HOLLAND
45-year-old Van der Sar set for one-game playing comeback
Five years since hanging up his gloves, the legend has agreed to step in to solve an injury crisis at old club VV Noordwijk in the Dutch fourth tier.
Legendary goalkeeper Edwin van der Sar is to come out of retirement at the ripe old age of 45 and make a one-off appearance for fourth-tier outfit VV Noordwijk in his native Holland.
It is five years since former Manchester United custodian Van der Sar, who won a Dutch record 130 international caps in a career spanning over two decades, played his last game in club football: the Red Devils' 2011 Champions League final defeat to Barcelona.
But following an injury to Noordwijk's regular keeper, Mustafa Mare Zine, Van der Sar - who turned out for the team at the beginning of his playing days before featuring for Ajax, Juventus, Fulham and United - has accepted a plea from the amateur side to step into the breach.
"He still thinks warmly of the club and is here regularly," Noordwijk technical director Peter Vink explained to Voetbal in de Bollenstreek.
"After some deliberation, he agreed to keep goal next Saturday against Jodan Boys," Vink continued. "We assume that it is basically only for one game. We are thrilled that Edwin wants to help us in this way."