An imposing personality Edwin van der Sar is probably the best goalkeeper to have played in the Netherlands. Born on October 29, 1970, he began his football career playing for his hometown team FC Foreholte in Voorhout.
His athleticism and sharp reflexes under the bar got him noticed by top clubs. He first moved to VV Noordwijk, and from there to Ajax. He was part of the Ajax team that won the UEFA Champions League in 1995.
Van der Sar found great success when he moved to Juventus. In 2001, he joined Fulham and began playing in the English Premier League. The biggest turnaround for him came in 2005, when he moved to Manchester United for a rumored £2 million. Manchester United’s green kit also earned him a nickname: Jolly Green Giant.
Van der Sar first wore the national jersey in 1995 when he played for the Netherlands against Belarus. Since then, he has played over 100 caps for his country and is likely to emerge as the most capped Dutch player.
His crowning moment was when he won the penalty shootout against Sweden in the Euro 2004 quarter-final. This was the first time the Dutch had won a penalty shootout. Van der Sar is admired for his courage and determination, and his ability to analyze the movements of opposing forwards.
Some of the trophies that have come to him are the Champions League, the European Super Cup and the Intercontinental Cup.