How long left for Edwin van der Sar?
June 6, 2008
Edwin van der Sar has been around the block a few times in footballing terms; he has won the champions league with two clubs (Man Utd and Ajax), played in the Dutch league, the Italian league and of course the Premiership. He has no fewer than 16 club honours to his name as well as a string of individual ones including being voted the best European Keeper in 2005.
Looking back at the 2007/2008 season, Van der Sar highlighted the away game to Sporting Lisbon as one of his favorite games of the season “That game was almost perfect for me” he said. “The preparation, the coaching before the game, the saves I made, the way I played with the defence – it all felt right”.
Van der Sar is firmly established as United’s number one but he’s not ready to sit back on his laurels with United also having two talented goalkeepers waiting in the wings in Ben Foster and Tomasz Kuszczak. Both will be looking to push for games next season. Van der Sar is happy to pass on his experience to them but admitted he has not finished learning himself. Speaking of the other keepers he said “they may be young, but there is always a different way to do things. I see things and think, ‘Hey, that’s interesting – maybe I could try that.’ You can do that with any goalkeeper”.
At age 37, you would expect retirement to be Van der Sar’s plans but the Dutch goalkeeper has a hunger in his belly and isn’t even considering it yet. Van der Sar is definitely signed up for at least one more campaign with the Reds and asked about the possibility of an even longer stay, he told manutd.com “I just take it year by year and this year has been good for me – I feel good. I’ve had some little injuries, some little niggles, and that reminds you that you’re getting older. But really they’re nothing that a younger player can’t get also. I’ll keep on reviewing it, but winning trophies makes you feel younger. It makes you want to keep on playing”.
You can read the full interview here.
More that may interest you
- UEFA Club Football of the Year nominees 2007/08 sees 6 reds up for award- United’s contingent at Euro 2008
- Van der Sar, Neville and Wes Brown miss Celtic trip
- Edwin van der Sar interview on prospects of winning the title
