Manchester United goalkeeper Edwin Van Der Sar has confirmed that he will be retiring at the end of the season. The 40-year old will spend more time with his family; his wife Annemarie suffered a stroke back in 2009.

The Dutchman joined Man United on the 1st June 2005 from Fulham and to date, he has played 245 times for United. The biggest moment in his career at Old Trafford was when he saved the final penalty of the 2008 Champions League final in Moscow, which won the cup for United.

Speaking to MUTV, Van Der Sar said: “It’s been coming for a while,”
“After playing for so many years, you reach a point where you have to make a decision.

“There are a couple of things to consider – whether you still have an appetite for it, your family. You have to look at yourself also. You have to ask if you can bring that top level of performance that you need at United. At the moment I am quite happy with my form and my achievements on the pitch. I just want to keep that on a high level.

“You can’t play Superman into your 40s. It’s a mutual decision that this season was the last. When I first came here I was just happy to sign a two-year contract. I wanted to win the league before I retired. I was lucky to achieve a little bit more than that.”

United manager Sir Alex Ferguson has paid tribute to the keeper, speaking to Sky Sports News he said:
"Fantastic - a magnificent person, professional goalkeeper, an absolute marvellous career he's had"

"He's an example to anyone who wants to become a goalkeeper.

"Edwin sails through life without any changes in it, he never changes, he has a consistent nature. He's unflappable.

"He's calm, he doesn't look to search or press for himself, he's happy with what he's achieved in life and he's not searching for anything, he's such a good man."