Manchester United: Edwin Van der Sar Proves Why He’s One Of The Best

Edwin Van der Sar has been brilliant in goal for Manchester United this season and was the hero once again on Wednesday night in Moscow. The 37 year-old used his experience to delay his dive just enough to read the direction of Nicolas Anelka’s penalty kick and push it away, giving United their first Champions League final victory in nine years.

The season commenced with Van der Sar saving three of Chelsea’s penalties in the Community Shield, ensuring United began the season with a win and dealt Chelsea a minor philosophical setback in the process. 

More than nine months later, Van der Sar once again denies Chelsea silverware in a penalty shoot-out.

The Dutchman won the Champions League thirteen years ago with Ajax, but was also in between the sticks when Juventus defeated Ajax in a penalty shoot-out in the 1996 final. 

The painful memories of that defeat will most likely have been washed away after Wednesday night’s triumph. 

It was a match Van der Sar will probably savor for a long time. The giant Dutchman spent four years at Craven Cottage with Fulham, where he failed to win anything except for the attention of Sir Alex Ferguson.

Ever since the retirement of Peter Schmiechel, a true goalkeeping great, Manchester United had struggled to find a dependable goalkeeper. But Ferguson wasted no time in recruiting the reliable and experienced stopper in the summer of 2005. 

Less than three years later and Edwin Van der Sar has won a trophy every year, including back to back Premier League titles. The Champions League achievement this year, however, may be the most special of all the trophies he’s won during his time with United. 

He was, after all, the hero on the night and one of the main reasons United are Kings of Europe once again.

Van der Sar was expectedly delighted after winning the match for United after his penalty heroics.

“Of course, nights like this are what you dream of,” the Dutchman explained.  “It’s been 13 years—a long time—since I last won the competition and it feels fantastic, especially in the way we won it. It was the last penalty—saving it—I don't have any words for it. What can I say? It's great.”

Van der Sar also took time to pronounce his joy of playing for Manchester United.

“I'm very grateful I got the opportunity at 34 to come to United," Van der Sar said. "I sometimes wondered why not sooner, but never mind. I now have two titles and we're not finished yet.”

The fact that Van der Sar isn’t finished yet is good news for all Manchester United fans. 

The first comparable keeper to Schmeichel has been one of the best goalkeepers in the Premier League this season and has shown why he is not only one of the best stoppers in England, but in the entire world.