Manchester United goalkeeper Edwin Van der Sar has
announced he will spend one last season at Old Trafford, after
jointly revealing his retirement from international football
following Holland's Euro 2008 quarter-final defeat to Russia on
Saturday.
Van der Sar, 37, regarded as United's best goalkeeper since
Peter Schmeichel, guided United to glory in both the Champions
League and Premier League, was in outstanding form last season,
keeping 24 clean sheets in the process.
But the Dutchman revealed: "I will have one last season
in the Premier League but yes, my international career is over.
"I have enjoyed this tournament [Euro 2008] but
unfortunately we could not reach the level we touched in the
opening two matches. One bad game in tournaments and you go out,"
he said.
Holland coach Marco van Basten paid tribute to the
goalkeeper, the Netherlands most-capped player with 128 appearances
for his country, praising his contribution to the Dutch national
team who he captained in Austria and Switzerland.
He said: "Edwin deserved to be in the winning team at
the Euros. I wanted that for him because he has been a great
goalkeeper for his country but, unfortunately, it was not to
be."
Van der Sar will now enjoy a deserved close-season
break before returning to Manchester, where he will face tough
competition for United's number one jersey next season with current
understudies Tomasz Kuszczak and England international Ben Foster
both vying to replace him.
