Edwin's Photos

Van Der Sar Biography

Edwin van der Sar is a football goalkeeper, who was born on October 29, 1970 in Voorhout, Netherlands. He married Annemarie van Kesteren on May 20, 2006 at the Beurs van Berlage in Amsterdam. The couple has two children a son, Joe, and a daughter, Lynn.

Though he was in the national squad of the 1994 World Cup, Edwin van der Sar made his international debut on June 7, 1995 against Belarus. By saving a penalty from Olof Mellberg, Sweden player, he helped the Netherlands team enter the semi-finals of the Euro 2004 with a 5-4 shootout. Proving to be the best goalkeeper, he played 9 consecutive games without conceding a goal before the 2006 World Cup group matches. In the Euro 2008, with the dual responsibilities as a captain and goalkeeper of the Netherlands national team, Edwin van der Sar played a significant role in two victories; 3-0 against Italy and 4-1 against France. Having been the only Dutch player who has gained 128 international caps, Edwin van der Sar has retired from international football on June 21, 2008.

Starting his youth club career from Foreholte in 1980, he moved to the Voetbalvereniging (VV) Noordwijk and played for the team between 1985 and 1990. On joining Amsterdamsche Football Club (AFC) Ajax, Edwin van der Sar moved to the first team and helped the team win the Union of European Football Associations (UEFA) Cup in the 1991-1992 season. Between 1990 and 1999, he played 226 matches for Ajax and witnessed the team win the UEFA Champions League, the UEFA Super Cup and the Intercontinental Cup all in the year 1995. Having spent nine successful years at Ajax, Edwin van der Sar joined Juventus and played a significant role in the team winning the UEFA Intertoto Cup in 1999. Edwin van der Sar represented Juventus in 66 games before moving to the English Premiership club, Fulham in 2001. As a Fulham player, he made 127 appearances and helped the team clinch the UEFA Intertoto Cup in 2002.

On June 1, 2005, Edwin van der Sar joined Manchester United and by saving the penalty kick, secured his team’s victory against Manchester City on May 5, 2007. His brilliant goalkeeping skills fetched Manchester United its 9th Premier League Trophy and he was named to the 2006-2007 Paper Football Association (PFA) Team of the Year. His sharp reflexes and good form enabled him to save three consecutive penalties in a shootout against Chelsea, bagging Manchester United’s 16th Football Association (FA) Community Shield victory.

In the 2008 UEFA Champions League Final, Edwin van der Sar proved his mettle by stopping Chelsea player, Nicolas Anelka, from scoring the penalty goal in the shootout and helped Manchester United claim its successive Champions League title.

For his brilliant saves in the 1995 UEFA Champions League, Edwin van der Sar became the Best European Goalkeeper of that year. Having won the Dutch Football Goalkeeper of the Year continuously for 4 years (1994-1997), he went on to win the Dutch Golden Shoe in 1998. With him in the squad, Netherlands national team won the UEFA Euro 2008 Team of the Tournament.

Edwin van der Sar loves to play with his children or help them with their homework in his spare time.

Birthdate: 29 Oct 1970
Birthplace: Voorhout, Holland
Position: Goalkeeper
Appearances: 117
Goals: 0
Joined United: 01 Jun 2005
United Debut: 09 Aug 2005 v Debreceni VSC (H)
International Holland