Goal.com 50: Edwin van der Sar (30)

The countdown of our 50 best players of 2008-09 continues, and at No. 30 it’s Manchester United’s record-breaking stopper…

Jul 16, 2009 11:10:00 PM

More On :  Man Utd., Edwin van der Sar
EPL: Edwin Van der Sar, West Bromwich Albion v Manchester United (PA)

He may be celebrating his 40th birthday next year, but Manchester United goalkeeper Edwin van der Sar is showing few signs of slowing down.

Indeed, the Dutchman smashed records left, right and centre last season as he kept a clean sheet for an unprecedented 1,311 minutes in the Premier League.

His miserly form was integral to United’s season, sending them on their way to a third consecutive Premier League title and yet another Champions League final.

With the Red Devils not at their free scoring best, despite the presence of Wayne Rooney, Cristiano Ronaldo, Dimitar Berbatov and Carlos Tevez, it was the defence that earned the plaudits in 2008-09, and quite possibly the title too.

Whilst critics point to the fact that the Dutchman is hardly the busiest goalkeeper in the league, the statistics insist that last season he was the best.

With the help of the excellent centre-back pairing of Nemanja Vidic and Rio Ferdinand, Van der Sar conceded a mere 24 goals in the league and kept an impressive 21 clean sheets.

United’s goals against column was crucial to winning the Premier League allowing Sir Alex Ferguson’s men to grind out ten narrow 1-0 victories on their way to the title.

Those crucial wins, built on rock solid defensive foundations, handed United a massive 30 points and went a long way to ensuring that Liverpool and Chelsea simply could not catch them at the top.

All of which earned Van der Sar his third Premier League title and also the Golden Glove, taking the crown from Liverpool’s Pepe Reina, who had won it for the past three seasons.

Of course the highlight of Van der Sar’s season must be the period between November 8 and March 4, when his goal was simply not breached.

A record 1,311 minutes passed - 14 consecutive games - before Peter Lovenkrands of Newcastle United finally ended the drought, leaving the United stopper in the record books.


Record breaker! | 14 clean sheets in a row

Those 14 games were the deciding factor in United reclaiming their title, and Van der Sar’s calmness between the sticks and organisational skills were at the fore.

During that spell, the Dutchman also became a world champion with the Old Trafford outfit, claiming glory in FIFA’s Club Word Cup.

A trip to Japan saw the Red Devils bring home the trophy, with Van der Sar keeping, you guessed it, yet another clean sheet in the final against Liga de Quito while Wayne Rooney scored the only goal of the game.

Not content with his success on the club scene, Van der Sar also came out of international retirement to answer an emergency call from Dutch coach Bert van Marwijk, after injuries to keepers Maarten Stekelenburg and Henk Timmer.

The stopper helped the Netherlands to two wins over Iceland and Norway, yet again keeping clean sheets in both games, before finally hanging up his Holland gloves after 130 caps, making him his country’s most capped player.

Of course, his season ultimately ended in disappointment with defeat to Barcelona in Rome, and fingers pointed in his direction after he allowed Samuel Eto’o to beat him at his near post for the opener.

Yet that was the only low point in a super season, which has meant more frustration for United reserves Tomas Kuszczak and Ben Foster, who continue to twiddle their thumbs on the bench at Old Trafford as they await their chance to claim the No. 1 jersey.

The 38-year-old’s performances have also earned him an extended contract, which will keep him at Old Trafford for one last season, presenting him with the chance to add to his already impressive medal haul.

2008-09 HONOURS

Premier League 2008-09

FIFA Club World Cup 2008

Individual

Golden Glove 2008-09

Gill Clark, Goal.com
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