The former Manchester United and Netherlands goalkeeper, Edwin van der Sar, will remain in intensive care because of bleeding around his brain, Ajax have announced.
“Edwin van der Sar will remain in intensive care for the time being. His condition is stable but still concerning,” said a club statement released on Saturday.
“Ajax shares this information on behalf of Annemarie van der Sar, Edwin’s wife. The Van der Sar family, along with Ajax, is grateful and deeply touched by the many messages of support.”
The Eredivisie club had announced on Friday that Van der Sar was in hospital “in a stable condition, with “bleeding around his brain”. Although no further details were given by Ajax, it has been reported the 52-year-old was admitted to hospital while in Croatia.
Manchester United and Fulham both offered their former player their best wishes. “Sending all our love and strength to you, Edwin,” United tweeted.
Van der Sar won the Premier League four times at United, as well as the Champions League in 2008, which he also lifted with Ajax. After retirement he returned to Ajax, where he took up the role of chief executive in 2016.
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He resigned in May and transferred his duties to colleagues on 1 June but was asked by the board to formally remain in his position until 1 August to ensure a smooth handover.
Van der Sar, who also played for Juventus, said when he resigned at Ajax: “After almost 11 years on the board, I am done. We have experienced wonderful things together, but it has also been an incredibly tough period … I feel the need to take some distance, to get some rest, and to do other things.”
