to miss the next game. And Mickey van der Hart, the third goalkeeper of the club, was injured and definitely did not have time to recover. Thus, only Jasper Cillessen remained at de Boer's disposal. Therefore, the possibility of putting a veteran at the gate for the match with PSV was discussed quite substantively. Moreover, this did not contradict the tournament regulations, Edwin was a member of the club, did not apply for any amateur teams and could absolutely legally get into the list for the match. As well as the goalkeeping coach of the Amsterdam club Carlo L'Ami, his candidacy was also considered as an option to save the situation.
Unfortunately, the head coach did not put on a show from the match and did not send the old men into battle. Pulled up the reservist Cramer Hill, and Cillessen determined the gate. Van der Sar and l'Ami went to Eindhoven, of course, but only for their direct duties. Really, sorry? It would turn out such a beautiful story, agree? It is very right to trust young people, it is promising, this is the whole development of football, but just once, right? Although, Ajax then defeated PSV, their main competitor in the fight for 1st place, with a score of 3-2. So, the coach did everything right.
Around the same time that de Boer was dealing with a staffing problem, van der Sar pulled off his first transfer deal. Even if this is not part of the direct responsibilities of the marketing director. The Ajax Academy, in April 2013, replenished with a fifteen-year-old goalkeeper. The young man moved to the Dutch club from Manchester United and the transfer happened for family reasons.
The relatives of the young goalkeeper moved to Holland and he had to leave the English club, where he stayed for about 6 years. The terms and amount of the deal were not disclosed. Van der Sar took advantage of his official position and the immense respect for him from United only to unite the family. Well, how could they not let him go in Manchester, and not accept his son in Amsterdam? Yes, Joey van der Sar is now in the Ajax academy and will be in contention for the No. 1 position in a team his age. And he should succeed, because with him now the van der Sarow team is in its most optimal composition. And this is exactly what his dad dreamed of when he retired: so that everyone would be together in their native coastal town of Noordwijk (which is next to Amsterdam) and so that he could devote more time to his beloved van der Saram.
And he will dedicate it, only he will celebrate his fifth championship with Ajax.
Match Center
A footballer's career usually declines towards the age of 30: there is not much enthusiasm anymore, and injuries gradually bring the player to the end of his career.
But goalkeepers are not subject to this rule. Like wine, they get better with age. World-class goalkeepers usually end their careers by choice, not by injury.
Edwin van der Sar belongs to the category of goalkeepers who showed their best game when everyone was already thinking about the end of their career. He is not like sweet wine, he is red, like the colors of Ajax and Manchester United, where he is rightfully considered a legend. He left at the height of his fame, having achieved in his career such that many could not even imagine. From Ajax to Juventus, from Fulham to Manchester United. This is Edwin's career path.
As is always the case at Ajax, the story begins with the influence of Johan Cruyff, a genius, footballer and philosopher. He proposed the concept of a 3-4-3 formation in which the goalkeeper was another outfield player, only wearing gloves. He rethought the very role of the goalkeeper on the field and opened up new sides to it. Cruyff was looking for a goalkeeper who could complement his vision of total football.
Stanley Menzo was Cruyff's first goalkeeper of this kind. Cruyff himself called it the key to winning the European Cup Winners' Cup in 1987. Menzo read the game well and could throw an accurate pass, which partly made him another defender. But he was only a trailblazer in this role, and his mistake in the 1992 UEFA Cup final allowed van der Sar to take his place. Menzo was only a pioneer, van der Sar was the solution.
Cruyff left a huge legacy at Ajax, but rarely did anyone emphasize the role of goalkeeper in him. There were his own special ideas that allowed the guy from Voorhout to show himself. Hailing from a village in the Dutch fields, van der Sar was a late bird. He got into the local football team at the age of 10 and has been playing there since he was 19.80 to 1985, until he moved to Noordwijk, where he played until his 20th birthday.
A lucky twist of fate awaited him there. Ruud Brorind, the youth coach, often played cards with Ajax's assistant manager Louis van Gaal.
Once van Gaal noticed that he needed a goalkeeper, and Brorind advised van der Sar, which increased interest in his candidacy.
Although he never dreamed of becoming a professional, when Ajax comes up with such an offer, he is not turned down. It was a huge leap in the career of an inexperienced goalkeeper. At that time, perhaps, there could not have been a better place for progress. Leo Beenhakker gave van der Sar the opportunity to make his debut in the team and spend 9consecutive matches at the end of the 90/91 season due to Menzo's injury.
Van der Sar - Champions League Cup winner with Ajax in 1995 The twenty-year-old goalkeeper with the walk of a gymnast was a loser in the box. Having conceded only 3 goals, one of which came in a lost match against GSK, which cost Ajax the league title, van der Sar proved himself worthy against organized opponents. With the arrival of Louis van Gaal, his career took off, and goalkeeping coach Frans Hoek helped van der Sar to adopt Cruyff's vision of the game.
It's no surprise that van der Sar became such a professional, given who instilled in him an understanding of football. He was originally a defender, and height no doubt helped him, but his lean frame moved him to a position in goal. Once Edwin himself told a story about how his position changed: “Once we had no goalkeeper, and the coach told me to stand in the goal, because I was the tallest. It happens to a lot of goalkeepers."
It was a sign that his destiny was to stand in the frame. Development in the Ajax system took time and lack of match practice in season 91/92 allowed him to improve his playing skills in training.
His progress also included working on his weaknesses in his spare time from his two main workouts a day. Most importantly, these were aspects that the Ajax goalkeeper needed so much. In an interview with Raymond Verheijen, he succinctly described it: "There was a lot of focus on the intricacies of goalkeeping at Ajax, especially the ability to be the 11th outfield player and turn the game around.
"
Hook believed in the advantage of having the ball and playing in the opponent's half. This mentality influenced van der Sar's game. Understanding the importance of possession early in his career allowed him to play more confidently on the back. Frans Hoek's concept was high-end, and van der Sar was one of the first to introduce it.
Edwin was strong in the standard goalkeeper's components: in the penalty box, in the interception of crosses, and in the ability to stay on his feet until the last moment, but he rarely became the hero of matches. However, it was Hook who gave him the opportunity to show the world the art of goalkeeping on exits.
Breaking the defense through a pass gave the tactic variability, but it required a good vision of the field and technique for successful implementation. Edwin was taught how to manage the defense in such a way as to reduce the need for saves, but he showed his worth in this regard more than once.
According to Cruyff, he was complete. Therefore, despite the improbability of his attack, one should not forget that it all started with defense. The Lamborghini engine was at van der Sar's feet.
After Edwin was given a chance against Cambuura on October 1992, when he came on for Menzo at halftime, he played in the next four games, but that stopped when Menzo was back in action for Game 5. The youngster wanted to go to The Hague but was told to wait, and a 2-1 loss to PSV with two errors by Menzo was his breakthrough.
Van der Sar returned to his trip to Volendam and never looked back. Playing at least 40 games in subsequent seasons, Edwin was full of desire to play, even if it was not visible from his statements. Many goalkeepers have been outstanding, but this Dutchman was unflappable as a rock. There is always a place for celebrations and disappointments in football, but on the days of defeat, he never showed anger, and when he triumphed, he simply remained himself.
Simon Cooper recalled the incident when van der Sar had a nightmare on the football pitch in the loss to Ireland that knocked them out of the 2002 World Cup. The table seemed to feel all the anger in his eyes as he looked at him, but instead of hitting it with all his might, he only threw off the plastic cup, the worst embodiment of anger. Agility, composure and self-control - that's what he learned at Ajax, and it did not let him down even in the most difficult times.
Van der Sar has won enough with Ajax: 4 Dutch titles in 5 years, 3 Dutch Cups, an unforgettable Champions League and a number of other trophies. But after 9 years at the club, it was time for a change, and Ajax could hardly prevent his departure. His goal was to pass from the hands of Louis van Gaal to Sir Alex Ferguson as accurately as his passes, but this pass was intercepted by the "old lady".
Ferguson did everything to sign van der Sar when it was clear that Schmeichel would leave the team.
The Scot was also interested in Mark Bosnich's services, but by the time he received discouraging reports of him, club spokesman Martin Edwards had already signed him.
Van der Sar moved to Turin. Ferguson tried to intercept the goalkeeper at Turin airport, but Edwin was a man of his word. One bad day for a Scot and many years of regret. The connection with Ferguson was apparently not destined to materialize before the expiration of the contract, with consequences for both Edwin and United.
Despite 66 appearances for Juventus in 2 years, Turin did not seem like the right place for his unique style of play. He was hardly the best goalkeeper in the world at 1999, so some assumed that Juventus would adapt to him and nothing else. But something more happened.
In Holland he was allowed to take risks, but in Italy the risk had to be kept to a minimum, which meant less work with the ball at the defense. His role was limited and confidence shattered when he was at his peak.
He was promised that Juventus would change their playing style, but this was later abandoned, especially under the leadership of Carlo Ancelotti.
When van Gaal began calling him to Barcelona, he decided to stay in Turin, but the critics who called him "van der Gol" were not going to change their minds. A mistake in the match against Lazio was a misfire on the way to the league title. One mistake in front of all the newspapers. Juventus asked Edwin to have his eyes tested. He consulted a therapist and completely lost confidence that he could even catch the ball. When they made Parma's request for Gianluigi Buffon, van der Sar's days in Turin were already numbered. The "man with butter in his hands" had to leave.
Fulham career After leaving Italy, Edwin finally settled in England. He left the club at the right moment, just before the Juventus scandal in Italy, but Fulham was hardly a dream team. The club remained a mystery among all 4 in his career, but owner Mohamed Al-Fayed promised to turn him into Manchester United of southern England.
As funny as it may sound, but the club's shares have since fallen in price, but with a small salary and a villa in Richmond, Edwin made the transfer.
He spent 4 years at the club, but it was a waste of time for Edwin, who knew he was at the peak of his career. Van Gaal, already coaching the Dutch national team, promised that clubs would line up for him after an outstanding 2002 World Cup, but that defeat against Ireland brought that talk to naught. Craven Cottage remained his home for 4 years.
For all of Arsene Wenger's exclusivity, it was unclear how he hadn't noticed van der Sar's talent at Fulham. Edwin and his family were comfortable in London, and he himself always played well against Arsenal. But Wenger, like Ferguson, did not pay due attention to goalkeeping skills and ignored van der Sar, not wanting to pay money for him when he was in front of them. In the end, Ferguson got his wish and signed the goalkeeper for £4 million in 2005, 6 years later than planned.
Ferguson could not find a worthy goalkeeper after van der Sar's refusal and still called him later. Ruud van Nistelrooy's positive feedback on Edwin's candidacy was enough to sign him. Life rarely offers a second chance, but van der Sar has challenged it many times. This was his second coming, significantly different from what happened after Ajax, but no less significant. It was a career reset.
3 consecutive Premier League titles, several other cups, team of the season appearances and individual honors, and a record of 1,311 minutes without conceding a goal as one of the most incredible in the Premier League will always be remembered as his legacy at Old Trafford, but the real moment of glory was in the 2008 Champions League final.
Van der Sar's Achilles' heel has always been penalties and he has lost major penalty shootouts in his career. Despite his calmness, he also wanted to be a hero. Edwin found Hans van Breukelen, his predecessor in the national team, as well as the king of penalties.
After their meeting, van der Sar realized that the key to success lay in the analysis of the opponent, not luck, and practice evened the odds in his favor.
This advice helped him a lot in the future, especially in the final in Moscow. The Chelsea players shot into the left corner, knowing that van der Sar usually falls to the right. But then they met a witty man. Using mind games, he showed Anelka to punch to the left, hesitation made him punch to the right, right into the hands of Edwin. Then he showed a rare joy, raising his fists in the air and releasing all the inner demons out. This remains the most triumphant moment. He wanted a "Vanbrokelen moment" and he got it.
Van der Sar vs. Chelsea in the 2008 Champions League Final When Jaap Weiser decided to write his biography, Edwin felt that there would not be enough material. There were no scandals, intrigues or anything else interesting. "I'm sorry, but I don't really like to party," he once said. He was the exact opposite of Peter Schmeichel.
