Manchester United icon Edwin Van Der Sar, 52, has suffered a brain haemorrhage and is in intensive care in Croatia – 14 years after his wife had the same condition.
Ajax announced that the footballer and father-of-two had ‘bleeding around his brain’ and is in a ‘stable condition’ as he continues to receive treatment in hospital.
The legendary goalkeeper, 53, was flown to hospital by helicopter while he was on holiday.
It comes more than a decade after the football star was given compassionate leave by Manchester United to be with his wife Annemarie van Kesteren after she also had a brain hemorrhage which had made her ‘very poorly’.
The couple had been in Holland around Christmas in 2009 when Annemarie was admitted to hospital after collapsing in their family home. They were quickly joined by rallying relatives, including their son Joe and daughter Lynn. She made a full recovery and suffered no long-term effects.
His hospitalisation comes six months after he was sacked from his role as the manager of Ajax following a disappointing season.
This afternoon Ajax said: ‘On Friday, Edwin van der Sar has had a bleeding around his brain. He’s currently in hospital in the intensive care unit and is in a stable condition.’
‘Once there is more concrete information, an update will follow. Everyone at Ajax wishes Edwin a speedy recovery. We’re thinking of you,’ it added.
Although no further details were given by Ajax, it has been reported Van der Sar was admitted to hospital while away in Croatia after suffering a cerebral haemorrhage.
Edwin Van der Sar was admitted to a hospital in Croatia after suffering a brain haemorrhage
It comes 14 years after his wife Annemarie van Kesteren (pictured Van der Sar) also suffered from a brain haemorrhage
The couple have two children a son Joe and daughter Lynn
The Dutchman won the Champions League with both Ajax and Manchester United
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The footballer’s former football club Fulham also sent their well-wishes said: ‘Everyone at Fulham Football Club wishes Edwin a speedy recovery. We’re thinking of you.’
The former Manchester United and Netherlands goalkeeper, 52, won the Premier League four times during his time at Old Trafford, as well as the Champions League in 2008, which he also lifted while at Ajax.
After retirement, he returned to Ajax where he took up the role of chief executive in 2016.
Following a disappointing season for Ajax, the club finishing third in the Eredivise and missing out on Champions League qualification, Van der Sar announced in May he would be stepping down from his role after almost 11 years on the club’s board.
The former Manchester United goalkeeper had spent seven years in the position, since his appointment in 2016, before opting to leave on Tuesday morning.
The decision came shortly after the end of the Eredivisie campaign, where Ajax finished 13 points behind league winners Feyenoord.
It was hardly the season that many fans expected – as they eventually missed out on Champions League football for next season – given their long-time dominance.
However, things did not go well for the Dutch side and, as he said farewell to the club, van der Sar lifted the lid on his reasons behind departing from the role.
Speaking to the club website, van der Sar said: ‘After almost eleven years on the board, I am exhausted. We’ve been through some very nice things, but it’s also been an incredibly tough period.
‘I am very grateful to the people I met and worked with during my second career at Ajax for what we have achieved and experienced. I now need to distance myself, relax and do other things.
‘It doesn’t feel good to have to make decisions about the future of this beautiful club in the coming period. Hence my decision to stop now.’
The ex-United goalkeeper has come under criticism in recent weeks, as Ajax have struggled to perform on the pitch and slumped to a third-placed finish.
It was their worst league performance in 13 years and the first time they have failed to qualify for the Champions League since the 2008-09.
Despite making 10 signings throughout the season – including the likes of Steven Bergwijn and Calvin Bassey – they finished well below title-winners Feyenoord.
In addition, van der Sar had already faced backlash over the respective departures of director of football Marc Overmars and head coach Erik ten Hag.
Van der Sar had already faced backlash in the wake of Erik ten Hag’s (R) departure last summer
Steven Bergwijn was one of Ajax’s big summer signings, after joining from Spurs for £28m
And, although there was displeasure from fans about van der Sar’s performance, Supervisory Board Chair, Pier Eringa, reiterated the fact they wanted him ‘to stay’.
‘We wanted Edwin to stay, but his decision was made and we have to respect that,’ Eringa explained. ‘The past season is not representative of the total period of Ajax under his leadership.
‘The club has experienced many successes, has grown enormously and has also gained international prestige. His duties will be taken over by the current management. Edwin will remain available for transfer and advice until August.
‘We expect to be able to announce the new management composition soon after 1 August. Our ambition is to add someone with an Ajax background to the top.’
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