Man Utd Legend Makes Emotional Return to Football 16 Months After Brain Haemorrhage

Edwin van der Sar made an emotional return to the pitch for a charity match with Ajax Legends, less than a year after recovering from a brain haemorrhage.

The 54-year-old, who had a remarkable career with clubs such as Ajax and Manchester United, retired from professional football and transitioned into an executive role. He eventually became CEO of Ajax before falling seriously ill during a holiday in Croatia last year.

Thankfully, van der Sar has made a strong recovery, and this weekend, he was able to lace up his boots once again. He joined other former football stars for a special charity match, where Ajax Legends faced off against a Real Madrid team in celebration of Ajax’s 125th anniversary.

Ahead of the match, van der Sar posted on social media, sharing a picture of a ball at his feet and expressing excitement about the upcoming game: "Last session done before the Ajax Legends match this Sunday vs Real Madrid. Anyone else looking forward to the game?"

For many Manchester United fans, seeing van der Sar on the pitch again, even for a one-off charity event, was a heartwarming moment.

Edwin van der Sar received a warm and emotional reception from Manchester United fans when he returned to Old Trafford for the Boxing Day fixture against Aston Villa last year, despite still recovering from his brain haemorrhage. The legendary goalkeeper had an illustrious six-year spell at United, winning an impressive 11 trophies after joining from Fulham.

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After his recovery, van der Sar resumed his role as Ajax CEO but faced the fallout from the Dutch club's difficult 2022-23 season. In a heartfelt statement, he reflected on his time at the helm:

"After nearly eleven years on the board, I am done. We've experienced incredible moments together, but it has also been an incredibly challenging period. I am deeply grateful for the people I’ve met and worked with during my second career at Ajax, and for everything we’ve achieved and gone through together.

“I now feel the need to step back, take some rest, and explore other things. It doesn’t feel right to make decisions about the future of this wonderful club in the coming period. That’s why I’ve decided to resign.”