Manchester United - Edwin Van der Sar

There have been plenty of pretenders to Peter Schmeichel’s throne since his abdication in 1999. But few have graced the number 1 jersey with such quality and consistency as Edwin van der Sar.

The two differ in style. Schmeichel was famed for bellowing at his back four as well as his brilliant saves. Edwin, however, uses his experience and calm assurance to great effect.

Edwin has all the wisdom and know-how between the sticks that you would expect of a goalkeeper that is his nation’s most-capped player and a former UEFA Cup (1992) and Champions League (1995) winner with his first club Ajax inthe early nineties. He also won four league titles and three domestic cups with the Amsterdam outfit, before spending two seasons in Serie A with Juventus.

Gianlugi Buffon’s arrival at the Stadio delle Alpi resulted in van der Sar's £5million switch to Fulham in 2001 at the outset of the Londoners’ Premier League adventure, but after four seasons at Craven Cottage United came knocking.

Van der Sar was 34 when he arrived at Old Trafford in 2005 but old father time has dulled neither his ambition nor his influence. Age is not a problem, far from it. He kept an incredible 24 clean sheets in all competitions in 2007/08 as the Reds retained the Premier League title and won the Champions League for the first time since Schmeichel departed after the '99 final. His penalty save from Nicolas Anelka in the 2008 final in Moscow is forever etched in United history.

Even better form was to come in 2008/09 when Edwin played 1,311 minutes in the league without conceding a goal - between Nasri's strike for Arsenal on 8 November 2008 and Peter Lovenkrands' opener for Newcastle on 4 March 2009. This remarkable feat set a new standard for English, British and European football - with some reports labelling it a worldrecord for a single season.

Edwin's United deal was extended in December 2008 to keep him at Old Trafford for one last season, 2009/10. In that same month, he helped the Reds to win the FIFA Club World Cup in Japan.

While Ben Foster and Tomasz Kuszczak waited in the wings for their chance, Edwin's experience kept him in pole position for League and Champions League fixtures. In April 2009, he was effectively named best goalkeeper in the Barclays Premier League when his fellow professionals voted him into the PFA Team of the Year.

PROFILE:Birthdate: 29 Oct 1970
Birthplace: Voorhout, Holland
Position: Goalkeeper
Appearances: 198
Goals: 0
Joined United: 01 Jun 2005
United Debut: 09 Aug 2005 v Debreceni VSC (H)
International Holland (retired)