Identifying the Next 25 Edwin van der Sars in World Football
Dutch legend Edwin van der Sar has announced his retirement from football when the season ends. While van der Sar's retirement will bring joy to many a striker, it will leave Manchester United manager Sir Alex Ferguson with an almighty headache.
Ferguson will be hoping to avoid a repeat of the retirement of Peter Schmeichel, when the likes of Mark Bosnich, Tim Howard and the infamous Massimo Taibi tried and failed to fill the gap left by the big Dane.
Van der Sar showed his worth again last night with an excellent performance against Chelsea in the UEFA Champions League, but who will be in his position next season.
Here we identify the next 25 Edwin van der Sar's in World Football. This is not a list of the best 25 goalkeepers in the world, more a list of 25 players that we could see Manchester United sign to replace the Dutch great.
25. Alex Smithies (Huddersfield Town)
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Alex Smithies is a 21-year-old goalkeeper currently playing for Huddersfield Town, his hometown club. Smithies graduated from the Huddersfield youth academy and also has represented England at every youth level from Under-16 up to Under-19.
Smithies made five appearances during England's run to the Quarter Finals of the Under-17 World Cup in 2007.
During the 2009/2010, the young goalkeeper was the only man to play in every league and cup game for Huddersfield as they made the League One playoffs, a campaign that saw him named the club's Young Player of the Year.
Smithies is one of England's rising young goalkeeping talents, and at the age of 21, he's already closing in on 100 appearances for Huddersfield. He is likely on Sir Alex Ferguson's radar as a future replacement at United.
24. Silviu Lung Jr. (Universitatea Craiova)
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Silviu Lung Jr. is an exciting young prospect at Romanian club Universitatea Craiova. Lung Jr. is following the early career path of his father, Silviu Lung, who is a veteran at Craiova and also with the Romanian national team.
Lung Jr. has won 21 caps with the Romanian Under-21 national team and recently followed further in the footsteps of his famous father when he won his first full cap for Romania.
23. Matej Delac (Chelsea)
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The teenage Croatian sensation is currently loaned out to Dutch club Vitesse from Chelsea. Matej Delac made his debut for NK Inter Zapresic at the age of 16, becoming the youngest payer to appear in the Croatian First Division.
During his debut, Delac saved a late penalty to preserve a 1-0 win and went on to perform to a high level all season, playing his way onto the radar of some of Europe's top clubs.
Delac has represented Croatia at all youth levels from Under-15 up to Under-20 and became the youngest player ever to join the senior squad when Slaven Bilic called him up during World Cup 2010 qualifying stage.
Chelsea signed Delac in 2009 and sent him to Vitesse to gain first team experience. Given the fact he is currently buried at Chelsea, a chance to start at United could be very tempting.
22. Sinan Bolat (Standard Liege)
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Sinan Bolat is a talented young goalkeeper currently playing for Standard Liege in the Belgian Jupiler League. Bolat has represented the Turkish Under-21 team and also been called up to the full squad. However, he is uncapped and currently eligible to play for both Turkey and Belgium.
During the 2008/2009 season, Bolat's Liege team went into the final game of the season needing a win to force a playoff for the League Title. Bolat saved an injury time to force a dramatic 1-0 win and also played in both playoff legs as Liege clinched the Jupiler League Title. Bolat has also won the Belgian Super Cup and played in the UEFA Cup and Champions League.
United fans will be happy to know that Bolat shares Peter Schmeichel's tendency to score goals in Europe. Should United ever find themselves down 1-0 in the closing stages of a Champions League game, then Bolat has the proven ability to go up the field and smash a header into the top corner to level the score.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FSRFvWIVGlI
21. Francesco Bardi (Inter Milan)
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Teenage goalkeeper Francesco Bardi is tipped by many pundits as the future of Italian goalkeeping. Bardi started his career with Livorno, but was signed by Inter Milan after only one game.
He is yet to break into the Inter first team but has represented Italy from Under-17 up to Under-21 level. Bardi has tournament experience in the 2009 UEFA Euro Under-17 Championship and the 2009 Under-17 World Cup.
If Bardi comes to Old Trafford, United fans will be hoping he has more success than his fellow Italian, Massimo Taibi.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3CygwlKDYm0&feature=related
20. Ben Amos (Manchester United)
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A graduate of the famed Crewe Alexandra youth academy, Ben Amos is currently at United and has been loaned out to Peterborough, Oldham Athletic and Norwegian club Molde to gain first team experience. Amos has also represented England from the Under-18 up to the Under-20 level.
While he has no first team experience at Old Trafford, he has trained daily under Sir Alex Ferguson and will be schooled in the philosophy and expectations of the club.
19. Oscar Ustari (Getafe CF)
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Oscar Ustari is an outstanding goalkeeper currently playing in Spain with Getafe CF. At 24 years old, Ustari is now experienced and could soon be on the verge of a move to a big European club.
Ustari came through the youth academy of Indipendiente in Argentina and played 64 games for the senior team, also scoring from a penalty kick during his time there. He then earned a move to Europe and is currently playing in La Liga with Getafe.
Ustari established himself with Getafe this season and has performed well in La Liga as well as the UEFA Europa League. The talented shot stopper has also represented Argentina at the 2008 Olympics and has been capped by the senior team.
18. David Ospina (OGC Nice)
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David Ospina is remarkably experienced for someone aged only 22 years old. Ospina earned the starting goalkeeper job at Athletico Nacional in Colombia at the age of 17 and managed to win back-to-back league titles before he reached the age of 20.
After three successful seasons in Colombia, Ospina earned a move abroad and transferred to OCG Nice in France. Ospina is currently closing in on 100 appearances for Nice and has already earned 16 caps for the Colombian national team.
His dependability and maturity beyond his years could make him a good fit for Old Trafford.
17. Scott Loach (Watford)
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Scott Loach is a current England Under-21 international and one of the brighter young talents in English goalkeeping. Loach bounced around different youth academies including Ipswich Town and Nottingham Forest before he was signed by Watford in 2006.
Loach did not win the starting spot in his early Watford and gained first team experience at Stafford Rangers, Morecambe and Bradford City.
The young goalkeeper broke into the Watford starting lineup in 2008 and has since went on to play over 100 games for the Hornets. Loach has also earned 14 caps for the England Under-21's and is currently playing a key role in Watford's push for promotion to the English Premier League.
16. Sergio Asenjo (Athletico Madrid)
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Sergio Asenjo is a promising young goalkeeper currently playing at Athletico Madrid in La Liga. Ansejo came through the youth academy at Valladolid and went on to play almost 50 games for the senior team before moving to Athletico in 2009.
Injuries have hindered the recent progress of Ansejo, but he is an undoubted talent who is young enough to improve and achieve a lot in the game. He has represented Spain at youth level and has 15 caps for the Spanish Under-21 team.
Ansejo played in the Semi Finals and Final of the 2007 Under-19 UEFA European Championships and kept a clean sheet in both matches.
15. Tomasz Kuszcak (Manchester United)
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A current reserve goalkeeper at United and a Poland international, Kuszczak will doubtless receive a chance to fight for the jersey after Van der Sar retires.
Kuszczak signed for United in 2007 and has accumulated 24 appearances since, gaining experience in the Premier League and Champions League. The Polish keeper also started in the Carling Cup Final in 2010 when United beat Aston Villa 2-1.
One question many will have on Kuzsczak is that despite a number of years already at the club, he has not really laid down his marker as the heir apparent to Van der Sar.
14. Mark Schwarzer (Fulham)
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Australian international goalkeeper Mark Schwarzer is a quality Premier League veteran. The physical presence and shot stopping of Schwarzer meant he played a key role in Middlesbrough, having their longest period of uninterrupted Premier League football in their history.
Schwarzer also played in goal as Middlesbrough won their only major trophy in the 2004 Carling Cup. Boro also made the UEFA Cup final and Schwarzer went on to make another UEFA Cup final when playing for Fulham.
Schwarzer also has a flair for the dramatic. His two runs to the UEFA Cup final included his team producing four-goal comebacks on three separate occasions.
An aging goalkeeper from Fulham may not seem too glamorous a signing to many fans, but that is exactly what Van der Sar was when he signed for United.
13. Craig Gordon (Sunderland)
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Towering Scottish goalkeeper Craig Gordon has produced some excellent Premier League performances for Sunderland.
Gordon began his career with Hearts in the Scottish Premier League and made the move north when former United legend Roy Keane paid £7 million to take him to Sunderland.
Gordon also has 40 caps for Scotland and could be on the radar of Sir Alex Ferguson in the summer.
12. Tim Howard (Everton)
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Tim Howard is no stranger to Manchester United fans. The American international shot stopper was signed by Sir Alex Ferguson from the New York Metrostars in 2003. Howard started well at United and made the PFA Premier League Team of the Year after his first season, also winning the FA Cup.
Howard then dropped off in performance and made a number of high profile errors that saw United eliminated from the UEFA Champions League. After an extended spell on the sidelines, Howard returned but made another big error and showed inconsistency.
Everton took Howard on loan and the New Jersey native used the move as a chance to revive his career. Howard signed permanently for Everton in 2007 and is closing in on 150 appearances for the club.
Some fans may question if United would sign a player after he has already had one unsuccessful stint at the club. However, do you think they would have Diego Forlan back?
11. Sergio Romero (AZ)
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Athletic Argentina goalkeeper Sergio Romero is currently plying his trade with AZ in the Dutch top flight. Romero started with Racing Club in Argentina, but played only five games before moving to AZ at the age of 20.
Romero has had a successful four-year stint so far at AZ and helped the club win the Dutch title and the Dutch Super Cup in 2009.
Romero could be on the verge of a move to one of Europe's giants and has established himself at the international level. Romero has 20 caps for Argentina and played in all their games at the FIFA World Cup last summer.
10. Joe Hart (Manchester City)
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Wouldn't this transfer make a splash?
Hart beat out Premier League veteran Shay Given this season to earn the starting spot at Manchester City and has also now established himself as the No. 1 for the England national team.
He would be an exciting addition for United fans, in terms of his ability and the impact it would have on their crosstown rivals.
If this happened, it is worth wondering whether Hart would feature on a "Welcome to Manchester" billboard?
9. Anders Lindegaard (Manchester United)
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Denmark international goalkeeper Anders Lindegaard signed for Manchester United in 2010 and is considered by most pundits the favorite among the current reserve goalkeepers at Old Trafford to replace Van der Sar.
Despite this belief, Lindegaard's experience at the very top level is questionable and even Old Trafford legend Peter Schmeichel doubted the likelihood of a smooth transition if Lindegaard were to take the gloves.
The fact that he is already at Old Trafford means he will get a shot, but he will have a fight on his hands to earn the No. 1 jersey on a permanent basis.
8. David De Gea (Athletico Madrid)
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Spanish Under-21 international David de Gea has established himself as the starting goalkeeper at Athletico Madrid in La Liga at the age of only 20.
De Gea has showed excellent quickness and a talent to make outstanding reflex saves. The United coaching staff would also be excited to get a goalkeeper with such potential so young.
De Gea already has experience in Spain's top division and also in Europe. The young keeper started in Athletico's 2010 Europa League final win over Fulham, as well as keeping a clean sheet in their 2010 UEFA Super Cup win over Inter Milan.
7. Allan McGregor (Rangers)
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Glasgow Rangers goalkeeper Allan McGregor has already grabbed the attention of Manchester United this season, whether they liked it or not. The Scotland international goalkeeper pulled off a string of good saves to earn Rangers a 0-0 draw at Old Trafford during this season's Champions League group stage.
McGregor excelled as the Rangers won the Scottish Premier League title for the last two seasons. Media rumors are circling regarding a move north of the border and the timing could lead him to Old Trafford this summer.
6. Hugo Lloris (Lyon)
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French international goalkeeper Hugo Lloris has a wealth of experience in the French top flight and also the UEFA Champions League.
Lloris began his career with OCG Nice and played 72 games for the club before moving to Lyon in the summer of 2008. Lloris secured the Ligue One Goalkeeper of the Year award during his first two seasons in Lyon and has also earned recognition at international level.
Lloris has won 22 caps for France and played well in both legs of the World Cup qualifying playoff against the Republic of Ireland last year.
5. Johan Wiland (FC Copenhagen)
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Swedish international Johan Wiland is an established veteran after a solid career in Scandanavia. Wiland broke into the first team of Rydboholms SK at the tender age of 16 and earned a move to Elfsborg.
Wiland played over 200 games for Elfsborg and won the Allsvenskan title as well as two Swedish Cups. The Swedish keeper then moved to Copenhagen and won two Danish Superliga Titles as well as the Danish Cup in 2009.
Wiland has also won individual accolades, being named Swedish Goalkeeper of the Year in 2008 and 2010 and Goalkeeper of the Year in Denmark for 2010.
Media acclaim has come WIland's way this season for his performances in the UEFA Champions League. The Swedish international was the foundation of Copenhagen's surprising run to the last 16 and he earned Man of the Match Honors in a 1-1 Group Stage draw against tournament favorites FC Barcelona.
4. Igor Akinfeev (CSKA Moscow)
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Russian international goalkeeper Igor Akinfeev is a strong presence in goal with a forceful personality. He is a confident goalkeeper who should cope well with the media spotlight that accompanies a move to Manchester United.
Akinfeev broke into the CSKA first team at the age of 17 and has gone on to play almost 200 games and become the club captain. In his Moscow career, Akinfeev has won the Russian Premier League three times, four Russian Super Cups, four Russian Cups and the UEFA Cup.
Akinfeev has also won 48 caps for Russia,and started during their run to third place in Euro 2008.
Many fans would argue that if United got Akinfeev, they will not be Russian to find a replacement for him (sorry!).
3. Kasper Schmeichel (Leeds United)
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Not the most likely move, but for the sentimental fans at Old Trafford, it would bring a tear to the eye, wouldn't it?
2. Manuel Neuer (Schalke 04)
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Manuel Neuer shot to prominence courtesy of his strong performances for Germany as they finished third in the 2010 FIFA World Cup. Neuer kept three clean sheets for Germany and also got an assist from a goal kick during the 4-1 Second Round victory.
Neuer is also the established No. 1 for Schalke and won the German League Cup in 2005. The German international also won Best Bundesliga Goalkeeper in 2007 and won Goalkeeper of the Tournament as Germany won the 2009 UEFA Under-21 European Championship.
Neuer has been linked with a move to a European power since the World Cup and could be high on United's radar this summer.
1. Maarten Stekelenburg (Ajax)
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Dutch international shot stopper Maarten Stekelenburg is another goalkeeper who impressed at the 2010 FIFA World Cup and has been linked with a move to one of Europe's powers ever since.
Stekelenburg is an imposing physical presence who played well as the Netherlands reached the final only to lose 1-0 in overtime to Spain.
At club level, Stekelenburg is closing in on 200 appearances for Ajax and has won the Eredivisie title in 2004, three KNVB Cups and two Johan Cruyff Shields.
Stekelenburg has already replaced Van der Sar well on the international scene, is he about to do the same at club level?
Thoughts?
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Who is your pick to replace Edwin van der Sar? And how will he and United fare?
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