Manchester United goalkeeper Edwin van der Sar has announced he is retiring at the end of the season.
The 40-year-old stopper has been pivotal to United’s success since joining the club in 2005.
Van der Sar, who has been capped 130 times by Holland, helped United to three league titles and a Champions League medal following the penalty shoot-out victory against Chelsea in 2008.
The goalkeeper’s announcement isn’t a surprise with boss Sir Alex Ferguson revealing last year he thought this season would be his last.
He said: “I think we are planning for this possibly to be his last season.
“To be playing at our level at 40 is amazing. You can only do it if you’ve that structure and mind. To be able to programme himself and train the way he does is phenomenal. He’s an outstanding man.”
The giant Dutchman, who has also played for Fulham, Ajax and Juventus, added stability to United’s defence – not seen since the Danish legend Peter Schmeichel, who left the club in 1999.