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Manchester United legend selected as candidate for Premier League Hall of Fame

Edwin van der Sar nominated for Premier League Hall of Fame
The Rest of the World team (L-R) captain Luis Figo, Rest of the World's French defender Mikael Silvestre, Rest of the World's Dutch striker Patrick Kluivert, Rest of the World's Brazilian defender Cafu, Rest of the World's Dutch midfielder Clarence Seedorf, Rest of the World's Norwegian striker Ole Gunnar Solskjaer, Rest of the World's Portuguese defender Fernando Couto, Rest of the World's French midfielder Robert Pires and Rest of the World's Dutch goalkeeper Edwin van der Sar observe a minute's silence for the victims of the Paris terrorist attacks ahead of a charity football match between a Great Britain and Ireland team and a Rest of the World team at Old Trafford in Manchester, north west England November 14, 2015 in aid of UNICEF. AFP PHOTO / PAUL ELLIS (Photo credit should read PAUL ELLIS/AFP via Getty Images)

Manchester United legend Edwin van der Sar nominated for Premier League Hall of Fame

Former Manchester United and Netherlands goalkeeper Edwin van der Sar has been nominated for the 2024 Premier League Hall of Fame.

The Premier League recently confirmed the Dutchman’s nomination alongside his former Man United teammate Nemanja Vidić.

The nomination will come as a moment of jubilation and respite for the 53-year-old, for whom the past twelve months have been quite trying. Having left the role of CEO of Ajax at the end of the 2022/23 season, citing rest as one of the reasons for having done so, Van der Sar was taken into intensive care in July last year after he suffered a brain haemorrhage. He was discharged two weeks later and has since made a full recovery.

Van der Sar has been out of football since leaving Ajax last season. (Photo by GERRIT VAN KEULEN/ANP/AFP via Getty Images)
Van der Sar has been out of football since leaving Ajax last season. (Photo by GERRIT VAN KEULEN/ANP/AFP via Getty Images)

He took to Instagram to acknowledge the PL Hall of Fame nomination.

Van der Sar made 313 appearances in the Premier League between 2001 and 2011 during his stints with Fulham and Manchester United, keeping 132 clean sheets—eighth-most in league history.
Van der Sar made 313 appearances in the Premier League between 2001 and 2011 during his stints with Fulham and Manchester United, keeping 132 clean sheets—eighth-most in league history.

Of the 15 players nominated to be inducted into the PL Hall of Fame this year, six have represented Manchester United. Apart from Van der Sar and Vidić, Michael Carrick, Andy Cole, Gary Neville, and Michael Owen have also been nominated.

The nominees can be voted for induction here. Voting closes next Monday, April 8.

A nomination fully deserved

That Van der Sar deserves a Hall of Fame nomination on merit requires little discussion. Manchester United were the dominant side in the first two decades of the Premier League and, to that end, their players of that time have already been inducted into the PL Hall of Fame; it’s inevitable that many others will follow.

The Dutchman has some strong competition for an induction this year—particularly from his own former United teammates. It is likely he won’t make the cut this time round, but we do not rule out a future nomination to seal the deal.

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For now, the nomination itself feels like a good way to cap what has otherwise been a hard year for Van der Sar, and it’s hard to not wish him some peace and good luck going forward.

Edwin van der SarGary NevilleMichael CarrickNemanja Vidic

Written by Anshuman Joshi

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