In a video segment published by GOAL Global, Van der Sar was asked to choose from a group of legendary goalkeepers. While he initially leaned toward Gianluigi Buffon—citing his longevity and consistency—the Dutchman playfully ended up selecting himself as the best ever. His light-hearted response came after careful consideration of several icons in the position.

Alongside Buffon, Van der Sar praised the legacy of numerous greats, including Lev Yashin, Jean-Marie Pfaff, Peter Shilton, Gordon Banks, Sepp Maier, and Dino Zoff. According to ESPN, he acknowledged the distinct qualities of each, showing his deep respect for the evolution of goalkeeping and its history across different eras.

@goalglobal Edwin van der Sar chooses the greatest goalkeeper ever in winner stays on 🥊 Van der Sar was speaking to GOAL on behalf of bet365, Official Global Partner of the UEFA Champions League #football #championsleague #manchesterunited #soccer #vandersar ♬ original sound – GOAL

Van Der Sar names greatest Manchester United player of all time

When asked to name the greatest player in Manchester United history, Van der Sar faced another difficult challenge. The shortlist included global icons like Cristiano Ronaldo, Wayne Rooney, George Best, Denis Law, and Sir Bobby Charlton—names that define the club’s decorated past. Yet, the former United goalkeeper made a surprising and thoughtful selection.

In a similar GOAL video format, Van der Sar ultimately picked Paul Scholes as the club’s all-time greatest player. While admitting the choice wasn’t easy, he emphasized Scholes’ intelligence, technical ability, and impact on the pitch as key reasons behind his decision—marking an unexpected but respectful tribute to the legendary midfielder.

Van der Sar’s career path

Van der Sar began his professional journey with Ajax in 1990, where he quickly emerged as the club’s first-choice goalkeeper. During his nine seasons in Amsterdam, he helped the team win multiple Eredivisie titles and lifted the UEFA Champions League in 1995. His ability to read the game, distribute the ball, and lead from the back helped shape the role of the modern goalkeeper.

In 1999, he joined Juventus, becoming the first non-Italian goalkeeper to regularly start for the club. Though his time in Turin featured some challenges—including intense competition and inconsistent form—it offered him further experience in top-tier European soccer. After two seasons, he sought a fresh start in the English Premier League.

Under Sir Alex Ferguson, Van der Sar became a cornerstone of one of the most successful Manchester United sides in recent history. He won four Premier League titles, two League Cups, and the 2008 UEFA Champions League. His iconic penalty save in the final against Chelsea remains one of the most celebrated moments of his soccer career.

Van der Sar retired in 2011 at age 40, having earned more than 130 caps for the Netherlands and building a reputation as one of football’s most consistent and composed goalkeepers. Since retiring, he has taken on executive roles at Ajax, contributing significantly to the club’s growth both on and off the pitch.

“On Friday (July 7), 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.”

Now, more than a week after the incident, there seem to be good news about the director general of Ajax and a beloved player for Manchester United, Fulham an Juventus.

Edwin van der Sar is out of danger after incident in Croatia

This Saturday, Ajax released a medical update about Edwin van der Sar on behalf of his wife Annemarie. The most important development is that his life is out of danger.

“Edwin has been repatriated from Croatia on Friday evening and is currently in the intensive care unit of a Dutch hospital. His situation remains the same: stable, in a non-life-threatening condition and communicative.”

Though Edwin van der Sar’s health is improving, the family admitted there’s still a long way to full recovery. However, only one week after the incident, the soccer world has received this statement as great news.

“The Van der Sar family would like to express their deep gratitude to the University Hospital of Split for their great care during the last week. Edwin has to remain in the intensive care unit where he will be investigated further, and the family fervently hope he can focus on his recovery afterwards.”

Last May, Edwin van der Sar confirmed his resignation as Ajax’s director general after a very disappointing season. However, the club asked him to remain on charge until August to find a successor with a proper transition.

In the Netherlands, he won it all with Ajax: Champions League, UEFA Cup, UEFA Super Cup, Intercontinental Cup, Eredivisie and the KNVB Cup. Furthermore, the star was a key piece for the National Team.

Edwin van der Sar was also part of a magnificent version of Manchester United which won four times the Premier League in a span of five years and the Champions League during the 2007-2008 season. Now, unfortunately, the Dutch symbol is in critical condition.

What happened to Edwin van der Sar?

This Friday, Ajax published an official statement to explain what happened to Edwin van der Sar. This is the latest medical report from the Netherlands about the situation.

“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.”

According to many reports, Edwin van der Sar was transported to a hospital by helicopter this afternoon after he suffered a cerebral hemorrhage. Right now, the former goalkeeper remains in intensive care.