Biography
Who is Edwin van der Sar?
Early life and Ajax career
Edwin van der Sar was born in Voorhout, Netherlands. He began his football path at the local club Foreholte before moving to Noordwijk. His talent eventually caught the attention of manager Louis van Gaal, who brought him to Ajax. While he joined the reserve team initially, he eventually earned a promotion to the senior squad. Edwin became a key member of the club's golden generation during the early 1990s.
His time at Ajax was marked by significant trophies and individual honors. He was part of the winning squad that secured the UEFA Champions League title in 1995. During his tenure, he made 226 appearances for the club. Edwin demonstrated his versatility by scoring a penalty during an 8–1 victory against De Graafschap in the 1997–98 season. He also established himself as a top goalkeeper by winning the Dutch Football Goalkeeper of the Year award four consecutive times.
Playing in Italy and England
In 1999, Edwin left the Netherlands to join the Italian club Juventus for a fee of approximately £5 million. He made history as the first non-Italian goalkeeper to play for the Turin side. During his two seasons in Serie A, he played 66 league matches and helped the team compete for the league title twice. However, following the club's decision to sign Gianluigi Buffon in 2001, Edwin sought a new challenge.
He moved to England in August 2001 to join Fulham on a four-year contract. During his time with the Cottagers, he made 127 league appearances. His performances were well-known enough to attract interest from Manchester United manager Sir Alex Ferguson. In June 2005, Edwin signed with Manchester United for a reported fee of £2 million. He quickly established himself at Old Trafford, with Sir Alex Ferguson considering him the best goalkeeper to represent the club since Peter Schmeichel.
Achievements and records
Edwin enjoyed immense success at Manchester United. He helped the club win the Premier League title multiple times, including his first in 2007. In 2008, he played a crucial role in winning the Champions League, saving the decisive penalty in the shoot-out against Chelsea. His performance during the 2008–09 season was particularly historic, as he set a world record by keeping a clean sheet for 1,311 consecutive minutes in the league. This achievement helped Manchester United secure their 11th Premiership title.
Beyond his club success, he earned 130 caps for the Netherlands national team. He remained the most-capped player for his country until 2017. In 2011, he became the oldest player to win the Premier League at the age of 40 years and 205 days. Throughout his career, he received various accolades, including the Fanny Blankers-Koen Career Award and the honor of being named a Knight of the Order of Orange-Nassau. Although he retired in 2011, he briefly returned to the pitch in 2016 to play one match for his former youth club, Noordwijk.
Birthday and age
Edwin van der Sar was born on October 29, 1970, which makes Edwin 55 years old today. That birthday falls under the Scorpio sign. Edwin shares the date with 38 other famous people.
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