EDWIN VAN DER SAR

19. Edwin Van Der Sar

• Born: 29 Oct 1970, Voorhout, Holland
• Signed: 1 July 2005, from Fulham
• Other Previous Clubs: Ajax, Juventus
• Debut: To Be Confirmed
• International Team: Holland

Edwin van der Sar has a great wealth of experience, an impressive collection of winners' medals and almost a century of international caps under his belt.

Van der Sar's ability is without question. He is deceptively agile for a big goalkeeper and terrifically capable in the air.

Edwin is the sixth Dutch player to join Manchester United, following Arnold Muhren, Raimond van der Gouw, Jordi Cruyff, Jaap Stam and Ruud van Nistelrooy.

He was a product of the famed Ajax youth system, and won his first European trophy when the Amsterdam side beat Torino on away goals to clinch the 1991/92 UEFA Cup.

He won his second European trophy three years later, when he helped Ajax to triumph over AC Milan in the 1994/95 Champions League Final. He narrowly missed out on another winner's medal the following year when Ajax lost the '96 final to Juventus on penalties.

Van der Sar's Ajax career also yielded a European Super Cup triumph and four Eridivisie (Dutch League) titles before he moved to Italian giants Juventus in 1999 - at a time when Sir Alex Ferguson had earmarked him as one of his favourites to replace the outgoing Peter Schmeichel.

After two seasons in Turin, Edwin sought a move after Juve recruited the immense Gianluigi Buffon. Jean Tigana's Fulham quickly snapped him up for £5million and he made his Cottagers debut against United at Old Trafford on 19 August 2001.

Tangible glory has always proved elusive on an international stage for Edwin. He was outstanding in the Dutch sides which exited in the semi-final stage at the 1998 World Cup as well as the 2000 and 2004 European Championships.