Man Utd wish list for Maarten Stekelenburg to top target

Maarten Stekelenburg favourite to be United new No1

Maarten Stekelenburg is Man Utd first choice to replace his fellow Dutch goalkeeper Edwin van der Sar at Old Trafford.

 

"Stekelenburg is the keeper who is at the top of our wanted list," Muelensteen (united first team coach) told Dutch magazine Voetbal International. 'We talk a lot among ourselves about who should replace Van der Sar. Alex Ferguson has spoken about Stekelenburg with Edwin.'

United have also looked at two highly regarded keepers, Atletico Madrid's 20-year-old David de Gea and Sporting Lisbon's Rui Patricio, 22. Stekelenburg is far more experienced, having played in last summer's World Cup final.

Video Top 10 Great Saves by Maarten Stekelenburg

Edwin Van Der Sar to retire at the end of the season

United goalkeeper Edwin van der Sar will hang up his gloves at the end of this season.

The 40-year-old former Netherlands international joined United from Fulham in 2005 and has made 245 appearances for the Old Trafford club, winning three Premier League titles and the 2008 Champions League crown. Van der Sar's wife fell seriously ill in December 2009.

"I cannot really identify a time when it [the decision] happened," said Van der Sar. "Let's just say that it was playing on my mind from the moment Annemarie had her stroke.

"She has fought back from it. We decided on another year in England and thus to stay at Manchester United.

"But, once engaged in the season, the thought of saying goodbye started to gnaw a bit more emphatically."

 

1970: Born Voorhout, Holland, October 29.

1990: Makes debut for Ajax, having come through the club's youth system.

1992: Wins UEFA Cup with Ajax.

1994: Wins first Dutch title with Ajax.

1995: Plays key role as Ajax win Champions League, beating AC Milan in final.

Also wins Super Cup and Dutch League. Named Europe's Best Goalkeeper by UEFA.

1996: Ajax complete hat-trick of Dutch League titles - but lose Champions League crown to Juventus in a penalty shoot-out. Holland suffer miserable European Championship campaign in England, with van der Sar in goal during 4-1 loss to Terry Venables' side at Wembley.

1997: Ajax finish fourth in league - 16 points behind champions PSV Eindhoven - in a season which again sees van der Sar a fixture between the posts.

1998: Ajax win league title again, van der Sar capping another season of success with a penalty in 8-1 drubbing of De Graafschap in penultimate match.

Van der Sar helps Holland to World Cup semi-final where they are beaten by Brazil on penalties.

1999: After winning a host of honours with Ajax - who finish a disappointing sixth in the Dutch championship - completes move to Juventus, becoming the first non-Italian goalkeeper in the club's history.

2000: Makes 32 appearances for Juve but a last-match defeat costs them the title as Lazio pip them at the post.

Holland are beaten by Italy in the semi-finals of Euro 2000.

2001: Juventus finish runners-up in Serie A.

July 31 - Signs four-year contract with Premiership newcomers Fulham.

2005: January 25 - Extends contract with Fulham until the summer of 2006.

June 5 - Manchester United reach agreement with Fulham, signing him for an undisclosed fee thought to be around £7million.

2006: World Cup campaign with Holland ends in second round as they lose 1-0 to Portugal.

2007: May - United's attempt to end season with silverware ends as Didier Drogba scores the only goal in extra-time to win the FA Cup for Chelsea.

August - Makes three saves to give United a Community Shield penalty shoot-out victory over Chelsea.

2008: United win Champions League final against Chelsea in Moscow, with Van der Sar making the decisive save in a penalty shoot-out to deny Nicolas Anelka.

2009: Sets record of 1,311 minutes without conceding a goal in the Premier League.

United lose Champions League final to Barcelona but Van der Sar wins UEFA's Best Goalkeeper award for the second time.

2010: January 27 - Announces retirement at end of current season.

Edwin Van Der Sar - Super Stopper

Report by Nick Coppack - www.manutd.com                           

2010/11

Edwin
Goals against: 18 in 24 apps (0.74 avg)
Clean sheets: 12 in 24 apps (50%)

Any other GKGoals against: 11 in 9 apps (1.22 avg)
Clean sheets: 4 in 9 apps (44%)

 

Since 2008/09

EdwinGoals against: 75 in 102 apps (0.73 avg)
Clean sheets: 59 in 101 apps (58%)

Any other GKGoals against: 48 in 53 apps (0.90 avg)
Clean sheets: 22 in 53 apps (41%)

Edwin van der Sar kept his 12th clean sheet of the season against Birmingham City on Saturday.

The Dutchman, now 40, looked as nimble as ever, and the Stretford End chanted his name numerous times throughout the match. He even played a key role in Dimitar Berbatov's third goal, clearing acrobatically and accurately to Rooney before the Bulgarian finishe dthe move.

Van der Sar's performance almost made a mockery of recent rumours suggesting he's set to hang up his gloves at the end of the season. Like Ryan Giggs, he looks like he could play on for at least another year.

But whether or not Edwin does hang up his gloves at the end of this season or next, one thing’s certain: when he does he’ll be sorely missed. United may be synonymous with free-flowing, attacking football, but the Reds' success in recent years has been built as much on a bedrock of defensive solidity. And that’s where Edwin comes in.

A look at the last three seasons confirms United concede fewer goals and keep more clean sheets when the Dutchman plays.This season the difference is even more pronounced. When Edwin’s played in 2010/11 United have conceded, on average, 0.75 goals per game. When he hasn’t that figure rises to 1.22 goals per game. Read more..

New United Goalkeeper Anders Lindegaard Get No. 34

According to manutd.com, New signing Anders Lindegaard has now been registered with the Premier League and will wear the no.34 shirt for the Reds.

The 26-year-old Danish goalkeeper's arrival from Norwegian side Aalesund FK was announced back in November, but he officially joined the Reds this week when the January transfer window opened.

He is now eligible to play for United in domestic competition and would be available, if selected, for Sunday's FA Cup third round tie with Liverpool at Old Trafford.

Anders Lindegaard Set To Join Manchester United

Full Name:    Anders Lindegaard

Birth Date:   April 13, 1984

Birth Place:    Denmark

Height:    1.93m  

Weight:    80 kg

Age:    26

Position:    Goalkeeper

Anders Lindegaard could be the man to replace Edwin van der Sar. United are expected to complete the signing of Aalesunds goalkeeper Anders Lindegaard in the coming days.

Manchester United is believed that the agreed fee in the region of £3.5 for Denmark goalkeeper Lindegaard, have 26, after the club goalkeeping coach Eric Steele, impressed in the course of several scouting trips.

Aalesunds chairman Bjarne Haagensen TV2 confirmed that he is to England with the club boss Henrik Hoff, traveled this week for talks.

"Henrik and I are in Manchester," he said. Asked whether agreement was near, he replied: "We can not say how often in the middle of everything, now we are sending a press release ...."

Lindegaard has to Sporten.dk: "I do not know if I have played my last game for Aalesunds My plan is to move now .."


Watch First Match Anders Lindegaard Video