Edwin van der Sar suffered a brain haemorrhage in July 2023 and was admitted to an intensive care unit in Croatia, but has now opened up on the ordeal and how it has changed his life
Manchester United legend Edwin van der Sar has revealed details about the brain haemorrhage he suffered in 2023. The Dutchman admits he is now embracing a more tranquil life, and insists he wasn’t afraid he would die.
Van der Sar joined Old Trafford during the summer of 2005, following an impressive stint with newly-promoted Fulham. A reported £2million fee secured his signature.
The Dutch shot-stopper instantly became Sir Alex Ferguson’s number one and delivered exceptional performances. He guarded the goal for the Red Devils until 2011, racking up more than 250 appearances. He claimed four Premier League crowns and one Champions League trophy with United.
Following his retirement 14 years ago, Van der Sar made a fleeting one-game comeback for his childhood team, VV Noordwijk, in 2016 and remained involved in football, latterly serving as an executive at Ajax. However, in July 2023, he was rushed to intensive care in Croatia following a brain haemorrhage and remained hospitalised for a fortnight.
Van der Sar has now revealed insights into the frightening experience and acknowledges his life has transformed dramatically for the better, and he did not fear he would die. He told Gazzetta dello Sport: “Was I afraid of dying? Honestly, no.
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“I was helped immediately; the ambulance took me straight to the hospital, where the best doctors looked after me. When I returned home, my family and a physiotherapist were always by my side.
“Now my life is much calmer, when my phone was always ringing and I had to make important decisions and support the team and manager. Now I enjoy time with my family, travel, play padel and go cycling.”
The 54-year-old was initially admitted into an intensive care unit after suffering a bleed around the brain whilst on holiday in Split. He was later moved to his home country, where he continued to receive treatment and was discharged after a fortnight.
It was in the Netherlands with Ajax that Van der Sar embarked upon his footballing journey, after being recruited to their reserve side by former United head coach Louis van Gaal. He claimed Dutch Football Goalkeeper of the Year in his debut full season in Amsterdam, and following years of loyalty, found himself linked with a transfer abroad.
However, circumstances could have unfolded quite differently for Van der Sar. He acknowledges that Liverpool were amongst the possibilities he had when he departed Ajax in 1999, but he instead opted for Juventus.
“I had two options: Liverpool or Juventus. I spoke to both clubs, but my heart led me to Italy,” continued Van der Sar, who featured 88 times for the Old Lady before transferring to Fulham and then United.
“Serie A was the best league in those years. I was intrigued by the idea of playing for a team where a legendary goalkeeper like [Dino] Zoff had made his mark. Do I regret it? No. I didn’t play my best football, but criticism is part of the game. It was still a wonderful experience to live and play in Italy.
“The summer I arrived, my team-mates would always take me out for dinner. The food in Turin’s restaurants was fantastic: at the end of the evening, I’d get my credit card ready, but I never paid.”
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