Manchester United goalkeeper Edwin van der Sar has signed a
new one-year contract extension, tying him to the club until the
end of the 2009 season. The 37-year-old had been considering
retirement at the end of this season. "He is number one at the
moment, but you can't guarantee players a position and say they'll
definitely be in your team," said boss Sir Alex Ferguson. "Edwin
will want to be number one next season but Ben Foster will be back
and I am sure he will want to be too."
England international Foster is currently sidelined after cruciate
knee ligament surgery. There were suggestions Van der Sar could be
handed a role on the Old Trafford backroom staff as goalkeeping
coach Tony Coton is currently sidelined following a recent knee
operation. But Ferguson stressed the Dutchman's new deal was
"totally as a player".