View source for Edwin van der Sar

{{Short description|Dutch footballer and executive (born 1970)}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=August 2023}}
{{Dutch name capitalization|Van der Sar}}
{{family name hatnote|van der Sar|Sar|lang=Dutch}}
{{Infobox football biography
| name = Edwin van der Sar
| image = Edwin van der Sar 2015.jpg
| caption = Van der Sar in 2015
| full_name = Edwin van der Sar<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.fifadata.com/document/fwc/2006/PDF/FWC_2006_SquadLists.pdf |title=2006 FIFA World Cup Germany: List of Players: Netherlands |publisher=FIFA |page=19 |date=21 March 2014 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190610174527/https://www.fifadata.com/document/fwc/2006/PDF/FWC_2006_SquadLists.pdf |archive-date=10 June 2019}}</ref>
| birth_date = {{birth date and age|1970|10|29|df=y}}<ref>{{cite web |url=http://soccernet.espn.go.com/player/_/id/8884/edwin-van-der-sar?cc=5901 |title=Edwin Van der Sar ESPN |work=[[ESPN]] |publisher=ESPN Soccernet |date=3 February 2011 |access-date=3 February 2011 |archive-date=25 October 2012 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20121025095426/http://soccernet.espn.go.com/player/_/id/8884/edwin-van-der-sar?cc=5901 |url-status=dead }}</ref>
| birth_place = [[Voorhout]], Netherlands<ref name="mupinfo">{{cite web |url=http://www.manutd.com/en/Players-And-Staff/First-Team/Edwin-Van-der-Sar.aspx |title=Edwin van der Sar Manchester United |work=ManUtd.com |publisher=Manchester United |date=3 February 2011 |access-date=3 February 2011 }}</ref>
| height = 1.98 m<ref>{{cite book |last=White |first=Jim |title=Manchester United: The Biography |year=2008 |publisher=Sphere |location=London |isbn=978-1-84744-088-4 |page=425 }}</ref>
| position = [[Goalkeeper (association football)|Goalkeeper]]
| currentclub = 
| youthyears1 = 1980–1985
| youthclubs1 = [[:nl:VV Foreholte|Foreholte]]
| youthyears2 = 1985–1990
| youthclubs2 = [[VV Noordwijk]]
| years1 = 1990–1999
| clubs1 = [[AFC Ajax|Ajax]]
| caps1 = 226
| goals1 = 1
| years2 = 1999–2001
| clubs2 = [[Juventus FC|Juventus]]
| caps2 = 66
| goals2 = 0
| years3 = 2001–2005
| clubs3 = [[Fulham F.C.|Fulham]]
| caps3 = 127
| goals3 = 0
| years4 = 2005–2011
| clubs4 = [[Manchester United F.C.|Manchester United]]
| caps4 = 186
| goals4 = 0
| years5 = 2016
| clubs5 = [[VV Noordwijk]]
| caps5 = 1
| goals5 = 0
| totalcaps = 606
| totalgoals = 1
| nationalyears1 = 1995–2008
| nationalteam1 = [[Netherlands national football team|Netherlands]]
| nationalcaps1 = 130
| nationalgoals1 = 0
}}
'''Edwin van der Sar''' ({{IPA|nl|ˈɛtʋɪɱ vɑn dər ˈsɑr|-|Nl-Edwin van der Sar.ogg}}; born 29 October 1970) is a Dutch [[association football|football]] executive and former professional player who played as a [[Goalkeeper (association football)|goalkeeper]]. Widely regarded as one of the greatest goalkeepers of all time, he was most recently the chief executive of [[AFC Ajax|Ajax]], with whom he began his senior playing career in the early 1990s; he is considered to be a member of the club's [[golden generation]] and was part of the Ajax team that won the [[UEFA Champions League]] in [[1995 UEFA Champions League Final|1995]]. In 1999, he left Ajax for [[Juventus FC|Juventus]] where he spent two years before moving to England, first to [[Fulham F.C.|Fulham]] and then to [[Manchester United F.C.|Manchester United]] in 2005. There he won a second Champions League title in [[2008 UEFA Champions League Final|2008]], making him one of just eight players at the time to have won the competition with more than one club. He retired as a professional in 2011, but briefly came out of retirement in 2016 to play a match for Dutch amateur team [[VV Noordwijk]], for whom he had previously played as a youth. He played 130 times for the [[Netherlands national football team|Netherlands national team]], and was the nation's most-capped player until 2017, when he was overtaken by [[Wesley Sneijder]].

Van der Sar is considered by critics and fellow players as one of the best goalkeepers of all time.<ref name="The best goalkeepers of all time">{{cite web|url=http://edition.cnn.com/2009/SPORT/football/02/05/best.goalkeepers/index.html?eref=rss_latest|title=The best goalkeepers of all time|date=9 February 2009|publisher=CNN|access-date=10 December 2015}}</ref><ref name="ESPN">{{cite web|url=https://www.espn.com/sports/soccer/blog/_/name/schaerlaeckens_leander/id/6067671/manchester-united-edwin-van-der-sar-ranks-all-greats|title=Van der Sar ranks among the all-time greats|date=28 January 2011|publisher=ESPN|access-date=10 December 2015}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |date=2025-01-24 |title=Ranking the 15 greatest goalkeepers in football history |url=https://onefootball.com/en/news/ranking-the-15-greatest-goalkeepers-in-football-history-38974080 |access-date=2025-01-24 |website=OneFootball |language=en}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |last=Murray |first=Will |date=2020-04-15 |title=Ranking the 20 Greatest Goalkeepers in Football History |url=https://www.givemesport.com/football-soccer-best-goalkeepers-history/ |access-date=2025-01-24 |website=GiveMeSport |language=en}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |date=2024-11-19 |title=Best Soccer Goalkeepers of All Time |url=https://www.si.com/soccer/best-soccer-goalkeepers-of-all-time |access-date=2025-01-24 |website=SI |language=en-US}}</ref> He is also one of the most successful footballers ever, having won 26 major trophies in his career, mainly at Ajax and Manchester United.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.sportskeeda.com/football/footballers-won-most-trophies-club-football|title=Footballers who have won the most trophies in club football|publisher=Sportskeeda|first=Rohith|last=Nair|date=12 August 2015}}</ref> During the [[2008–09 Premier League|2008–09]] season, he set a world record by not conceding a league goal for 1,311 minutes.<ref>{{cite news|title=Van der Sar: I've had a great career|url=https://www.fifa.com/live-scores/news/y=2011/m=5/news=van-der-sar-had-great-career-1443843.html|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170916140149/http://www.fifa.com/live-scores/news/y=2011/m=5/news=van-der-sar-had-great-career-1443843.html|url-status=dead|archive-date=16 September 2017|publisher=[[FIFA]]|date=30 May 2011|access-date=24 July 2017}}</ref> He is also the [[Premier League records and statistics|oldest player]] to win the [[Premier League]], having done so in 2011 at the age of 40 years and 205 days. Van der Sar has won several individual awards, including [[Best European Goalkeeper]] in 1995 and 2009, and [[UEFA Club Football Awards|UEFA Club Goalkeeper of the Year]] in 2009.

==Club career==
===Ajax===
Born in [[Voorhout]], Van der Sar began his career at his hometown club, Foreholte, and then [[VV Noordwijk]]. At a relatively late age, he was brought to the attention of [[Louis van Gaal]], and subsequently signed for [[AFC Ajax|Ajax]]. Even though he joined late he went into the reserve team and bided his time before getting his first-team call-up by Louis van Gaal. He enjoyed a long and successful stint in their senior side, winning the [[1991–92 UEFA Cup]] (albeit only as the reserve, making no appearances in the run) and the [[1994–95 UEFA Champions League]] (by now the starting goalkeeper),<ref name="attendance">{{cite book |year=2017 |chapter=2. Finals |chapter-url=https://www.uefa.com/MultimediaFiles/Download/EuroExperience/competitions/Publications/02/28/56/89/2285689_DOWNLOAD.pdf |title=UEFA Champions League Statistics Handbook 2016/17 |location=Nyon, Switzerland |publisher=Union of European Football Associations |page=1 |access-date=22 April 2017 }}</ref> as well as the 1995 [[Best European Goalkeeper]] award, besides domestic honours. He was in goal for Ajax in the [[1996 UEFA Champions League Final]], but had to make do with a runner-up medal as they lost the penalty shoot-out against [[Juventus FC|Juventus]].<ref name="attendance"/> He made a total of 226 appearances for Ajax, and scored a penalty for Ajax to complete an 8–1 victory over [[De Graafschap]] in the 1997–98 season. In his first full season as Ajax No. 1 he won the [[Dutch Footballer of the Year#Dutch Football Goalkeeper of the Year|Dutch Football Goalkeeper of the Year]], he would then go on to retain the award for the next three consecutive years.

===Juventus===
In 1999, Van der Sar's stature as one of Europe's top goalkeepers drew attention from [[Manchester United F.C.|Manchester United]], who sought a replacement for [[Peter Schmeichel]]; however, Van der Sar moved to Italian club [[Juventus FC|Juventus]] for a fee believed to be in the region of £5&nbsp;million. He made his debut for The Old Lady in the 1–1 draw with Reggina at the [[Stadio delle Alpi]].<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.lequipe.fr/Football/FootballFicheJoueur3638.html |title=La fiche de Edwin Van der Sar |website=lequipe.fr |date=29 August 1999 |access-date=23 September 2011 }}</ref> He became the first non-Italian to keep goal for the Turin club.<ref>{{cite web|title=Manchester United's Edwin van der Sar saves the best until last. |url=https://www.theguardian.com/football/2011/may/22/edwin-van-der-sar-champions-league |work=[[The Guardian]] |date=21 May 2011 |access-date=28 February 2015}}</ref>

He was the first-choice goalkeeper during his first two seasons in Italy, making 66 [[Serie A]] appearances as Juventus finished runners-up in the league twice under [[Carlo Ancelotti]], with the best defensive record in the league on each occasion.<ref>{{cite book |last1=Riccardi |first1=Marco |title=Il Milan di Ancelotti |date=2019 |publisher=Delos Digital |location=Milan |language=it |isbn=9788825408508 |page=9 |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=tYqRDwAAQBAJ&q=juventus+miglior+difesa+serie+a+1999-2000&pg=PT9 |access-date=11 October 2019}}</ref> He performed well in his first season, winning the [[1999 UEFA Intertoto Cup]], and helping the club compete for the Serie A title.<ref>{{cite news |url=http://archiviostorico.gazzetta.it//1999/dicembre/27/Van_der_Sar_Juve_buone_ga_0_9912275304.shtml |title=Van der Sar, la Juve in buone mani |work=La Gazzetta dello Sport |language=it |last1=Forcolin |first1=Paolo |date=27 December 1999 |access-date=11 October 2019 }}</ref> On the final day of the 1999–2000 season, however, Juventus lost to [[Perugia Calcio|Perugia]], after Van der Sar was beaten by [[Alessandro Calori]]'s volley; the result allowed [[S.S. Lazio|Lazio]] to overtake Juventus and win the league title by a single point.<ref>{{cite news |url=https://www.nytimes.com/2000/05/15/sports/IHT-juventus-loses-crown-in-perugia-after-sudden-storm-and-long-delay.html |title=Juventus Loses Crown in Perugia After Sudden Storm and Long Delay : Lazio Wins League In a Bizarre Finale |work=The New York Times |last1=Hughes |first1=Rob |date=15 May 2000 |access-date=11 October 2019 }}</ref><ref name="redazione">{{cite web |url=https://www.ilposticipo.it/calcio/van-der-sar-racconta-la-sua-juventus-mi-dissero-che-avremmo-giocato-da-dietro-ma-poi-zidane-splendido-ma-aveva-anche-un-lato-oscuro/?intcmp=gazzanet-vandersar |title=Van der Sar racconta la sua Juventus: "Mi dissero che avremmo giocato da dietro, ma poi… Zidane splendido, ma aveva anche un lato oscuro" |publisher=Il Posticipo |language=it |date=7 May 2020 |access-date=7 May 2020 |archive-date=12 May 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200512041051/https://www.ilposticipo.it/calcio/van-der-sar-racconta-la-sua-juventus-mi-dissero-che-avremmo-giocato-da-dietro-ma-poi-zidane-splendido-ma-aveva-anche-un-lato-oscuro/?intcmp=gazzanet-vandersar |url-status=dead }}</ref> The following season was less successful, however, as Juventus suffered a first-round exit in both the [[2000–01 Coppa Italia|Coppa Italia]] and the [[2000–01 UEFA Champions League|Champions League]], while Van der Sar committed several errors, including a high-profile one in a league fixture at home against eventual Serie A champions [[A.S. Roma|Roma]], on 6 May 2001, when he spilled [[Hidetoshi Nakata]]'s shot, allowing [[Vincenzo Montella]] to tie the game 2–2;<ref name="tuttojuve"/><ref>{{cite web |url=https://news.bbc.co.uk/sport2/hi/football/europe/1316758.stm |title=Resilient Roma deny Juventus |work=BBC Sport |date=6 May 2001 |access-date=11 October 2019 }}</ref> Juventus eventually finished two points behind the league champions.<ref>{{cite web |url=https://sport.sky.it/calcio/serie-a/fotogallery/2017/06/17/accadde-oggi-la-roma-vince-terzo-scudetto.html |title=17 giugno 2001: e Roma impazzì per lo scudetto |website=sport.sky.it |language=it |date=17 June 2017 |access-date=11 October 2019 }}</ref>

Van der Sar lost his place in the summer of 2001, after the Bianconeri purchased Italian international goalkeeper [[Gianluigi Buffon]] from Parma for 100&nbsp;billion lire (approximately £32.6&nbsp;million), a world-record fee for a goalkeeper. Unwilling to remain as second-choice behind Buffon, Van der Sar made it clear he wished to move on after two years in Serie A.<ref>{{cite news|url=http://www.repubblica.it/online/calciomercato/toldointer/toldointer/toldointer.html|title=Toldo, spunta l'Inter Il Milan prende Pirlo|work=la Repubblica|language=it|date=1 July 2001|access-date=1 May 2013}}</ref>

===Fulham===
[[File:Van Der Sar Fulham.jpg|upright|thumb|Van der Sar at Fulham.]]
On 1 August 2001, Van der Sar opted to play in England and joined newly promoted [[Fulham F.C.|Fulham]] in a shock move worth £7&nbsp;million, signing a four-year contract.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.juventus.com/wps/wcm/connect/7665be8a-c95d-406e-91db-4de08d142c0c/28_ott_2002_eng_.pdf?MOD=AJPERES&CACHEID=7665be8a-c95d-406e-91db-4de08d142c0c |title=Reports and Financial Statements at 30&nbsp;June 2002 |date=28 October 2002 |access-date=10 May 2012 |work=Juventus F.C. |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150607132859/http://www.juventus.com/wps/wcm/connect/7665be8a-c95d-406e-91db-4de08d142c0c/28_ott_2002_eng_.pdf?MOD=AJPERES&CACHEID=7665be8a-c95d-406e-91db-4de08d142c0c |archive-date=7 June 2015}}</ref><ref>{{cite news |title=Fulham land Dutch ace Van der Sar |url=https://news.bbc.co.uk/sport2/hi/football/teams/f/fulham/1467554.stm |work=BBC Sport |date=1 August 2001 |access-date=12 May 2011}}</ref> The following day, Van der Sar was officially unveiled by Fulham, and upon his arrival, he described the move as a "nice friendly atmosphere" and that he felt "appreciated".<ref>{{cite news |title=Fulham unveil Van der Sar |url=https://news.bbc.co.uk/sport2/hi/football/teams/f/fulham/1470513.stm |work=BBC Sport |date=2 August 2001 |access-date=12 May 2011}}</ref> He made his league debut on 18 August 2001 in a 2–3 away defeat against [[Manchester United F.C.|Manchester United]].<ref>{{cite news |title=Man Utd floor Fulham |url=https://news.bbc.co.uk/sport2/hi/football/eng_prem/1495517.stm |work=BBC Sport |date=19 August 2001 |access-date=12 May 2011}}</ref> In total, he notched up 127 league appearances while at Fulham. In a game against [[Aston Villa F.C.|Aston Villa]] in his final season at the club, he memorably saved two penalties from [[Juan Pablo Ángel]] in a 1–1 draw.<ref>{{cite web |url=https://news.bbc.co.uk/sport2/hi/football/eng_prem/4221121.stm |title=Fulham 1–1 Aston Villa |publisher=BBC Sport |date=2 February 2005 |access-date=8 September 2015}}</ref> His performances for the Cottagers caught the eye of Manchester United and the attention of [[Alex Ferguson|Sir Alex Ferguson]].<ref>{{cite news |title=The gossip column |url=https://news.bbc.co.uk/sport2/hi/football/4029489.stm |work=BBC Sport |date=21 November 2004 |access-date=12 May 2011}}</ref><ref>{{cite news |title=Transfer tempted Van der Sar |first=Gordon |last=Tynan |url=https://www.independent.co.uk/sport/football/premier-league/transfer-tempted-van-der-sar-488342.html |newspaper=The Independent |publisher=Independent Print Limited |date=27 January 2005 |access-date=12 May 2011 |location=London}}</ref>

===Manchester United===
Van der Sar signed for [[Manchester United F.C.|Manchester United]] on 10 June 2005<ref>{{cite news |title=Man Utd seal Van der Sar switch |url=https://news.bbc.co.uk/sport2/hi/football/teams/m/man_utd/4611715.stm |work=BBC Sport |date=10 June 2005 |access-date=13 August 2008 }}</ref> for a reported fee of £2&nbsp;million, although the exact transfer fee was undisclosed.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://soccernet.espn.go.com/players/profile?id=8884&cc=5901 |title=Edwin Van der Sar Bio |publisher=ESPN |access-date=13 August 2008 |archive-date=18 September 2008 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080918065654/http://soccernet.espn.go.com/players/profile?id=8884&cc=5901 |url-status=dead }}</ref> Former Manchester United manager [[Alex Ferguson|Sir Alex Ferguson]] considers him the best goalkeeper to have played for the club since [[Peter Schmeichel]].<ref>{{cite web |url=http://soccernet.espn.go.com/news/story?id=396279&&cc=3888 |title=Van der Sar pens new one-year deal at United |work=ESPNsoccernet |publisher=ESPN |date=15 December 2006 |access-date=20 July 2007 |archive-date=29 June 2011 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110629001940/http://soccernet.espn.go.com/news/story?id=396279&&cc=3888 |url-status=dead }}</ref>

[[File:Edwin van der Sar playing for MUFC.jpg|thumb|left|Van der Sar in action for Manchester United.]]
On 5 May 2007, his penalty save from [[Darius Vassell]] helped assure a 1–0 triumph over [[Manchester City F.C.|Manchester City]] in the [[Manchester derby]]. The following day, [[Chelsea F.C.|Chelsea]]'s failure to beat [[Arsenal F.C.|Arsenal]] at the [[Emirates Stadium|Emirates]] ensured Manchester United's ninth Premier League trophy and Van der Sar's first. He was also named in the 2006–07 [[PFA Team of the Year]].<ref>{{cite news |title=Ronaldo secures PFA award double |url=https://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/football/6582201.stm |work=BBC Sport |date=22 April 2007 |access-date=13 August 2008 }}</ref> Three months later, he was a catalyst in Manchester United's 16th [[FA Community Shield]] victory, as he saved three consecutive penalties in a [[Penalty shoot-out (association football)|shoot-out]] after Manchester United and [[Chelsea F.C.|Chelsea]] played to a 1–1 draw at the end of regular time.<ref>{{cite news |first=Nick |last=Coppack |title=Report: Reds lift Community Shield |url=http://www.manutd.com/en/Fixtures-And-Results/Match-Reports/2007/Aug/Report-Reds-lift-Community-Shield.aspx |work=ManUtd.com |publisher=Manchester United |date=5 August 2007 |access-date=5 March 2009 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110714033003/http://www.manutd.com/en/Fixtures-And-Results/Match-Reports/2007/Aug/Report-Reds-lift-Community-Shield.aspx |archive-date=14 July 2011 |url-status=dead}}</ref>

The 2007–08 season was Van der Sar's best season since his arrival; he had several great performances despite a niggling groin injury. He would help United secure their second successive Premier League title on the final day and win the [[2008 UEFA Champions League Final|Champions League]] by saving the final penalty of the shoot-out from [[Nicolas Anelka]].<ref name=Gill>{{cite news |title=Manchester United close to signing keeper – David Gill |url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/football/13403434 |work=BBC Sport |date=15 May 2011 |access-date=15 May 2011}}</ref>

Van der Sar signed a one-year extension to his contract with Manchester United on 12 December 2008, keeping him at the club until at least the end of the 2009–10 season.<ref>{{cite news |title=Van der Sar extends Man Utd deal |url=https://news.bbc.co.uk/sport2/hi/football/teams/m/man_utd/7779229.stm |work=BBC Sport |date=12 December 2008 |access-date=12 December 2008 }}</ref>

On 27 January 2009, Van der Sar helped Manchester United set a new club and Premier League record for consecutive clean sheets – the club's 5–0 win over [[West Bromwich Albion F.C.|West Bromwich Albion]] meant that they had gone 11 games and 1,032 minutes without conceding a goal, beating the previous record of 10 matches and 1,025 minutes set by [[Petr Čech]] in the 2004–05 season. He then broke the overall English league record in the club's following game four days later, beating the previous record of 1,103 minutes, set by [[Steve Death]] of [[Reading F.C.|Reading]] in 1979.<ref>{{cite news |first=Phil |last=McNulty |title=Man Utd 5–0 Everton |url=https://news.bbc.co.uk/sport2/hi/football/eng_prem/7856453.stm |work=BBC Sport |date=31 January 2009 |access-date=31 January 2009 }}</ref> Another clean sheet, against West Ham on 8 February 2009, extended the record to 1,212 minutes, beating the British top-flight record of 1,155 minutes previously set by [[Aberdeen F.C.|Aberdeen]]'s [[Bobby Clark (footballer, born 1945)|Bobby Clark]] in 1971.<ref>{{cite news |first=Adam |last=Bostock |title=Edwin claims British record |url=http://www.manutd.com/en/News-And-Features/Football-News/2009/Feb/Edwin-claims-British-record.aspx |work=ManUtd.com |publisher=Manchester United |date=8 February 2009 |access-date=5 March 2009 }}</ref> Finally, on 18 February 2009, Van der Sar further extended the record to 1,302 minutes, and in doing so, he broke [[José María Buljubasich]]'s single-season world record of 1,289 minutes, set in the [[Primera División de Chile|Chilean]] [[Apertura and Clausura|Clausura]] in 2005.<ref name="IFFHS">{{cite web |url=http://www.iffhs.de/?b4a390f03be4ac07cda14b45fdcdc3bfcdc0aec70aed09 |title=IFFHS statistics – World Record of the national championships |publisher=[[International Federation of Football History & Statistics]] |access-date=5 March 2009 }}</ref><ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.latinamericanfootball.com/Chile/apert05_1_2.htm |title=Chilean Apertura 2005 semi-finals |publisher=LatinAmericanFootball.Com |access-date=5 March 2009 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090109123719/http://www.latinamericanfootball.com/Chile/apert05_1_2.htm |archive-date=9 January 2009}}</ref> His clean sheet record ended on 4 March, when he made an error allowing [[Peter Løvenkrands]] of [[Newcastle United F.C.|Newcastle United]] to score after nine minutes.<ref name="eurosport_record">{{cite news |url=http://uk.eurosport.yahoo.com/04032009/58/premier-league-united-battle-points-newcastle.html |archive-url=https://archive.today/20090310080819/http://uk.eurosport.yahoo.com/04032009/58/premier-league-united-battle-points-newcastle.html |url-status=dead |archive-date=10 March 2009 |title=United battle for points at Newcastle |publisher=[[EuroSport]] – [[Yahoo!]] |date=4 March 2009 |access-date=4 March 2009 }}</ref> In total, Van der Sar had gone 1,311 minutes without conceding in the league.<ref name=Gill/> These clean sheets were a major factor in United clinching their 11th Premiership title, as United won a lot of games 1–0 to clinch the title ahead of Liverpool. With a total of 21 clean sheets he also won the [[Premier League Golden Glove]] for 2008–09.<ref name=GoldenGlove0809>{{cite web|url=http://bleacherreport.com/articles/183978-van-der-sar-claims-barclays-golden-glove|title=Van Der Sar Claims Barclays Golden Glove|author=Matt S|website=[[Bleacher Report]]|date=26 May 2009|access-date=24 April 2018}}</ref> However, he missed out on winning his third Champions League winners medal as United succumbed to a 2–0 defeat at the hands of [[FC Barcelona|Barcelona]] in the [[2009 UEFA Champions League Final|final of the tournament]] on 27 May 2009.<ref name="guardiola_salutes">{{cite news |url=https://www.uefa.com/uefachampionsleague/match/302813--barcelona-vs-man-utd/ |title=Guardiola salutes his treble winners |publisher=[[UEFA]] |first=Kevin |last=Ashby |date=27 May 2009 |access-date=28 May 2009 }}</ref> Nevertheless, he won [[Best European Goalkeeper]] award from UEFA for the second time, 14 years after he first won it at [[AFC Ajax|Ajax]]. He was one of the five United players shortlisted for the [[PFA Players' Player of the Year]] award, which was ultimately given to his United teammate [[Ryan Giggs]]; however, Van der Sar was named in the [[PFA Team of the Year]].<ref>{{cite news |title=Giggs earns prestigious PFA award |url=https://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/football/8019726.stm |work=BBC Sport |date=26 April 2010 |access-date=26 April 2010 }}</ref>

Van der Sar sustained a finger injury during the [[Audi Cup]] pre-season tournament, forcing him to miss the first 12 matches of Manchester United's 2009–10 season.<ref>{{cite news |title=Man Utd suffer Van der Sar blow |url=https://news.bbc.co.uk/sport2/hi/football/teams/m/man_utd/8184742.stm |work=BBC Sport |date=5 August 2009 |access-date=5 August 2009 }}</ref> On 6 October 2009, Van der Sar returned to action for United, playing 90 minutes in the reserves against [[Everton F.C.|Everton]].<ref>{{cite news |title=Van der Sar returns after injury |url=https://news.bbc.co.uk/sport2/hi/football/teams/m/man_utd/8293144.stm |work=BBC Sport |date=6 October 2009 |access-date=6 October 2009 }}</ref> On 17 October 2009, he returned to action in the first team, playing in United's 2–1 victory over [[Bolton Wanderers F.C.|Bolton Wanderers]].<ref>{{cite news |first=David |last=Ornstein |title=Man Utd 2–1 Bolton |url=https://news.bbc.co.uk/sport2/hi/football/eng_prem/8305403.stm |work=BBC Sport |date=17 October 2009 |access-date=17 October 2009 }}</ref> On 21 November 2009, Van der Sar would suffer injury again and be kept out of action for 12 games, with the combination of the Dutchman's wife suffering a brain haemorrhage just before Christmas. On 16 January 2010, Van der Sar returned to action in a 3–0 win over [[Burnley F.C.|Burnley]].<ref>{{cite news |title=Man Utd 3–0 Burnley |url=https://news.bbc.co.uk/sport2/hi/football/eng_prem/8454646.stm |work=BBC Sport |date=16 January 2010 |access-date=16 January 2010 }}</ref>

Van der Sar signed a one-year extension to his current contract with [[Manchester United F.C.|Manchester United]] on 26 February 2010, keeping him at the club until at least the end of the 2010–11 season.<ref>{{cite news |title=Manchester United's Edwin van der Sar extends contract |url=https://news.bbc.co.uk/sport2/hi/football/teams/m/man_utd/8433442.stm |work=BBC Sport |date=26 February 2010 |access-date=26 February 2010 }}</ref>

[[File:Van der Sar - Oct 2010 - kicking.jpg|thumb|Van der Sar playing for Manchester United during the 2010–11 season]]
On 23 December 2010, British press reported that Sir Alex Ferguson had confirmed Van der Sar would retire at the end of the [[2010–11 Premier League]] season.<ref name=retire1>{{cite news |title=Manchester United's Edwin van der Sar to retire after this season |url=https://www.theguardian.com/football/2010/dec/23/edwin-van-der-sar-retire-season |work=guardian.co.uk |publisher=The Guardian |date=23 December 2010 |access-date=25 December 2010 |location=London}}</ref> Although he denied the reports at the time,<ref name=retire1 /> Van der Sar confirmed on 27 January 2011 it was now his intention.<ref name=retire2>It is reported by Mark Ogden that he'll retire after the 2010–11 season.[http://www.skysports.com/story/0,19528,11667_6704037,00.html Van der Sar to retire]</ref> On 12 March, Van der Sar was named Man of the Match against Arsenal in the FA Cup after making several fine saves. United won the match 2–0 with goals from [[Wayne Rooney]] and [[Fabio (footballer, born 1990)|Fabio]]. He was included in the [[PFA Team of the Year]], making his third appearance there, others in 2007 and 2008.

On 22 May 2011, he played his final game at Old Trafford in a 4–2 victory over [[Blackpool F.C.|Blackpool]], resulting in Blackpool's relegation from the Premier League. He captained United as a farewell treat.<ref>{{cite news |url=https://www.theguardian.com/football/2011/may/22/manchester-united-blackpool-premier-league |title=Blackpool go down after leading and losing at Manchester United |work=The Guardian |last1=Taylor |first1=Daniel |date=22 May 2011 |access-date=11 October 2019 }}</ref> His last game for United was against [[FC Barcelona|Barcelona]] in the [[2011 UEFA Champions League Final]] on 28 May, which United lost 3–1; at 40 years, 211 days he was the oldest male player to feature in a European Cup final in the Champions League era,<ref>{{cite news |url=https://www.theguardian.com/football/blog/2011/may/29/edwin-van-der-sar-champions-league |title=Edwin van der Sar: a sorry way to say goodbye to glorious career |work=The Guardian |last1=Fifield |first1=Dominic |date=29 May 2011 |access-date=11 October 2019 }}</ref> with [[Dino Zoff]] holding the all-time record at 41 years, 86 days, when he appeared in the [[1983 European Cup Final]].<ref name="Juventus rallies around stricken legend Dino Zoff">{{cite web|url=https://www.thescore.com/seri/news/895283|title=Juventus rallies around stricken legend Dino Zoff|publisher=The Score|date=28 November 2015|access-date=26 November 2016}}</ref> Following the match, Van der Sar retired from active football.<ref>{{cite news |url=http://www.manutd.com/en/News-And-Features/Football-News/2011/May/van-der-sar-on-retirement.aspx |title=Edwin on retirement |work=ManUtd.com |publisher=Manchester United |date=28 May 2011 |access-date=31 May 2011 }}</ref>

==International career==
Van der Sar was included in the [[Netherlands national football team|Netherlands]]' [[1994 FIFA World Cup|1994 World Cup]] squad but did not play. He had to wait until 7 June 1995 for his international debut, against [[Belarus national football team|Belarus]]. He was in goal for three successive eliminations from major competitions by [[penalty shoot-out (association football)|penalties]]: [[UEFA Euro 1996|Euro 96]], the [[1998 FIFA World Cup|1998 World Cup]] and [[UEFA Euro 2000|Euro 2000]]. The Netherlands failed to qualify for the [[2002 FIFA World Cup|2002 World Cup]] after competing with [[Portugal national football team|Portugal]] and the [[Republic of Ireland national football team|Republic of Ireland]] and so during all of his career with the Netherlands, he had missed one tournament.

===1998 World Cup===
Van der Sar backstopped the Netherlands to the semi-finals of the [[1998 FIFA World Cup]], where they were eliminated by Brazil 4–2 on penalties after a 1–1 draw. In the third-place playoff, Netherlands lost to upstart Croatia 2–1.

In the quarter-finals against Argentina, Van der Sar confronted [[Ariel Ortega]] after Ortega received a yellow card for a dive in the penalty area; the Argentine was then sent off for headbutting Van der Sar. Shortly after Ortega's red card, [[Dennis Bergkamp]] scored the winning goal in Netherlands' 2–1 victory.

===Euro 2000===
Van der Sar started the Netherlands' first two group games at [[UEFA Euro 2000]], but suffered an injury in the closing stages of their 3–0 win over [[Denmark national football team|Denmark]] and was replaced by [[Sander Westerveld]] for the final group match against [[France national football team|France]]. Van der Sar returned for the quarter-finals, but was again replaced by Westerveld after 65 minutes, by which point the Netherlands had a 4–0 lead. Van der Sar kept another clean sheet in the semi-final against [[Italy national football team|Italy]], resulting in a goalless draw after [[Frank de Boer]] and [[Patrick Kluivert]] both failed to score from the penalty spot in regulation time. The match went to a penalty shoot-out, and although Van der Sar saved the effort from Italy captain [[Paolo Maldini]], the Netherlands scored just one of their four kicks and lost 3–1.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.repubblica.it/online/camp_europeo/itasemi/itasemi/itasemi.html|title=Italia, finale da leggenda Olanda spreca e va fuori|publisher=La Repubblica|language=it|first=Giancarlo|last=Mola|date=29 June 2000|access-date=18 May 2015}}</ref> Van der Sar finished the tournament without conceding a single goal, but was left out of the Team of the Tournament in favour of France's [[Fabien Barthez]] and Italy's [[Francesco Toldo]].<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.uefa.com/newsfiles/491990.pdf |title=UEFA Euro 2008 Information |access-date=30 June 2008 |publisher=UEFA |page=88 }}</ref>

===Euro 2004===
During the penalty shoot-out after the [[UEFA Euro 2004|Euro 2004]] quarter-final against [[Sweden men's national football team|Sweden]], Van der Sar saved a penalty from [[Olof Mellberg]], as the Netherlands won the shoot-out 5–4 and advanced to the semi-finals,<ref>{{cite news |title=Holland end Swede dream |url=https://news.bbc.co.uk/sport2/hi/football/euro_2004/3831335.stm |work=BBC Sport |date=26 June 2004 |access-date=13 August 2008 }}</ref> where they lost to hosts [[Portugal national football team|Portugal]].<ref>{{cite news |title=Portugal 2–1 Holland |url=https://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/football/euro_2004/3844465.stm |work=BBC Sport |date=20 June 2004 |access-date=13 August 2008 }}</ref>

===2006 World Cup===
[[File:EvdS.jpg|thumb|Van der Sar at Euro 2008]]
Prior to the [[2006 FIFA World Cup|2006 World Cup]] group match against [[Ivory Coast national football team|Côte d'Ivoire]], Van der Sar had not conceded a goal in nine consecutive competitive matches.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://uk.eurosport.yahoo.com/20102007/4/van-der-sar-tight-lipped-future.html |title=Van Der Sar Tight-Lipped on Future |publisher=Yahoo! Sport UK |date=20 October 2007 |access-date=13 August 2008 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20071022171259/http://uk.eurosport.yahoo.com/20102007/4/van-der-sar-tight-lipped-future.html |archive-date=22 October 2007 }}</ref> As captain of the Netherlands, he broke Frank de Boer's record of all-time caps for his country in the [[2006 FIFA World Cup|2006 World Cup]] [[Battle of Nuremberg (2006 FIFA World Cup)|second-round match]] against [[Portugal national football team|Portugal]].<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.rsssf.org/miscellaneous/vandersar-intl.html|title=Edwin van der Sar - Century of International Appearances|website=www.rsssf.org}}</ref>

===Euro 2008===
[[File:Van der Sar Oranje.jpg|thumb|left|Van der Sar in training with the Netherlands prior to Euro 2008.]]
On his 37th birthday, Van der Sar was interviewed by [[Radio 538]] and stated that he intended to retire from international football after [[UEFA Euro 2008|Euro 2008]].<ref>{{cite news |first=Andrew |last=Scurr |title=Van der Sar to quit Holland |url=http://www.skysports.com/story/0,19528,11095_2834048,00.html |publisher=[[Sky Sports]] |date=29 October 2007 |access-date=29 January 2009 }}</ref> Prior to the tournament, he was instrumental in bringing an end to a long-time dispute between veteran striker [[Ruud van Nistelrooy]] and manager [[Marco van Basten]].<ref>{{cite news|title=Van der Sar happy to be Dutch daddy|url=https://www.fifa.com/confederationscup/news/newsid=800420.html#van+sar+happy+dutch+daddy|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080702021804/http://www.fifa.com/confederationscup/news/newsid=800420.html#van+sar+happy+dutch+daddy|url-status=dead|archive-date=2 July 2008|publisher=[[FIFA|fifa.com]]|date=12 June 2008}}</ref> He was the captain in their impressive 3–0 victory over Italy on 9 June 2008, and also on 13 June for the 4–1 victory over France. On 21 June, he played in the 3–1 [[UEFA Euro 2008 knockout stage#Netherlands vs Russia|quarter-final]] loss against [[Russia national football team|Russia]], which was believed to be his final international.<ref>{{cite news |first=Theo |last=Ruizenaar |title=Van der Sar ends Dutch career with painful defeat |url=http://uk.reuters.com/article/footballNews/idUKB56258120080622 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090111043137/http://uk.reuters.com/article/footballNews/idUKB56258120080622 |url-status=dead |archive-date=11 January 2009 |publisher=Reuters |date=22 June 2008 |access-date=29 January 2009 }}</ref> This was his 16th appearance in a European Championship finals match, with which he equalled the record set by [[Lilian Thuram]] a few days earlier. Along with 22 other players Van der Sar was named in the team of the tournament.<ref name=Gill/> Following Euro 2008, Van der Sar had the distinction of playing more minutes at the [[UEFA European Football Championship|European Football Championship]] than any other player.<ref>{{cite news |url=http://www.topfootball.net/news/edin-van-der-sar-most-minutes-played-at-european-championship.html |title=Edwin van der Sar most minutes played at European Championship |work=TopFootball.net |date=21 June 2008 |access-date=29 January 2009 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090201080604/http://www.topfootball.net/news/edin-van-der-sar-most-minutes-played-at-european-championship.html |archive-date=1 February 2009}}</ref>

===2010 FIFA World Cup qualification===
On 3 October 2008, at the urging of new coach [[Bert van Marwijk]], Van der Sar agreed to come out of international retirement for the Netherlands' [[2010 FIFA World Cup qualification – UEFA Group 9|2010 FIFA World Cup qualification]] matches against [[Iceland national football team|Iceland]] and [[Norway national football team|Norway]] after injuries to [[Maarten Stekelenburg]] and [[Henk Timmer]] made both unavailable for the two games.<ref>{{cite news |url=http://uk.reuters.com/article/worldFootballNews/idUKL330765320081003 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20081208175217/http://uk.reuters.com/article/worldFootballNews/idUKL330765320081003 |url-status=dead |archive-date=8 December 2008 |title=Van der Sar makes Dutch comeback for World Cup qualifiers |work=[[Reuters]] |date=3 October 2008 |access-date=28 October 2008 }}</ref> Van der Sar kept a clean sheet in both matches, which were won by the Dutch 2–0 and 1–0 respectively. In Oslo, the Dutch defeated [[Norway national football team|Norway]] 1–0 courtesy of a [[Mark van Bommel]] goal, thus ensuring a fitting send-off for Van der Sar who earned his 130th cap during that match, a record for a Dutch player, and put him in the top forty [[List of men's footballers with 100 or more international caps|most capped players of all time]].<ref>{{cite news |url=https://www.fifa.com/worldfootball/statisticsandrecords/news/newsid=911534.html |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20081017153749/http://www.fifa.com/worldfootball/statisticsandrecords/news/newsid=911534.html |url-status=dead |archive-date=17 October 2008 |title=Strikers put in the shade |work=[[FIFA]] |date=15 October 2008 |access-date=28 October 2008 }}</ref> He remained the Dutch team's most capped player until [[Wesley Sneijder]] surpassed him in 2017.<ref>{{cite news |title=Wesley Sneijder breaks Netherlands caps record |url=https://www.uefa.com/uefanationsleague/news/0253-0d821289f992-2e8f666fa91e-1000--wesley-sneijder-calls-time-on-netherlands-career/ |work=[[UEFA]] |date=9 June 2017 |access-date=4 January 2018 }}</ref>

==Style of play==
{{Quote box
 |quote="I do not think I was the main protagonist. One of the very first to have brought a new perspective was Edwin van der Sar, who played a lot with his feet and allowed the position to enter a new phase. I was inspired by his style of play."|source=German goalkeeper [[Manuel Neuer]] has praised Van der Sar for being among the first to bring a new perspective to goalkeeping<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.fourfourtwo.com/news/neuer-hails-inspirational-van-der-sar|title=Neuer hails inspirational Van der Sar|date=21 October 2015|publisher=FourFourTwo|access-date=30 May 2019}}</ref>|align=centre
 |quoted=1
 |width=36%
}}

Regarded as one of the greatest and most complete keepers in football history,<ref name="The best goalkeepers of all time"/><ref name=ESPN/> Van der Sar was a large, athletic, yet slender goalkeeper, who excelled at coming off his line to handle crosses due to his height and physique; an intelligent goalkeeper, in addition to his reflexes, excellent positional sense, and shot-stopping abilities, he was also known for his calm composure, longevity, and his ability to organise his defence.<ref name=ESPN/><ref name="tuttojuve">{{cite web|url=https://www.tuttojuve.com/gli-eroi-bianconeri/gli-eroi-in-bianconero-edwin-van-der-sar-68107|title=Gli eroi in bianconero: Edwin VAN DER SAR|publisher=Tutto Juve|language=it|first=Stefano|last=Bedeschi|date=29 October 2013|access-date=24 October 2017}}</ref><ref name="Euro 2000 Profile">{{cite web|url=https://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/euro2000/teams/holland/squad/741818.stm|title=Edwin van der Sar|work=BBC Sport|access-date=10 December 2015}}</ref><ref name="accomplished">{{cite web|url=https://www.theguardian.com/football/blog/2009/may/28/edwin-van-der-sar-manchester-united-champions-league|title=Is Edwin van der Sar as accomplished as he would have us believe?|work=The Guardian|first=Daniel|last=Taylor|date=28 May 2009|access-date=10 December 2015}}</ref><ref name="mani del gigante">{{cite web|url=http://ricerca.repubblica.it/repubblica/archivio/repubblica/1999/05/28/juve-nelle-mani-del-gigante.html|title=Juve nelle mani del gigante|publisher=La Repubblica|language=it|first=Emanuele|last=Gamba|date=28 May 1999|access-date=24 October 2017}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.repubblica.it/sport/calcio/champions/2011/05/27/news/van_der_sar_gioca_e_lascia_a_40_anni_girer_documentari-16810230/|title=Van der Sar gioca e lascia a 40 anni: "Girerò documentari"|publisher=La Repubblica|language=it|first=Andrea|last=Sorrentino|date=27 May 2011|access-date=24 October 2017}}</ref> Furthermore, he was also effective at stopping penalties.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.foxsports.it/2016/10/19/cooper-diego-alves-migliori-para-rigori-storia/|title=Da Cooper a Diego Alves: ecco i migliori para-rigori della storia|publisher=www.foxsports.it|language=it|first=Angelo|last=Cavaliere|date=19 October 2016|access-date=24 October 2017}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.ilgiornale.it/news/era-saponetta-juve-adesso-non-batte-nessuno.html|title=Era la saponetta della Juve Adesso non lo batte nessuno|publisher=Il Giornale|language=it|first=Riccardo|last=Signori|date=20 February 2009|access-date=24 October 2017}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.telegraph.co.uk/football/2016/12/27/premier-league-goalkeeper-has-best-penalty-record/edwin-van-der-sar-which-premier-league-goalkeeper-has-best/|title=Which Premier League goalkeeper has the best penalty record?|publisher=The Telegraph|date=27 December 2016|access-date=24 October 2017}}</ref><ref name="CommunityShield">{{cite web|url=https://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/football/6929113.stm|title=Chelsea 1-1 Man Untd|work=BBC Sport|first=Caroline|last=Cheese|date=5 August 2007|access-date=24 October 2017}}</ref> Van der Sar was known in particular for his skill with the ball at his feet, as well as his accurate distribution with either foot, which gave him the ability to launch counter-attacks from his area with long balls,<ref name="Euro 2000 Profile"/><ref name="accomplished"/><ref name="mani del gigante"/><ref>{{cite web|url=http://archiviostorico.gazzetta.it/2001/marzo/14/Buffon_Van_der_Sar_maestri_ga_0_0103144255.shtml|title=Buffon e Van der Sar maestri con i piedi|trans-title=Buffon and Van der Sar masters with their feet|publisher=La Gazzetta dello Sport|language=it|first=Matteo|last=Dore|date=14 March 2001|access-date=23 May 2014}}</ref> or build attacking plays by playing the ball out from the back on the ground.<ref name="redazione"/> Due to his ability in possession of the ball, and to rush off his line, he also functioned as a "[[Goalkeeper (association football)#Sweeper-keeper|sweeper-keeper]]" on occasion throughout his career, in particular during his time with Ajax.<ref name="mani del gigante"/><ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.telegraph.co.uk/sport/football/teams/liverpool/8916701/Liverpool-goalkeeper-Pepe-Reina-believes-club-are-on-the-right-road-to-fulfilling-their-Europe-dream.html|title=Liverpool goalkeeper Pepe Reina believes club are on the right road to fulfilling their Europe dream|publisher=The Telegraph|first=Duncan|last=White|date=26 November 2011|access-date=15 April 2016}}</ref>

==Post-playing career==
[[File:Edwin van der Sar Web Summit.jpg|thumb|Van der Sar speaking at the 2015 [[Web Summit]]]]
On 3 August 2011, a [[testimonial match|testimonial]] was played at the [[Amsterdam Arena]] in honour of Van der Sar. The match featured the goalkeeper's "dream team", consisting of [[Wayne Rooney]], [[John Heitinga]], [[Louis Saha]], [[Rio Ferdinand]], [[Ryan Giggs]], [[Paul Scholes]], [[Nemanja Vidić]], [[André Ooijer]], [[Dirk Kuyt]], [[Gary Neville]], [[Michael Carrick]], [[Edgar Davids]], [[Giovanni van Bronckhorst]], [[Boudewijn Zenden]], and [[Dennis Bergkamp]], with [[Alex Ferguson]] as manager. They faced the current Ajax first team, led by [[Frank de Boer]].

Prior to this match two shorter matches took place. One featured the Ajax and Manchester United youth teams, and another one featured Ajax's 1995 squad against the [[Netherlands national football team|Netherlands national team]] of 1998. The Ajax squad featured among others [[Finidi George]], [[Nwankwo Kanu]], Frank de Boer, [[Winston Bogarde]], [[Nordin Wooter]], [[Ronald de Boer]], [[Danny Blind]], Patrick Kluivert, [[Marc Overmars]] and [[Frank Rijkaard]], and was managed by [[Louis van Gaal]]. The Netherlands squad featured among others [[Wim Jonk]], [[Dennis Bergkamp]], [[Roy Makaay]], [[Ruud Hesp]], [[Aron Winter]], [[Richard Witschge]] and [[Pierre van Hooijdonk]], and was managed by [[Guus Hiddink]].

The viewership numbers in the Netherlands alone peaked at 2&nbsp;million and it had a 26% total market share.<ref>[http://www.voetbalzone.nl/doc.asp?uid=144168 Voetbalzone – In de wandelgangen (zaterdag, 3/10)]. Voetbalzone.nl. Retrieved on 23 September 2011.</ref> The income generated by the match was to be donated to two charities ([[Make a Wish Foundation]] and Laureus);<ref>[http://www.ajax.nl/Nieuws/Nieuwsarchief/Nieuws-artikel/Kaartverkoop-afscheidsduel-Van-der-Sar.htm Ajax – Kaartverkoop afscheidsduel Van der Sar] {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110807092701/http://www.ajax.nl/Nieuws/Nieuwsarchief/Nieuws-artikel/Kaartverkoop-afscheidsduel-Van-der-Sar.htm |date=7 August 2011 }}. Ajax.nl (20 June 2011). Retrieved on 23 September 2011.</ref> it generated so much money, however, that Van der Sar announced afterwards he would be starting his own charitable foundation to help spend the money.<ref>[http://www.soccernews.nl/news/127306/Van_der_Sar_start_eigen_foundation Van der Sar start eigen foundation]. SoccerNews.NL. Retrieved on 23 September 2011.</ref>

During the event, it was announced that Van der Sar would be working as an analyst for the [[Nederlandse Omroep Stichting]] covering the [[2011–12 UEFA Champions League]].<ref name="autogenerated1">[http://www.hln.be/hln/nl/1307/Champions-League/article/detail/1300631/2011/08/03/Van-der-Sar-wordt-analist-bij-NOS.dhtml Ex-doelman Edwin van der Sar wordt voetbalanalist bij NOS – Champions League – HLN] {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20121005162339/http://www.hln.be/hln/nl/1307/Champions-League/article/detail/1300631/2011/08/03/Van-der-Sar-wordt-analist-bij-NOS.dhtml |date=5 October 2012 }}. Hln.be. Retrieved on 23 September 2011.</ref> Van der Sar's son, Joe, made written comments stating his father would be working as a goalkeeping coach at Ajax within five years. Van der Sar himself said he did not want to make a full commitment to this, but confirmed it was likely and he was interested in building up his coaching career slowly, starting at the lower levels.<ref name="voetbalprimeur1">[http://www.voetbalprimeur.nl/site/nieuws/173974/Van_der_Sar_Trainer_bij_Ajax_ligt_voor_de_hand.html Van der Sar: 'Trainer bij Ajax ligt voor de hand'] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140304083114/http://www.voetbalprimeur.nl/site/nieuws/173974/Van_der_Sar_Trainer_bij_Ajax_ligt_voor_de_hand.html |date=4 March 2014 }}. VoetbalPrimeur.nl. Retrieved on 23 September 2011.</ref>

On 27 May 2012, Van der Sar participated in the Soccer Aid 2012 Match, playing for the Rest of the World side in the first half, making a full-length save from [[John Bishop (comedian)|John Bishop]]. He was replaced at half-time by comedian [[Patrick Kielty]]. He also took part in the Soccer Aid 2014 match on 8 June 2014, again playing for the Rest of the World side in the first half before being once again replaced at half time by Patrick Kielty.

Van der Sar took on a role as Ajax's marketing director on 19 November 2012.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.independent.co.uk/sport/football/european/edwin-van-der-sar-back-at-ajax-as-marketing-director-8329002.html|title=Edwin van der Sar back at Ajax as marketing director|website=[[Independent.co.uk]]|date=19 November 2012}}</ref> He was promoted in late 2016 to the role of CEO.<ref>{{cite web |last1=Dawson |first1=Rob |title=Van der Sar on Man Utd role: 'You never know' |url=https://www.espn.com/soccer/story/_/id/37576457/never-know |website=ESPN |date=12 September 2019}}</ref>

On 12 March 2016, Van der Sar made a brief return to football to play a single match for his former youth club [[VV Noordwijk]]. Noordwijk, playing in the amateur [[Hoofdklasse|fifth tier]], had suffered an injury crisis. He saved a penalty and conceded a goal in the match as they drew 1–1 with [[CVV de Jodan Boys|Jodan Boys]].<ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.theguardian.com/football/2016/mar/12/edwin-van-der-sar-saves-penalty-on-comeback-to-help-vv-noordwijk-secure-draw|title=Edwin van der Sar saves penalty on comeback to help VV Noordwijk secure draw|work=[[The Guardian]]|quote=VV Noordwijk earn 1–1 draw with [[CVV de Jodan Boys|Jodan Boys]]. Keeper agreed to help team out due to injury crisis|date=12 March 2016|access-date=30 July 2017}}</ref>

In May 2023, he resigned as Ajax CEO.<ref>{{cite news| title=I am done – Edwin van der Sar ends long association with Ajax |newspaper=The Independent | date=30 May 2023 | url=https://www.independent.co.uk/sport/football/edwin-van-der-sar-netherlands-fulham-erik-ten-hag-manchester-united-b2348113.html | access-date=25 February 2024}}</ref>

==Personal life==
Van der Sar and his wife Annemarie van Kesteren have two children.<ref name="Independent">{{cite news |url=https://www.independent.co.uk/sport/football/premier-league/edwin-van-der-sar-put-your-hopes-in-these-hands-for-safe-keeping-1628862.html |title=Edwin van der Sar: Put your hopes in these hands for safe keeping |work=Independent.co.uk |publisher=The Independent |date=22 February 2009 |access-date=22 February 2009 |location=London}}</ref> The couple's wedding ceremony took place at the [[Beurs van Berlage]] in [[Amsterdam]], on 20 May 2006.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.manchestereveningnews.co.uk/news/s/1051103_van_der_sar_a_quiet_hero_ |title=Van der Sar: A quiet hero |publisher=Manchester Evening News |date=24 May 2008 |access-date=13 August 2008 }}</ref> Van der Sar's son, [[Joe van der Sar|Joe]], was on the pitch celebrating when his father saved a penalty in the Netherlands' 5–4 shoot-out victory over [[Sweden men's national football team|Sweden]] in the quarter-finals of [[UEFA Euro 2004]].<ref name="Independent"/> In December 2009, Van Kesteren was admitted to the hospital just two days before Christmas,<ref>{{cite news |url=http://www.skysports.com/story/0,19528,11095_5807970,00.html |title=Edwin given leave by United – Goalkeeper's wife in hospital after suffering brain haemorrhage |publisher=Sky Sports |date=29 December 2009 |access-date=30 December 2009 }}</ref> reports said she had suffered a suspected [[Cerebral haemorrhage|brain haemorrhage]] and was in a "very poor" condition.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://newsbizarre.com/2009/12/annemarie-van-kesteren-pictures-wife-of.html |title=Annemarie van Kesteren Pictures: Wife of Manchest United Soccer Star has Stroke |publisher=Newsbizarre |date=29 December 2009 |access-date=29 December 2009 |archive-date=19 January 2010 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100119062102/http://newsbizarre.com/2009/12/annemarie-van-kesteren-pictures-wife-of.html |url-status=dead }}</ref> Van der Sar was granted indefinite leave following his wife's collapse, and it is understood that she has made a good recovery, with no long-term effects.<ref>{{cite news |title=Edwin van der Sar returns to training with Manchester United |url=https://www.theguardian.com/football/2010/jan/11/edwin-van-der-sar-manchester-united |work=[[The Guardian]] |date=11 January 2010 |access-date=24 June 2020 }}</ref>

In July 2023, Van der Sar was admitted to intensive care in hospital after suffering a [[Cerebral haemorrhage|brain haemorrhage]].<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.bbc.com/sport/football/66138530|title=Van der Sar in intensive care after bleed on brain|work=bbc.co.uk|date=7 July 2023}}</ref> He was discharged from the unit two weeks later.<ref>{{cite web |title=Edwin van der Sar: Ex-Manchester United goalkeeper out of intensive care |url=https://www.skysports.com/football/news/11095/12923178/edwin-van-der-sar-ex-manchester-united-goalkeeper-out-of-intensive-care |website=SkySports |access-date=14 February 2024 |date=18 July 2023}}</ref>

==Career statistics==

===Club===
{| class="wikitable" style="text-align:center"
|+ Appearances and goals by club, season and competition<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.stretfordend.co.uk/playermenu/vandersar.html |title=Edwin van der Sar |access-date=24 October 2010 |publisher=StretfordEnd.co.uk }}</ref>
|-
!rowspan="2"|Club
!rowspan="2"|Season
!colspan="3"|League
!colspan="2"|National cup
!colspan="2"|League cup
!colspan="2"|[[UEFA#Club|Europe]]
!colspan="2"|Other{{efn|Includes [[Johan Cruyff Shield]], [[FA Community Shield]], [[UEFA Super Cup]], [[Intercontinental Cup (1960–2004)|Intercontinental Cup]], [[FIFA Club World Cup]]}}
!colspan="2"|Total
|-
!Division!!Apps!!Goals!!Apps!!Goals!!Apps!!Goals!!Apps!!Goals!!Apps!!Goals!!Apps!!Goals
|-
|rowspan="10"|[[AFC Ajax|Ajax]]
|[[1990–91 Eredivisie|1990–91]]
|[[Eredivisie]]
|9||0||0||0||colspan="2"|–||0||0||0||0||9||0
|-
|[[1991–92 Eredivisie|1991–92]]
|Eredivisie
|0||0||0||0||colspan="2"|–||0||0||0||0||0||0
|-
|[[1992–93 Eredivisie|1992–93]]
|Eredivisie
|19||0||3||0||colspan="2"|–||3||0||0||0||25||0
|-
|[[1993–94 Eredivisie|1993–94]]
|Eredivisie
|32||0||4||0||colspan="2"|–||6||0||1||0||43||0
|-
|[[1994–95 AFC Ajax season|1994–95]]
|Eredivisie
|33||0||3||0||colspan="2"|–||11||0||1||0||48||0
|-
|[[1995–96 AFC Ajax season|1995–96]]
|Eredivisie
|33||0||2||0||colspan="2"|–||11||0||4||0||50||0
|-
|[[1996–97 Eredivisie|1996–97]]
|Eredivisie
|33||0||1||0||colspan="2"|–||10||0||1||0||45||0
|-
|[[1997–98 Eredivisie|1997–98]]
|Eredivisie
|33||1||5||0||colspan="2"|–||8||0||0||0||46||1
|-
|[[1998–99 AFC Ajax season|1998–99]]
|Eredivisie
|34||0||5||0||colspan="2"|–||6||0||1||0||46||0
|-
!colspan="2"|Total
!226!!1!!23!!0!!colspan="2"|–!!55!!0!!8!!0!!312!!1
|-
|rowspan="3"|[[Juventus FC|Juventus]]
|[[1999–2000 Juventus FC season|1999–2000]]
|[[Serie A]]
|32||0||3||0||colspan="2"|–||11||0||0||0||46||0
|-
|[[2000–01 Juventus FC season|2000–01]]
|Serie A
|34||0||2||0||colspan="2"|–||6||0||0||0||42||0
|-
!colspan="2"|Total
!66!!0!!5!!0!!colspan="2"|–!!17!!0!!0!!0!!88!!0
|-
|rowspan="5"|[[Fulham F.C.|Fulham]]
|[[2001–02 Fulham F.C. season|2001–02]]
|[[Premier League]]
|37||0||4||0||0||0||0||0||0||0||41||0
|-
|[[2002–03 Fulham F.C. season|2002–03]]
|Premier League
|19||0||0||0||0||0||11||0||0||0||30||0
|-
|[[2003–04 Fulham F.C. season|2003–04]]
|Premier League
|37||0||6||0||0||0||0||0||0||0||43||0
|-
|[[2004–05 Fulham F.C. season|2004–05]]
|Premier League
|34||0||5||0||1||0||0||0||0||0||40||0
|-
!colspan="2"|Total
!127!!0!!15!!0!!1!!0!!11!!0!!0!!0!!154!!0
|-
|rowspan="7"|[[Manchester United F.C.|Manchester United]]
|[[2005–06 Manchester United F.C. season|2005–06]]
|Premier League
|38||0||2||0||3||0||8||0||0||0||51||0
|-
|[[2006–07 Manchester United F.C. season|2006–07]]
|Premier League
|32||0||3||0||0||0||12||0||0||0||47||0
|-
|[[2007–08 Manchester United F.C. season|2007–08]]
|Premier League
|29||0||4||0||0||0||10||0||1||0||44||0
|-
|[[2008–09 Manchester United F.C. season|2008–09]]
|Premier League
|33||0||2||0||0||0||10||0||4||0||49||0
|-
|[[2009–10 Manchester United F.C. season|2009–10]]
|Premier League
|21||0||0||0||2||0||6||0||0||0||29||0
|-
|[[2010–11 Manchester United F.C. season|2010–11]]
|Premier League
|33||0||2||0||0||0||10||0||1||0||46||0
|-
!colspan="2"|Total
!186!!0!!13!!0!!5!!0!!56!!0!!6!!0!!266!!0
|-
|[[VV Noordwijk]]
|[[2015–16 Hoofdklasse|2015–16]]
|[[Hoofdklasse|Hoofdklasse Saturday B]]
|1||0||colspan="2"|—||colspan="2"|—||colspan="2"|—||colspan="2" |—||1||0
|-
!colspan="3"|Career total
!606!!1!!56!!0!!6!!0!!139!!0!!14!!0!!821!!1
|}

{{notelist}}

===International===
{| class="wikitable" style="text-align:center"
|+ Appearances and goals by national team and year<ref>{{NFT|4650|name=Edwin van der Sar|access-date=23 September 2011}}</ref><ref>[https://www.rsssf.org/miscellaneous/vandersar-intl.html Edwin van der Sar – Century of International Appearances]. Rsssf.com. Retrieved on 23 September 2011.</ref>
|-
!National team!!Year!!Apps!!Goals
|-
|rowspan="14"|[[Netherlands national football team|Netherlands]]
|1995||5||0
|-
|1996||10||0
|-
|1997||6||0
|-
|1998||14||0
|-
|1999||8||0
|-
|2000||12||0
|-
|2001||9||0
|-
|2002||6||0
|-
|2003||8||0
|-
|2004||17||0
|-
|2005||11||0
|-
|2006||12||0
|-
|2007||4||0
|-
|2008||8||0
|-
!colspan="2"|Total!!130!!0
|}

==Honours==
'''Ajax'''
*[[Eredivisie]]: [[1993–94 Eredivisie|1993–94]], [[1994–95 Eredivisie|1994–95]], [[1995–96 Eredivisie|1995–96]], [[1997–98 Eredivisie|1997–98]]<ref name=SW>{{cite web|url=https://int.soccerway.com/players/edwin-van-der-sar/10/|title=E. van der Sar|publisher=Soccerway|access-date=10 December 2015}}</ref>
*[[KNVB Cup]]: [[1992–93 KNVB Cup|1992–93]], [[1997–98 KNVB Cup|1997–98]], [[1998–99 KNVB Cup|1998–99]]<ref name=SW/>
*[[Dutch Supercup]]: [[1993 Dutch Supercup|1993]], [[1994 Dutch Supercup|1994]], [[1995 Dutch Supercup|1995]]<ref name=SW/>
*[[UEFA Champions League]]: [[1994–95 UEFA Champions League|1994–95]]; runner-up: [[1995–96 UEFA Champions League|1995–96]]<ref name=SW/>
*[[UEFA Cup]]: [[1991–92 UEFA Cup|1991–92]]<ref name=SW/>
*[[UEFA Super Cup]]: [[1995 UEFA Super Cup|1995]]<ref name=SW/>
*[[Intercontinental Cup (1960–2004)|Intercontinental Cup]]: [[1995 Intercontinental Cup|1995]]<ref name=SW/>

'''Juventus'''
*[[UEFA Intertoto Cup]]: [[1999 UEFA Intertoto Cup|1999]]<ref name=SW/>

'''Fulham'''
*UEFA Intertoto Cup: [[2002 UEFA Intertoto Cup|2002]]<ref name=SW/>

'''Manchester United'''
*[[Premier League]]: [[2006–07 FA Premier League|2006–07]], [[2007–08 Premier League|2007–08]], [[2008–09 Premier League|2008–09]], [[2010–11 Premier League|2010–11]]<ref name="PremProfile">{{cite web |url=https://www.premierleague.com/players/2070/Edwin-van-der-Sar/overview |title=Edwin van der Sar |publisher=Premier League |access-date=8 July 2023}}</ref>
*[[Football League Cup]]: [[2005–06 Football League Cup|2005–06]], [[2009–10 Football League Cup|2009–10]]<ref name=SW/>
*[[FA Community Shield]]: [[2007 FA Community Shield|2007]], [[2008 FA Community Shield|2008]], [[2010 FA Community Shield|2010]]<ref name=SW/>
*UEFA Champions League: [[2007–08 UEFA Champions League|2007–08]]; runner-up: [[2008–09 UEFA Champions League|2008–09]], [[2010–11 UEFA Champions League|2010–11]]<ref name=SW/>
*[[FIFA Club World Cup]]: [[2008 FIFA Club World Cup|2008]]<ref name=SW/>

'''Individual'''
<!--LEAGUE AND FEDERATION-SANCTIONED AWARDS ONLY. No fan or magazine-voted awards. Listed in chronological order from last time won.-->
*[[Dutch Footballer of the Year#Dutch Football Goalkeeper of the Year|Dutch Football Goalkeeper of the Year]]: 1994, 1995, 1996, 1997{{citation needed|date=December 2019}}
*[[Best European Goalkeeper]]: 1995, 2009<ref name="BBC">{{cite web|url=https://news.bbc.co.uk/sport2/hi/football/teams/m/man_utd/9377719.stm|title=Man Utd's Edwin van der Sar to retire at end of season|date=27 January 2011|access-date=13 September 2016|work=BBC Sport}}</ref>
*[[European Sports Media#ESM Team of the Year|ESM Team of the Year]]: 1995–96, 2008–09{{citation needed|date=December 2019}}
*[[List of AFC Ajax records and statistics#AFC Ajax prize winners|Ajax Player of the Year (Rinus Michels Award)]]: [[1997–98 AFC Ajax season|1997–98]]<ref>{{cite web|url=https://english.ajax.nl/articles/player-of-the-year-martinez/|title=Player of the Year: Martínez|website=Ajax.nl}}</ref>
*[[Dutch Footballer of the Year|Dutch Golden Shoe]]: 1998{{citation needed|date=December 2019}}
*[[Fulham F.C.|Fulham]] Player of the Year: 2004<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.fulhamfc.com/news/2004/may/19/end-of-season-awards|title=End of Season Awards|publisher=Fulham F.C.|date=19 May 2004|access-date=19 August 2020}}</ref>
*[[PFA Team of the Year|PFA Premier League Team of the Year]]: [[PFA Team of the Year (2000s)#FA Premier League 8|2006–07]],<ref>{{cite news |url=https://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/football/6582201.stm |title=Ronaldo secures PFA awards double |work=BBC Sport |date=22 April 2007 |access-date=18 April 2018}}</ref> [[PFA Team of the Year (2000s)#Premier League 2|2008–09]],<ref>{{cite news |url=https://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/football/8019726.stm |title=Giggs earns prestigious PFA award |work=BBC Sport |date=26 April 2009 |access-date=18 April 2018}}</ref> [[PFA Team of the Year (2010s)#Premier League 2|2010–11]]<ref>{{cite news |url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/football/13110874 |title=Spurs' Gareth Bale wins PFA player of the year award |work=BBC Sport |date=17 April 2011 |access-date=18 April 2018}}</ref>
*[[UEFA European Championship Team of the Tournament]]: [[UEFA Euro 2008#Awards|2008]]<ref name="BBC"/>
*[[Premier League 2008–09#Annual awards|Premier League Merit Award]]: 2008–09{{citation needed|date=December 2019}}
*Most clean sheets in the Premier League: 2003-04, 2008-09
*[[Premier League Golden Glove]]: 2008–09<ref name="PremProfile"/>
*[[UEFA Club Football Awards|UEFA Club Goalkeeper of the Year]]: 2009<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.uefa.com/uefachampionsleague/news/01de-0e731753bab2-568ffed39aea-1000--van-der-sar-back-and-raring-to-go/|title=Van der Sar back and raring to go|website=UEFA|date=21 October 2009 }}</ref>

'''Orders'''
*Officer of the [[Order of Orange-Nassau]]: 2010<ref>{{Cite web|date=5 June 2010|title=Van der Sar benoemd tot Officier in orde van Oranje Nassau|url=http://www.soccernews.nl/news/93869/van-der-sar-benoemd-tot-officier-in-orde-van-oranje-nassau|access-date=21 October 2020|website=soccernews.nl}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|date=5 June 2010|title=Van der Sar geridderd bij afscheid|trans-title=Van der Sar knighted at farewell|url=https://nos.nl/l/162269|access-date=21 October 2020|website=nos.nl|language=nl}}</ref>
*''JFK'' Greatest Man Award: 29 October 2011<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.nu.nl/achterklap/2654620/edwin-van-sar-wint-greatest-man-award.html|title=Edwin van der Sar wint Greatest Man Award|first=Door|last=Novum|date=30 October 2011|website=NU}}</ref>

==See also==
* [[List of men's footballers with 100 or more international caps|List of footballers with 100 or more caps]]

==References==
{{Reflist}}

==External links==
{{Commons category}}
{{Wikiquote}}
*{{UEFA player}}
*{{FIFA player}}

{{Navboxes
| title = Netherlands squads
| bg = #F1771D
| fg = white
| bordercolor = blue
| list1 = 
{{Netherlands squad 1994 FIFA World Cup}}
{{Netherlands squad UEFA Euro 1996}}
{{Netherlands squad 1998 FIFA World Cup}}
{{Netherlands squad UEFA Euro 2000}}
{{Netherlands squad UEFA Euro 2004}}
{{Netherlands squad 2006 FIFA World Cup}}
{{Netherlands squad UEFA Euro 2008}}
}}
{{Navboxes
| title = Awards
| bg = gold
| fg = navy
| list1 = 
{{2006–07 Premier League Team of the Year}}
{{2008–09 Premier League Team of the Year}}
{{2010–11 Premier League Team of the Year}}
{{UEFA Euro 2008 Team of the Tournament}}
{{Dutch Golden Shoe Winner}}
{{Dutch Football Goalkeeper of the Year}}
{{Premier League Golden Glove}}
{{Best European Goalkeeper}}
{{UEFA Club Football Awards}}
{{AFC Ajax Player of the Year}}
{{Fulham F.C. Player of the Year}}
}}
{{Authority control}}

{{DEFAULTSORT:Sar, Edwin Van Der}}
[[Category:1970 births]]
[[Category:Living people]]
[[Category:People from Teylingen]]
[[Category:Dutch men's footballers]]
[[Category:Men's association football goalkeepers]]
[[Category:AFC Ajax players]]
[[Category:Juventus FC players]]
[[Category:Fulham F.C. players]]
[[Category:Manchester United F.C. players]]
[[Category:VV Noordwijk players]]
[[Category:Eredivisie players]]
[[Category:Serie A players]]
[[Category:Premier League players]]
[[Category:Vierde Divisie players]]
[[Category:UEFA Champions League–winning players]]
[[Category:UEFA Europa League–winning players]]
[[Category:Netherlands men's international footballers]]
[[Category:1994 FIFA World Cup players]]
[[Category:UEFA Euro 1996 players]]
[[Category:1998 FIFA World Cup players]]
[[Category:UEFA Euro 2000 players]]
[[Category:UEFA Euro 2004 players]]
[[Category:2006 FIFA World Cup players]]
[[Category:UEFA Euro 2008 players]]
[[Category:FIFA Men's Century Club]]
[[Category:Dutch expatriate men's footballers]]
[[Category:Dutch expatriate sportspeople in England]]
[[Category:Dutch expatriate sportspeople in Italy]]
[[Category:Expatriate men's footballers in England]]
[[Category:Expatriate men's footballers in Italy]]
[[Category:AFC Ajax non-playing staff]]
[[Category:Directors of football clubs in the Netherlands]]
[[Category:Officers of the Order of Orange-Nassau]]
[[Category:20th-century Dutch sportsmen]]