[Dirtycheat]

Van der Sar to step into coaching role

Originally Posted by Daily Mail

Edwin van der Sar is being lined up for a coaching role at Manchester United as he prepares to sign a one-year extension to his contract.

The Holland goalkeeper, who is 37 tomorrow, has made no secret of his wish to stay at Old Trafford and will begin negotiations in the next few weeks.

Van der Sar is out of contract at the end of the season but envisages his new deal will incorporate coaching.

He said: "I know I am turning 37, but I am as fit as ever. I also feel that I want to pass on my experience to the younger players. There is a fantastic atmosphere in this group of players and they are eager to learn.

"I try to give more to the team than just my performance in goal. I coach the boys, I pass on experience and talk to younger players. Sir Alex Ferguson expects me to do that and the role suits me. At Ajax, at Juventus and at Fulham I was always coaching and trying to help other players. In training sessions and in matches I emphasise my presence in a verbal way. Besides all that, I see a lot of football situations occurring in front of me early because of my experience after so many years."

Van der Sar, who will play the 500th league match of his career against Arsenal next week, insists he has no desire to stop playing just yet. "I always said that I would quit football at the age of 34," he said. "But I am not going to make any more statements about that now. I feel I am physically as good as ever. And I don't really feel 37 among all these young players at United.

"I love all the quality in the attacking part of the team. Giggs, Saha, Rooney, Tevez, Ronaldo. They can all score bags of goals. Because of injuries not every player has been able to get those goals yet but as long as we have kept a clean sheet, we have been able to get great results."


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[ROONEYGR]

With Foster and Kuz if VDS decides to retire and help the younger goalkeepers, i would be happy

[Dirtycheat]

Van der Sar mulls sideways move into player-coaching role with United

Originally Posted by Daily mail

Edwin van der Sar is in talks with officials about his future and may take on a player-coach role at the club.

The Holland goalkeeper is in the last year of his contract and has indicated that he wants to remain with the Barclays Premier League champions.

Although United manager Ferguson hopes to install England prospect Ben Foster as his No 1 next season, he is keen to keep the 37-year-old veteran on his staff and he has spoken to Van der Sar about a dual role.

With keeper coach Tony Coton's future at the mercy of a knee injury that recently required surgery, Ferguson is aware that he may need extra help with his vast coaching network.

The only sticking point is whether Van der Sar feels he can continue to play regular football elsewhere as the first-choice keeper, because it seems he is not ready to retire.

But Ferguson believes he could offer a great deal to current No 2 Tomasz Kuszczak and Foster, who is making excellent progress after knee surgery and could be in contention for a firstteam place by the end of the season.

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he h as had one or two shaky moments as of late but i think he could still be playing for us for at least another year. hope he doesnt leave to go elsewhere.

[.aK122]

I think it would ideal if VDS became a goalkeeping coach at united, he could help the like of Foster and Kuczczak with all his experience.

[funkdoctorspock]

Seems the coaching role will have to hold off for another year.

VDS has signed a one year extension as a player only.

Depends on how Tony Coton is recovering from major knee surgery as to whether VDS is given a coaching role or not.

Edwin van der Sar has agreed terms for a year's contract extension which will keep at the club until the summer of 2009.

The 37-year-old goalkeeper has excelled in his position as United's top stopper since joining in June 2005. And Sir Alex is delighted to have secured van der Sar's services for a further 12 months.

"Edwin has agreed a new contract for another year," Sir Alex revealed on Friday. "It'll be totally as a player [rather than as a coach]. We're delighted at that because his consistency and experience has been a great help to this club.

"There is great competition for places amongst our goalkeepers. I'm sure Edwin will want to stay as our number one, but Ben Foster and Tomasz Kuszczak will give him a good challenge."

There had been suggestions in the media that van der Sar could take over as goalkeeping coach following Tony Coton's knee operation. But Sir Alex confirmed that Coton will be staying on at Old Trafford, contrary to those reports.

"Tony hasn't left," he declared. "He had a bad knee injury as a player and has recently had another big operation.

"We've told him to just wait and see how he is when he's fully recovered. It's far too early to be making decisions about his situation, because you can make good recoveries from operations like this. The important thing for Tony to know is that he'll have a place at the club whatever happens."
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[IvanDaMan]

VDS is pure class. Yeah he made a few ( and I repeat just a few mistakes) but he's human after all and obviously not perfect.
I've never felt so assured as when he's on goal.. Only on free kicks I'm a bit worried (for some reason he has problems with some of them).

So if he decides to join the coaching stuff there isn't really anyone better than him. The problem is if he can teach the younger goalies what he knows, because some of the goalkeeping skills are actually a pure natural tallent that sometimes can not be taught.

[GocartMozart]

the question remains; who will take his place? I don't think Kooshie has the mental resolve to handle the pressure or the maturity to dominate this defense full of senior members. Whlie Ben Foster is highly talked about, I've still to watch him on a regular basis, and he has a rediculously high bar to reach to be considered. We also don't know how he'll play after his knee injury. I guess we'll find out in March.

[losangeles]

I know that it wasn't your question or post topic, but I'm not sure EDS is our best keeper now.

[vrider]

would be happy with that, experienced goalkeeper keeping an eye on foster and kuzsack, future looks good between the posts