EDWIN VAN DER SAR has been admitted to intensive care after suffering bleeding around the brain, his former club has confirmed.
The former Manchester United legend, 52, is currently in a stable condition after falling ill while on holiday in Croatia, according to Dutch broadcaster Nos.
Ajax released a statement confirming his condition, writing: “On Friday, Edwin van der Sar has had a bleeding around his brain. He’s currently in hospital in the intensive care unit and is in a stable condition. Once there is more concrete information, an update will follow. Everyone at Ajax wishes Edwin a speedy recovery. We’re thinking of you.”
Meanwhile the Red Devils – Van der Sar’s former club which he helped scoop four Premier League titles – has paid tribute to the world-famous goalie on Twitter, writing: “Sending all our love and strength to you, Edwin.”
Van der Sar most recently worked at the Eredivisie giants but left his role after the club finished third last season.
Read our Edwin Van der Sal blog below for the latest news…
Annemarie’s cerebral hemorrhage
In December 2009, Edwin was given compassionate leave by Manchester United to be by his wife’s side after she suffered a brain hemorrhage.
At the time, Annemarie’s condition was described as “very poorly” after collapsing on December 23, aged 36.
Annemarie spent three weeks in the hospital.
Does the couple have children together?
The couple share two adult children together, Joe and Lynn.
The football star’s son has previously played for the Pittsburgh Panthers.
More on Van der Sar’s wife, Annemarie van Kesteren
Both Annemarie and Edwin remain closely involved with the Edwin van der Sar Foundation and the Brain Foundation.
Aside from sharing her health journey with the public, not much else is known about Annemarie, with the football stars wife appearing to prefer keeping her private life out of the spotlight.
However, Edwin has occasionally shared pictures of his wife to his official Instagram account, @edwinvandersar1.
In March 2023, Edwin shared a montage of sweet snaps and selfies taken with his wife to celebrate her birthday.
Get to know Van der Sar’s wife, Annemarie van Kesteren
Edwin van der Sar married Annemarie Van Kesteren in May 2006, in a ceremony that took place in Amsterdam.
Annemarie, who also suffered a brain hemorrhage in 2009, is a founder of the Edwin van der Sar Foundation, alongside her husband.
The foundation is committed to supporting people with brain injuries.
In January 2021, the Edwin van der Sar Foundation and the Brain Foundation joined forces.
When Van der Sar started at Man Utd
Van der Sar joined Manchester United on June 10, 2005, for a rumored cost of £2million.
The precise amount was not released.
Former Manchester United manager Sir Alex Ferguson regards him as the club’s finest goalkeeper since Peter Schmeichel.
Time with Fulham
Van der Sar chose to play in England and signed a four-year contract with newly promoted Fulham in a shock move worth £7million on August 1, 2001.
Fulham formally revealed Van der Sar the next day.
On August 18, 2001, he made his league debut in a 3-2 away loss to Manchester United.
During his time with Fulham, he made 127 league appearances. In his final season with the club, he saved two penalties from Juan Pablo Ángel in a 1-1 draw against Aston Villa.
His achievements for the Cottagers drew the attention of Manchester United and Sir Alex Ferguson.
Time with Juventus, conclusion
Van der Sar lost his spot in the summer of 2001 when the Bianconeri paid Parma 100billion lire (roughly £32.6million) for Italian international goalkeeper Gianluigi Buffon, a world record amount for a goalkeeper.
He made it obvious that he did not want to be second-choice behind Buffon after two years in Serie A.
Time with Juventus, continued
During his first two seasons in Italy, he was the first-choice goalkeeper, making 66 Serie A games as Juventus were runners-up in the league twice under Carlo Ancelotti, each time with the best defensive record in the league.
In his debut season, he won the 1999 UEFA Intertoto Cup and helped the team challenge for the Serie A crown.
However, on the last day of the 1999-2000 season, Juventus lost to Perugia Calcio after Van der Sar was defeated by Alessandro Calori’s volley, allowing Lazio to surpass Juventus and win the league title by a single point.
Time with Juventus
Van der Sar’s status as one of Europe’s finest goalkeepers garnered interest from Manchester United, who were looking for a replacement for Peter Schmeichel.
Nevertheless, Van der Sar transferred to the Italian side Juventus for a fee believed to be in the region of £5million.
He made his Old Lady debut in a 1-1 tie with Reggina at the Stadio delle Alpi.
He became the Turin club’s first non-Italian goalkeeper.
Fan reactions to Ajax resignation
Many words of support flooded the replies to Van de Sar’s tweet announcing his resignation from Ajax.
One fan wrote: “The doors of Old Trafford are always open for you, Legend.”
Another said: “Legend!! You’ll have a new job in no time.”
‘Dear Ajax’
In his most recent Twitter post made on May 30, Van der Sar shared an open letter to Ajax, resigning from his role of chief executive.
The images read in part: “I feel the need to take some distance, to get some rest, and do other things. It doesn’t feel good to take decisions about the future of this wonderful club in the coming period.
“That is why I have decided to resign.”
Time with Ajax, continued
He was in goal for Ajax in the 1996 UEFA Champions League Final, although they were defeated on penalties by Juventus and had to settle for a runner-up medal.
Van der Sar appeared in 226 games for Ajax, scoring a penalty in the 1997-98 season to seal an 8-1 victory over De Graafschap.
He won the Dutch Football Goalkeeper of the Year in his first full season as Ajax’s No. 1 and went on to retain the trophy for the next three years.
Time with Ajax
Van der Sar, who was born in Voorhout, began his career with Foreholte before moving on to VV Noordwijk.
He was brought to the notice of Louis van Gaal at a somewhat late age, and he later signed for Ajax.
Despite his late arrival, he spent time in the reserve team before being called up to the main team by Louis van Gaal.
He had a long and successful career with them, winning the 1991-92 UEFA Cup (albeit as a reserve, making no appearances in the run) and the 1994-95 UEFA Champions League (by now the starting goalkeeper), as well as the 1995 Best European Goalkeeper award, in addition to domestic honours.
Teams Van der Sars has represented
Throughout his time as a successful goalkeeper, Van der Sars has seen a variety of teams.
Here is a list of each of the teams he has represented:
- Ajax
- Juventus
- Fulham
- Machester United
- Dutch national team
One of the best footballers ever
Van der Sar is regarded as one of the finest goalkeepers of all time by both critics and teammates.
He is also one of the most successful players in history, having won 26 major trophies throughout his career, most of which he earned with Ajax and Manchester United.
During the 2008-09 season, he established a world record by going 1,311 minutes without allowing a league goal.
He is also the oldest Premier League winner, having done it in 2011 at the age of 40 years and 205 days.
Van der Sar has received several individual honors, including Best European Goalkeeper in 1995 and 2009, as well as UEFA Club Goalkeeper of the Year in 2009.
Knowing how to separate one thing from another
One fan took to Twitter to wish Van der Sar the best, despite him being “an enemy on the pitch.”
The fan wrote: “Football is important but certain things transcend the tribal allegiances of supporters.
“The plight of ex @ManUtd keeper Edwin van der Sar is one such occurrence after he suffered a bleed on his brain. He was the enemy on the pitch but here’s wishing him a speedy recovery.”
Fans send in their support
After hearing the news of Van der Sar’s hospitalisation, fans have flocked to Twitter to send shows of support.
One fan wrote in Spanish: “Lots of encouragement to Edwin Van der San, legend of the @ManUtd, I hope that everything turns out well and that he gets well soon.”
How many times did Van der Sar play for the Netherlands?
Van der Sar played 130 times for the Netherlands.
For a spell he was the European nation’s most-capped player.
PFA also joins in tributes to Van der Sar
The Professional Footballers’ Association also sent its well wishes,
It tweeted: “The thoughts of everyone at the PFA are with Edwin and his family.”
Rio Ferdinand sends his best to Man Utd legend
Former United defender Rio Ferdinand sent his support to his old team-mate, tweeting: “Ed is a fighter.
“Our thoughts are with the Van Der Sar family!
More on Van der Sar
He resigned as a professional in 2011 but returned to play for the Dutch amateur team VV Noordwijk, for whom he had previously played as a child, in 2016.
He made 130 appearances for the Netherlands national team and was the country’s most-capped player until 2017 when Wesley Sneijder surpassed him.
United shares message of support
Van der Sar was reportedly in Croatia when he was taken to the hospital.
United shared a message of support, writing: “Sending all our love and strength to you, Edwin.”
What to know about Van der Sar
Edwin Van der Sar is a Dutch football executive and former professional player who most recently served as the chief executive of AFC Ajax, where he began his senior playing career in the early 1990s.
He is regarded as a member of the club’s golden generation and was a member of the Ajax team that won the UEFA Champions League in 1995.
Van Der Sar left Ajax in 1999 for Juventus, where he stayed for two years before transferring to England, first to Fulham and then to Manchester United in 2005.
In 2008, he earned his second Champions League trophy with the club, making him one of just eight players in history to have won the competition with more than one club.
Van der Sar was CEO of beloved Dutch club Ajax
Van der Sar returned to Ajax in 2012 as director of marketing before being promoted four years later to CEO.
He is also the second-highest capped Netherlands player of all-time with 130 international appearances.
What did Van der Sar say when he left Ajax last season?
Van der Sar most recently worked at the Eredivisie giants but left his role after the club finished third last season.
After quitting his role he said: “After almost eleven years on the board, I am done.
“We have experienced wonderful things together, but it has also been an incredibly tough period.
“I am very grateful for the people I have met and worked with during my second career at Ajax, and what we have achieved and been through together. I feel the need to take some distance, to get some rest, and to do other things.
“It doesn’t feel good to take decisions about the future of this wonderful club in the coming period. That is why I have decided to resign.”
Source: Soccer - thesun.co.uk
