VDS to retire after next season

Kelvin · 22nd June 2008, 15:04

Netherlands goalkeeper Edwin van der Sar said he was ending his international career with the pain of defeat after they lost 3-1 to Russia in Saturday's Euro 2008 quarter-final.

The 37-year-old, who had announced that his career with the national team would end after Euro 2008, also said he would play only one more season with European champions Manchester United.

'Until this match, it all was nice and we received a lot of international praise, but we could not take that extra step towards the semi-final and final -- and that hurts,' Van der Sar told reporters after their extra-time defeat.

Capped 128 times for his country, his career was finally ended by goals from Russia substitute Dmitry Torbinsky and man of the match Andrei Arshavin, who threaded Russia's third between the Dutchman's legs from close range.

The man who launched his international career in 1995 as Netherlands coach at the time, Guus Hiddink, was also the one who brought it to an end on Saturday as manager of a Russia side that were just too good for the Dutch.

'The good feeling just was not present today,' Van der Sar said. 'In the first half they really put us under pressure.

'In extra time I really had the idea that we could go through if we managed to get into the penalty shootout.'

That optimism may well have been founded on his performance in last month's penalty shootout in Moscow, when his heroics won the Champions League final for United against Chelsea.

Looking back at his career, he said: 'I really enjoyed it all these years, but it has been enough.

'I only will stay one more year at Manchester United.'

Van der Sar, who joined United from Fulham in 2005, agreed a contract extension last December that will take him through to the end of the 2008-09 season, when United will be bidding for a third consecutive Premier League title.

http://soccernet.espn.go.com/news/st...549983&cc=4716

Cornell · 22nd June 2008, 15:07

Fair fucks Edwin, you've done us proud these past 3 seasons.

LLMU · 22nd June 2008, 15:09

Great player ... good servant to the club.
anyone here rate Igor Akinfeyev .. the russian keeper ?

KeyserSoze · 22nd June 2008, 15:11

Quote:

Looking back at his career, he said: 'I really enjoyed it all these years, but it has been enough.

'I only will stay one more year at Manchester United.'

He does not directly say he is going to retire from club football, or is it just me. He could go back to play in Holland or something if he wanted.

olesmyhero · 22nd June 2008, 15:12

Quote:

Originally Posted by Keyzer Soze

He does not directly say he is going to retire from club football, or is it just me. He could go back to play in Holland or something if he wanted.

If it's Madrid, I swear to god I'm going to kill someone.

ZIDANE · 22nd June 2008, 15:15

Maybe he will be given the option to stay as a coach or play a bit part role. His experience is valuable.

Many people rate Foster very highly, maybe that will be his break through season at United.

friendlytramp · 22nd June 2008, 15:20

Quote:

Originally Posted by LLMU

Great player ... good servant to the club.
anyone here rate Igor Akinfeyev .. the russian keeper ?

you don't waste any time do you..?

el eric · 22nd June 2008, 15:20

Quote:

Originally Posted by ZIDANE

Maybe he will be given the option to stay as a coach or play a bit part role. His experience is valuable.

he may well do alright. who took over as goalkeeper coach when coton retired?

not much of a suprise really, he's done us proud over the last few years, we should have signed him years before we did. all the best Ed

anyway, i wonder will we give PIG or foster more games next season to phase them in.

Sultan · 22nd June 2008, 15:22

Foster should get more game time next year.

Vinay · 22nd June 2008, 15:26

Akinfeev will be a great keeper in time... At this time, though, he is a little dodgy on keeping control of his area on set pieces...

KingEric7 · 22nd June 2008, 15:33

He's been an inspired signing by Ferguson, once more. It will be a thoroughly deserved rest from football when Edwin steps down.

holyland red · 22nd June 2008, 15:34

Quote:

Originally Posted by friendlytramp

you don't waste any time do you..?

zing · 22nd June 2008, 15:49

Quote:

Originally Posted by LLMU

Great player ... good servant to the club.
anyone here rate Igor Akinfeyev .. the russian keeper ?

I saw him play when he was 18 in the UEFA cup, I think.. he was very good even back then. But there doesn't appear to be a lot of improvement.. he chooses to punch a lot when he could be catching the ball. And his kicking is suspect.

Sky1981 · 22nd June 2008, 16:00

He's my wet dream if he indeed signs.

Come to think of it, more and more FM wonderkid are being signed these days.

Cal? · 22nd June 2008, 17:09

Better ask for Casillas then...

Sam#1 · 22nd June 2008, 17:21

A truly great keeper, who has been fantastic for us over the last 3 years, and the amount of caps he has for Holland speaks for itself. Defiantly one of the greats of the game, in the modern era.

We will certainly miss him when he goes. Hopefully he'll stay on in some capacity once he does call it a day.

FlawlessThaw · 22nd June 2008, 18:15

Foster will replace him hopefully before the end of the season.

Kaiketsu_Zorro · 22nd June 2008, 18:21

It will be a sad day when van der Sar retires, he's a top class keeper. I'm afraid we might struggle to replace him, although I have high hopes for Foster. I don't think Kuszczak is good enough to be a 1st choice keeper for us.

zain · 22nd June 2008, 18:23

World class goalie..
And 2nd only to Schmikes in recent years..
Been brilliant particularly last couple of seasons..and has not been given as much credit as he deserves.

giggs-beckham · 22nd June 2008, 18:30

United ledgend in my eyes.

MUFCgal · 22nd June 2008, 18:34

When Schmikes left us, we had numerous keepers come in and attempt to fill the huge void left by him but we never really had that until Edwin came to us. He's the best keeper we've had since the Great Dane and it'll be a sad day when he does leave us at the end of this new season. He's really done us proud the past 3 seasons, he showed us there was life after Schmikes and let's hope we can have another keeper who can move us on after Edwin. I say give Ben Foster a chance to show what he can do, he looks to be quality

Kaiketsu_Zorro · 22nd June 2008, 18:35

I think Boruc would be a perfect replacement for VDS.

lao · 22nd June 2008, 19:10

Quote:

Originally Posted by Kelvin

'I only will stay one more year at Manchester United.'

That might as well mean that he will only play for United and give us all his concentration the coming year. Edwin can mix words and formulations up as any other foreigner can.

jveezy · 22nd June 2008, 19:22

Legend. Absolute fuckin legend.

I remember years ago watching the Dutch play and watching Van Der Sar and telling myself, "Now that's the type of keeper Man United needs to buy." Two weeks later they did it and I was so happy I nearly shit myself.

He took a lot of shit before this past season and he was supposedly going to split time with Foster and blah blah blah, but you could tell when he completely shut Chelsea down in the Community Shield shootout that he wasn't quite done yet. We'd absolutely be nowhere this season without the man and he will be missed whenever he does hang up his boots. Hopefully he'll stick around after he retires and become our goalkeeper coach.

Raven_Blade · 22nd June 2008, 19:31

Now in my lifetime I have seen two truly great Manchester United goalkeepers. Peter Schemeichel and Edwin Van Der Sar. He has been a fantastic player for our club and given us the stability at the back that we have missed for years. I hope his last season here is one to remember for all the right reasons.

Sarni · 22nd June 2008, 19:56

He won't be retiring, he will be going back to Holland for one or two seasons with Ajax most likely (unless they decide that they are better off with Stekelenbrug, although I wouldn't suspect van Basten of that).

VoetbalWizard · 22nd June 2008, 19:57

should've got him right after schmikes left.

story is that fergie rang him up in the summer of 99 and vds was in the airport in turin, about to go to sign for juve (already verbally agreed with juve).

that was that.

oh well, hopefully he goes out on a highnote this upcoming term.

Number7 · 22nd June 2008, 20:00

Absolute brilliant player. What are your opinions on his legacy? Will you consider him a legend?

I for one most certainly will. He was the Catalyst for our great defence of today...it gave the centre backs great belief and I don't think it's any coincidence at all that Rio has developed into the player he is,within the past 2 seasons.

Everything he's done for us, from the winning Penalty save in the CL final to that cracking save at Anfield which set it up for O'Shea to score the winner...it shows true class. Can only remember 1 sticky period from him, when he parried in succesive games (Roma away and Pompey away)

2 titles, a CL and the Carling Cup. Not a bad haul from 3 years work. Here's hoping there's more to come.

Sam#1 · 22nd June 2008, 20:07

Quote:

Originally Posted by Number7

Absolute brilliant player. What are your opinions on his legacy? Will you consider him a legend?

He's without doubt a Legend of the modern era.

But is he a United Legend? Difficult question, especially as he's only been with us 3 years.

Richter · 22nd June 2008, 20:39

Not a legend but a big part in the United history just like Ruud and Ronaldo.

Nem 7 · 22nd June 2008, 20:58

Legend.

Ruben · 22nd June 2008, 21:22

Not a legend, but a great keeper and a good servant to our club.

Foster will hopefully replace him.

22nd June 2008, 15:04	#1 (permalink)
Kelvin First Team Sub Join Date: Jan 2006 Posts: 9,662	VDS to retire after next season Netherlands goalkeeper Edwin van der Sar said he was ending his international career with the pain of defeat after they lost 3-1 to Russia in Saturday's Euro 2008 quarter-final. The 37-year-old, who had announced that his career with the national team would end after Euro 2008, also said he would play only one more season with European champions Manchester United. 'Until this match, it all was nice and we received a lot of international praise, but we could not take that extra step towards the semi-final and final -- and that hurts,' Van der Sar told reporters after their extra-time defeat. Capped 128 times for his country, his career was finally ended by goals from Russia substitute Dmitry Torbinsky and man of the match Andrei Arshavin, who threaded Russia's third between the Dutchman's legs from close range. The man who launched his international career in 1995 as Netherlands coach at the time, Guus Hiddink, was also the one who brought it to an end on Saturday as manager of a Russia side that were just too good for the Dutch. 'The good feeling just was not present today,' Van der Sar said. 'In the first half they really put us under pressure. 'In extra time I really had the idea that we could go through if we managed to get into the penalty shootout.' That optimism may well have been founded on his performance in last month's penalty shootout in Moscow, when his heroics won the Champions League final for United against Chelsea. Looking back at his career, he said: 'I really enjoyed it all these years, but it has been enough. 'I only will stay one more year at Manchester United.' Van der Sar, who joined United from Fulham in 2005, agreed a contract extension last December that will take him through to the end of the 2008-09 season, when United will be bidding for a third consecutive Premier League title. http://soccernet.espn.go.com/news/st...549983&cc=4716

22nd June 2008, 15:07	#2 (permalink)
Cornell Reserve Team Player Join Date: Nov 2006 Location: Sydney 2000. - Wesley Brown is a national hero. Posts: 4,557	Fair fucks Edwin, you've done us proud these past 3 seasons.

22nd June 2008, 15:09	#3 (permalink)
LLMU Youth Team Player Join Date: Apr 2004 Location: down the road where the red building is and take the lift up to the 4th floor where a big Red Devil greets you Posts: 436	Great player ... good servant to the club. anyone here rate Igor Akinfeyev .. the russian keeper ?

22nd June 2008, 15:15	#6 (permalink)
ZIDANE Reserve Team Player Join Date: Jul 2007 Location: "..undoubtedly the best midfielder of his generation." Zizou on Scholes Posts: 4,909	Maybe he will be given the option to stay as a coach or play a bit part role. His experience is valuable. Many people rate Foster very highly, maybe that will be his break through season at United.

22nd June 2008, 15:22	#9 (permalink)
Sultan Join Date: Sep 2004 Location: Uneasy lies the head that wears a crown Posts: 16,272	Foster should get more game time next year.

22nd June 2008, 15:26	#10 (permalink)
Vinay Muppet in Training Join Date: Nov 2002 Location: On a Rose-Hill Posts: 4,277	Akinfeev will be a great keeper in time... At this time, though, he is a little dodgy on keeping control of his area on set pieces...

22nd June 2008, 15:33	#11 (permalink)
KingEric7 Winner of the Tabata bet Join Date: Aug 2006 Location: Patrice Evra is that which no greater can be conceived. Posts: 13,253	He's been an inspired signing by Ferguson, once more. It will be a thoroughly deserved rest from football when Edwin steps down.

22nd June 2008, 16:00	#14 (permalink)
Sky1981 Fending Off the Urge Join Date: Apr 2006 Location: The reminiscence of long lost glory from the past Posts: 2,850	He's my wet dream if he indeed signs. Come to think of it, more and more FM wonderkid are being signed these days.

22nd June 2008, 17:09	#15 (permalink)
Cal? from Redcafe (matchfixing department) Join Date: Mar 2002 Location: We want our own TV deal... Posts: 11,649	Better ask for Casillas then...

22nd June 2008, 17:21	#16 (permalink)
Sam#1 First Team Regular Join Date: Aug 2007 Location: Leroy Lita Posts: 13,388	A truly great keeper, who has been fantastic for us over the last 3 years, and the amount of caps he has for Holland speaks for itself. Defiantly one of the greats of the game, in the modern era. We will certainly miss him when he goes. Hopefully he'll stay on in some capacity once he does call it a day.

22nd June 2008, 18:15	#17 (permalink)
FlawlessThaw most 'know it all' poster Join Date: Oct 2005 Location: London Posts: 9,501	Foster will replace him hopefully before the end of the season.

22nd June 2008, 18:21	#18 (permalink)
Kaiketsu_Zorro A follower of Manchunism Join Date: Jul 2005 Location: Polska Posts: 1,336	It will be a sad day when van der Sar retires, he's a top class keeper. I'm afraid we might struggle to replace him, although I have high hopes for Foster. I don't think Kuszczak is good enough to be a 1st choice keeper for us.

22nd June 2008, 18:23	#19 (permalink)
zain Believe Join Date: Aug 2003 Location: Only around where Top Reds are! Posts: 1,379	World class goalie.. And 2nd only to Schmikes in recent years.. Been brilliant particularly last couple of seasons..and has not been given as much credit as he deserves.

22nd June 2008, 18:30	#20 (permalink)
giggs-beckham Reserve Team Player Join Date: Sep 2007 Posts: 3,117	United ledgend in my eyes.

22nd June 2008, 18:34	#21 (permalink)
MUFCgal Reserve Team Player Join Date: Nov 2005 Location: Belfast,Northern Ireland Posts: 3,759	When Schmikes left us, we had numerous keepers come in and attempt to fill the huge void left by him but we never really had that until Edwin came to us. He's the best keeper we've had since the Great Dane and it'll be a sad day when he does leave us at the end of this new season. He's really done us proud the past 3 seasons, he showed us there was life after Schmikes and let's hope we can have another keeper who can move us on after Edwin. I say give Ben Foster a chance to show what he can do, he looks to be quality

22nd June 2008, 18:35	#22 (permalink)
Kaiketsu_Zorro A follower of Manchunism Join Date: Jul 2005 Location: Polska Posts: 1,336	I think Boruc would be a perfect replacement for VDS.

22nd June 2008, 19:22	#24 (permalink)
jveezy Youth Team Player Join Date: Aug 2007 Location: San Luis Obispo, CA Posts: 490	Legend. Absolute fuckin legend. I remember years ago watching the Dutch play and watching Van Der Sar and telling myself, "Now that's the type of keeper Man United needs to buy." Two weeks later they did it and I was so happy I nearly shit myself. He took a lot of shit before this past season and he was supposedly going to split time with Foster and blah blah blah, but you could tell when he completely shut Chelsea down in the Community Shield shootout that he wasn't quite done yet. We'd absolutely be nowhere this season without the man and he will be missed whenever he does hang up his boots. Hopefully he'll stick around after he retires and become our goalkeeper coach.

22nd June 2008, 19:31	#25 (permalink)
Raven_Blade Attention Whoring Common Crow Join Date: Jun 2004 Location: Man Utd Will Never Die! Posts: 17,209	Now in my lifetime I have seen two truly great Manchester United goalkeepers. Peter Schemeichel and Edwin Van Der Sar. He has been a fantastic player for our club and given us the stability at the back that we have missed for years. I hope his last season here is one to remember for all the right reasons.

22nd June 2008, 19:56	#26 (permalink)
Sarni nice guy, unassuming, objective United fan. Thinks hes intelligent though. Nutter Join Date: Jan 2004 Location: Krakow Posts: 11,273	He won't be retiring, he will be going back to Holland for one or two seasons with Ajax most likely (unless they decide that they are better off with Stekelenbrug, although I wouldn't suspect van Basten of that).

22nd June 2008, 19:57	#27 (permalink)
VoetbalWizard Reserve Team Player Join Date: Jan 2006 Posts: 4,242	should've got him right after schmikes left. story is that fergie rang him up in the summer of 99 and vds was in the airport in turin, about to go to sign for juve (already verbally agreed with juve). that was that. oh well, hopefully he goes out on a highnote this upcoming term.

22nd June 2008, 20:00	#28 (permalink)
Number7 Ret's Slave Join Date: Aug 2003 Posts: 21,520	Absolute brilliant player. What are your opinions on his legacy? Will you consider him a legend? I for one most certainly will. He was the Catalyst for our great defence of today...it gave the centre backs great belief and I don't think it's any coincidence at all that Rio has developed into the player he is,within the past 2 seasons. Everything he's done for us, from the winning Penalty save in the CL final to that cracking save at Anfield which set it up for O'Shea to score the winner...it shows true class. Can only remember 1 sticky period from him, when he parried in succesive games (Roma away and Pompey away) 2 titles, a CL and the Carling Cup. Not a bad haul from 3 years work. Here's hoping there's more to come.

22nd June 2008, 20:39	#30 (permalink)
Richter Hairy big footed Swede Join Date: Oct 2001 Location: Trying to burn down Marca's office Posts: 25,288	Not a legend but a big part in the United history just like Ruud and Ronaldo.

22nd June 2008, 20:58	#31 (permalink)
Nem 7 Look, I'm a cunt, can type in colour so I must be important. Join Date: Apr 2004 Location: Outside Right Posts: 4,883	Legend.

22nd June 2008, 21:22	#32 (permalink)
Ruben First Team Sub Join Date: Feb 2006 Location: Oslo Posts: 5,091	Not a legend, but a great keeper and a good servant to our club. Foster will hopefully replace him.