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With Manchester United having finished the first leg against Olympiakos in their Champions League last 16 tie tonight, we take a look at the career XI of the man that was between the sticks for the Red Devils the last time they got their hands on the prestigious trophy in 2008, via a dramatic penalty shoot-out with rivals Chelsea, Edwin van der Sar.
Goalkeeper – Edwin van der Sar
Unselfishly marshalling his own team is the legendary Dutchman. Van der Sar’s career spanned three decades and took in a host of top clubs including Ajax, Juventus, Manchester United. He also spent a four year spell at Craven Cottage before Sir Alex Ferguson persuaded him to return to the upper echelons of the game. He won the Champions League on two occasions, holds the record number of Holland caps with 130 and is widely regarded as one of the best goalkeepers of the modern era. He also holds the UK league record of minutes without conceding a goal at a huge 1,311.
Right-Back – Gianluca Zambrotta
The Italian right-back played alongside van der Sar at the Old Ladybut his career also took him to Milan and Barcelona. Although he was not the greatest attack minded full-back, he possessed the pace and positional sense to get the upper hand on most wingers. Just shy of a century of caps for Italy, he was a key member of their 2006 world cup winning side and is an Azzurri legend.
Centre-Back – Jaap Stam
The powerful Dutchman was a defender that you would want in your side on any occasion, whoever your opponent. Strong in the air, assured in possession and tough in the tackle, he struck fear into strikers. Part of United’s treble winning side in 98/99 a disagreement with Sir Alex cut his Old Trafford career short but he also enjoyed spells at Lazio, Milan and Ajax before his retirement in 2007.
Centre-Back – Rio Ferdinand
Once the world’s most expensive defender when he joined Manchester United from Leeds in 2002 for £30 million, the West Ham youth player was part of a formidable United defence in front of van der Sar. He won the Champions League alongside the Dutchman in 2008 and was arguably in his peak when the goalkeeper was at Old Trafford. Now retired from international duty, his influence is on the wane, but he was amongst the world’s best during his pomp and has six Premier League winners medals in his locker.
Left-Back – Frank de Boer
Our third Dutchman in the team comes in the form of the younger twin of the De Boer brothers, Frank. De Boer began his career at left-back before moving into the centre and makes it into the team via his initial position. A permanent fixture in Ajax’s side for a decade alongside van der Sar, he made 328 appearances for the Amsterdammers before a lucrative move to the Nou Camp. He also boasts well over 100 caps for Holland and is currently the manager of his former club Ajax, with a move to an English club in the future a real possibility.
Defensive Midfield – Frank Rijkaard
One of the best defensive midfielders of his generation, Rijkaard was a force to be reckoned with in the centre of the park. He won the Champions League in 94/95 with van der Sar as he played out the twilight years of his career at his boyhood club, before retirement in 1995. He also spent a successful five year spell at Milan where he is fondly remembered. Rijkaard has moved into coaching and managed the Holland national side before guiding Barcelona to Champions League success against Arsenal in 05/06.
Right Midfield – Alessandro Del Piero
Del Piero is simply a Juventus legend. He played for the Old Lady for 19 years and holds the club’s record for appearances and goals scored. Once the club had been demoted for their part in a match fixing scandal he pledged to stay as captain of the club to cement his place in Juventus folklore. He helped the side to Champions League glory in the 95/96 and has won everything there is to win in Italy. He also won the World Cup with the Azzurri and won 91 caps. Still wowing Australians to this day as he now turns out for Sydney FC in the A League, he is one of the most likeable players of a generation.
Central Midfield – Zinedine Zidane
Midfield maestro Zidane’s career may have been curtailed by an act of violence on the biggest stage of all, but he was an outstanding player. His vision and technique are up there with the best to have graced world football and served him well via spells at Real Madrid and Juventus. Two times Champions League winner, he arguably scored the best goal a final of such magnitude has ever seen with a deliciously controlled volley against Bayer Leverkusen. Although his France career ended in failure he inspired the side to a victory in 1998 with two goals in the final against Brazil. He now has a coaching role at Madrid and is believed to be keen on management, somehow I suspect his side won’t be playing route one football.
Left Midfield – Cristiano Ronaldo
The current Balon d’Or winner was a different animal during the early years he spent alongside van der Sar at Old Trafford. The Portuguese forward was still honing his skills and filling out into his powerful physique in his early years but has since gone on to become the world’s best thanks to his recent individual accolade ahead of Lionel Messi. However, van der Sar saved Ronaldo’s blushes in the 2008 Champions League final when he saved the winning penalty after the attacker had missed his own spot kick in the shoot-out against Chelsea. One of Old Trafford’s most famous sons, the 29 year old’s scoring record at the Bernabeu is also phenomenal and as he enters his peak could yet become the world’s greatest player if he can claim international success with Portugal.
Second Striker – Dennis Bergkamp
The Dutchman recently had a statue of himself unveiled outside the Emirates Stadium such was the impact he made during his time with the Gunners. He won three FA Cups and four Premier League titles in north London but failed to win the Champions League as the defeat to Barcelona in the 2006 final marked his final appearance for the club. However, his most iconic moments came in the orange of Holland with a superbly well taken strike against Argentina at the 1998 World Cup that tells you everything you need to know about Bergkamp’s style, ability and technique in one passage of play. He took more pleasure in creating goals than scoring them and is now assistant manager to our team’s left-back, Frank de Boer, at Ajax.
Striker – Ruud van Nistelrooy
Old school forward van Nistelrooy linked up with his countryman at Old Trafford but also featured alongside side him for the majority of his 70 caps for Holland. A fabulous scoring record for Manchester United was followed by a good spell with Real Madrid. However, he won a single Premier League crown and FA cup during his spell in England but added two La Liga titles to his collection in Spain. With such a fantastic creative force behind him, van Nistelrooy would get plenty of service into the box from our wide men and would knock the goals in from close range with ease. The forward also took in spells with Hamburg and Malaga before retiring in 2012.
