Edwin signs new deal

Edwin van der has signed a new one-year contract that will keep him at Old Trafford until at least June 2011.

The 39-year-old Dutch goalkeeper has put pen-to-paper on the new deal, which takes him beyond his 40th birthday in October this year.

Sir Alex Ferguson is pleased to have secured the experienced shot-stopper's services for another 12 months.

“Edwin’s professionalism and dedication to his job and the way he looks after himself has given him the longevity in the game," the boss told ManUtd.com. "That longevity includes such great experience not just at United, but at Juventus, Ajax and on an international level. We are absolutely delighted he is continuing for another year."

Van der Sar is "delighted" to have signed for another year, and also thanked United for the compassion shown in helping him to deal with the recent illness of his wife.

"I still feel good and am enjoying my football," he told us. "This is a great club and I was shown a great deal of compassion and support during a difficult time in December and January for which I am extremely grateful. I am looking forward to winning more trophies with this great team."

Edwin Van Der Sar

Edwin Van Der Sar Career Stats
-Full Name: Edwin Van Der Sar
-Birthplace: Vourhoot, Netherlands
-Date of Birth: 29/10/1970
-Height: 200cm (6ft 6ins)
-Weight: 187lbs (13st 5lbs)
-Position: Goalkeeper
-Squad Number: 1

Leaugue Club Football
Holland (94-08)

Ajax, Juventus and Fulham
Edwin Van Der Sar began his footballing career at Foreholte and VV Noordwijk where his incredible talent didn't go un-noticed. He was quickly snapped up by Dutch giants Ajax Amsterdam, where he enjoyed great success, winning 4 League titles, 3 Dutch Cups, the UEFA Cup and the European Cup (UEFA Champions League) in 1995.

In 1999 after Ajax finished a disappointing 6th in the Eridivisie and bottom of their Champions League group, Van Der Sar decided that the time was right to move to pastures new and subsequently joined The Old Lady (of Italian football) Juventus for a transfer fee of £5m.

Edwin Van Der Sar's stay at Juventus was a short lived one, he played Just 66 league games for the club before he was was replaced by an outstanding young goalkeeper by the name of Gianluigi Buffon, whom the Italian's paid a transfer fee of £32.6m a world record for a goalkeeper and the 4th highest of all time.

It was at this point that Edwin joined Mohamed Al Fayed's revolution at newly promoted Fulham for a fee of £7.7m. There he played 126 League games, establishing himself as on of the Leagues best stoppers.

The Manchester United Years
After 6 years and many failed attempts to sign a perfect replacement (or as near perfect as you can get) for the Great Dane Peter Schmeichel, Manchester United switched their sights to veteran Dutch goalkeeper Edwin Van Der Sar and in the summer of 2005 readily paid Fulham a fee believed to be in the region of £2m to secure his safe pair of hands.

So far at Manhester United Edwin Van Der Sar has proved himself to be a more than a worthy replacement for Peter Scmeichel and this is evident in his meadal haul since joining the club. In his relatively short stay at the United he has helped his team-mates win two League titles, one League Cup and the European Champions League, in which his heroics in the penalty shoot-out against fellow finalists Chelsea secured victory for the Red Devils. Edwin Van Der Sar - in doing this - became the first goalkeeper to win the Champions League with two different clubs.

Edwin Van Der Sar's Honours
Ajax
-Eredivisie (League title): 1994, 1995, 1996, 1998
-KNVB Cup: 1993, 1998, 1999
-UEFA Champions League: 1995
-UEFA Cup: 1992
-European Super Cup: 1995
-Intercontinental Cup: 1995

Juventus
-UEFA Intertoto Cup: 1999

Fulham
UEFA Intertoto Cup: 2002

Manchester United
-FA Premier League: 2007, 2008
-English League Cup: 2006
-Community Shield: 2007
-UEFA Champions League: 2008
-FIFA Club World Cup: 2008


Edwin Van Der Sar Personal Honours
-Best European Goalkeeper: 1995
-Dutch Football Goalkeeper of the Year: 1994, 1995, 1996, 1997
-Dutch Golden Shoe: 1998
-PFA Team of the Year Goalkeeper: 2007