Van Der Sar Claims Barclays Golden Glove

Edwin van der Sar has won the Barclays Golden Glove award for the 2008/2009 season. The award is the goalkeeping equivalent of the Golden Boot and goes to the ‘keeper who keeps the most clean sheets during the campaign.

The Manchester United stopper claimed 21 clean sheets in total to edge out main rival Jose Reina by one. The Liverpool ‘keeper could have forced a tie had he remained unbeaten in the final game against Tottenham at the weekend but Robbie Keane’s late strike denied him.

Reina had previously had a stranglehold on the award, having won it for the past three seasons, and it is believed that his desire to win it again was the reason behind Jamie Carragher and Alvaro Arbeloa’s disagreement at the Hawthorns two weeks ago.

Van der sar did most of his work towards the prize between November 15 and February 18, when he kept a record 14 consecutive clean sheets in the Premier League. Manchester United kept a total of 24 clean sheets throughout the season, with Tomasz Kuszczak claiming two and Ben Foster one in the games in which Van Der Sar didn’t feature.

The Dutchman was also voted into the PFA Team of the Year by his fellow professionals for the second time in the past three years.

Chelsea’s Petr Cech, also a previous winner back in the 2004/2005 season, finished third with a total of 19 clean sheets.

Barclays Golden Glove 2008/2009

1.  Edwin van der Sar  21 Clean Sheets (33 games played)

2.  Jose Reina             20 Clean Sheets (38 games played)

3.  Petr Cech              19 Clean Sheets (35 games played)