Edwin van der Sar, the legendary Dutch goalkeeper who wore the shirts of Ajax, Juventus and Manchester United, has revisited the crucial moments of his career, reflecting on his choices, challenges, and life after football.
The Beginnings at Ajax
“Van Gaal had a group of friends with whom he played cards in the evening and among them was my youth coach at Noordwijk. One day he told him: ‘Louis, I have a 17-year-old goalkeeper who is extraordinary, come and see him’. Van Gaal accepted the invitation, came to watch me, and within a few weeks he brought me to Ajax. He took me on as third-choice goalkeeper, then he gave me the opportunity to play and I earned the starting spot.”
Choosing Juventus
The Dutchman recounted how he joined Juventus at the turn of the millennium.
“I had two options: Liverpool or Juventus. I spoke with both clubs, then my heart pushed me towards Italy. Serie A was the best league in those years, Juventus was a historic club and had beaten us in the Champions League final in 1996. I liked the black and white jersey and I was intrigued by the idea of playing for the team where a legendary goalkeeper like Zoff had been. At Juventus there were many changes compared to the habits I had at Ajax, and with them came difficulties. I didn’t play my best football, but I have no regrets: when a striker doesn’t score or a goalkeeper doesn’t save, criticism is part of the game. It was still a beautiful experience to live and play in Italy.
“The summer I arrived, my teammates always took me out for dinner: Ferrara, Iuliano, Zidane, Inzaghi, Zambrotta, Davids… In the restaurants of Turin, the food was fantastic. At the end of the evening I would take out my credit card, but I never managed to pay. Zidane was immense.”
United Glory and Ronaldo’s Hunger
From Turin, Van der Sar went on to Old Trafford, where he found a new stage for greatness.
“It was a great pride to play for a historic club and with a manager like Sir Alex. With Ferguson I had an excellent relationship: his grandchildren went to the same school as my children. Cristiano Ronaldo was unbelievable, before and after training he was always in the gym. I’d never seen a young player so hungry. He always told me: ‘Edwin, I will become the best in the world’. I used to tell him not to go overboard, but in the end he was right.”
Totti’s Chip and Painful Memories
Asked about Francesco Totti’s famous penalty at Euro 2000, Van der Sar stayed firm:
“I don’t think about it. Never. That semi-final should have been finished well before the penalties.”
Health Struggles and a New Life
The Dutchman also spoke about his health scare in 2023, when he suffered a cerebral haemorrhage.
“Honestly, I wasn’t afraid of dying. I was helped immediately, the ambulance took me straight to hospital where the best doctors looked after me. When I came home my family was always by my side, as was a physiotherapist. Now, more than a different vision, I just have a quieter life compared to my years as a director, when the phone never stopped ringing and I had to make important decisions, support the team and the manager. Now I enjoy my family, I travel, I play padel and ride my bike.
“As for the future? I played for twenty years, I was a director, and I love football. We’ll see… I imagine myself more in a role within football’s institutions.”
