Retirement was never an easy business for Edwin van der Sar, a footballer who at the very extended peak of his powers made the excellent seem routine, the outstanding look commonplace and who generally gave off an impression of serene calm.
But when he decided to put an end to his career as an international goalkeeper in 2008, the careful planning that characterised his work was interrupted by doubts.
The doubts on that retirement came from the Netherlands management, and specifically the Netherlands coach Bert van Marwijk during qualifying for the 2010 World Cup.
Van der Sar, who had won 128 caps for his country and was on his way to setting a Premier League record for successive clean sheets for Manchester United, had made it plain he was going to spend his late 30s concentrating only on a club career that had just yielded a second Uefa Champions League gold medal.
But Van Marwijk called and sounded worried.
The Netherlands had both their principal keepers, Maarten Stekelenburg and Henk Timmer, out injured. Could Edwin cover? Van der Sar answered the call for two matches.
Predictions: FA Cup frustration for Chelsea and Man United; Spurs and Leicester maintain title bids
He kept a pair of clean sheets, and in the process established a new record number of caps for Netherlands, but, he told Van Marwijk, that was it. He really was retired from international football.
Still, he could later reflect he had played his part in a campaign that would end with the Dutch reaching the 2010 World Cup final.
Van der Sar’s elite club career had nearly three more years to run, two more Premier League titles with United to collect to double his tally, to add to the four Dutch Eredivisie medals he had won in the 1990s with Ajax before joining Juventus, then Fulham, then United.
He was 40 when he decided, definitively, to hang up his gloves. Definitively? Well, not quite.
His manager at the time, Alex Ferguson, divulged there had been some anxious second thoughts even from the cool, clear-minded Dutchman with the alert reactions and the wondrously broad wingspan.
“Edwin did have a wobble,” wrote Ferguson in his programme notes ahead of Van der Sar’s last Old Trafford appearance for Manchester United, in May 2011. “He told me he was thinking about changing his mind.”
Ferguson listened. The manager, too, had a wobble, explaining to a player who had been among his greatest allies for the previous six years that talks were advanced for United’s recruitment of David de Gea from Atletico Madrid.
“I told him to be quick about it [the possible change of plan],” Ferguson said.
Van der Sar was. Two days later he confirmed his retirement. His last match would be a Champions League final, his fifth, at Wembley, a 3-1 loss against Barcelona.
Five must-see matches: Chelsea and Man United in FA Cup action, Barcelona's chance to stretch lead
Now, nearly five years on, the retirement is to be interrupted, though the scenario is less like the “wobble” ahead of his United farewell than the mercy-mission he fulfilled for the Netherlands back in 2008.
Van der Sar, 45 and now working as a coach in Holland, has answered a call from his old friends at VV Noordwijk, the amateur club where he began his career, who he last represented quarter of a century ago before moving, aged 20, to Ajax.
They have an injury crisis. They need a keeper for today’s match against Jodan Boys of Gouda in the fourth division of the Dutch football pyramid.
“We are assuming it is just for one game,” Noordwiijk director Peter Vink said, “but Edwin has agreed to help us out.”
Noordwiijk matches usually draw crowds of a few hundred, but the gate is likely to be boosted by the presence of one of the modern game’s genuine greats, as tall and lean as when he was a teenager.
The team should be boosted, too. Noordwijk, second in their division, let in four goals at Xerxes at Rotterdam last weekend.
PLAYER OF THE WEEK — JONAS (BENFICA)
Leadership of the Europe’s Golden Shoe has changed several times already in 2016. Still keeping pace with Ronaldo et al is the race’s dark horse.
Late developer
Jonas Goncalves Oliveira is enjoying the most prolific season of his career at a relatively mature age for a striker. He will turn 32 at the beginning of next month, by which time he will hope to have added to his remarkable 26 strikes from 25 outings in Portugal’s Primeira Liga so far. Monday’s fixture looks an opportunity. Tondela, bottom of the table, are the visitors.
Soaring Eagles
It has been a good month for Benfica. Last weekend Jonas spearheaded the attack in a 1-0 defeat of Sporting, Benfica leapfrogging their city rivals to top the league. They then travelled to Zenit Saint Petersburg to negotiate a place in the quarter-finals of the Uefa Champions League. Jonas’s late, headed goal had put them 1-0 in the dying seconds of the first leg and they finished 3-1 winners on aggregate.
Rich vein
That goal was one of 15 from Jonas, who is nimble and crafty rather than powerful, in a sequence of 12 games in which he was on the winning side on all but one, a defeat to Porto in what has been a tight battle at the summit of the Primeira Liga.
Valencia’s coup
Jonas’s previous best haul for a season was back in 2010, when, with Gremio of Porto Alegre in his native Brazil, he hit 23 goals in 33 matches. That earned him his move to Valencia. He won eight caps for Brazil, the last in 2012. He usually operates as a support striker, sometimes in wide positions and his relationship with the Mestalla crowd during lean periods could be fractious at times.
Quick off the mark
His Valencia highlights included a goal less than 11 seconds after the kick off against Bayer Leverkusen in the Champions League, in 2011, and a hat-trick within eight minutes of a match against Osasuna in his final season. He joined Benfica on a free transfer in 2014 and scored on his debut. He has barely looked back. His next Benfica goal will be his 60th.
GAME OF THE WEEK — BARCELONA v GETAFE
Barcelona defender Javier Mascherano will miss Saturday’s home game against Getafe after picking up his fifth booking of the season.
His presence is unlikely to deter the hosts though, with Thomas Vermaelen more than able to deputise, and Getafe probably concentrating all their efforts on halting Neymar, who is returning from suspension, Lionel Messi and Luis Suarez — an unenviable task. Since the turn of the year, the trio have racked up an eye-watering total of 30 Primera Liga goals in just 12 games.
Meanwhile, the visitors are plummeting down the table with seven defeats in their last eight games — leaving them with a flimsy one-point buffer over the relegation zone.
There is bad blood between the two clubs following the return fixture when Barca players coated the away dressing room with red paint on Halloween night. Getafe president Angel Torres stated: “No one from Barcelona called me to apologise for what happened. I will always defend my club and I will not allow anyone to walk all over us — however big Barcelona think they are.”
Real Madrid manager Zinedine Zidane conceded that his side will find it challenging to eat up the 12-point deficit to beat their rivals from Catalonia to the title.
Nevertheless, he insists that his side are still focused on the league and tomorrow’s game at lowly Las Palmas, despite progressing from their Uefa Champions League tie against Roma on Tuesday night. “Everyone dreams about doing something in the Champions League, and we are there to aim for that. We have a professional group. I know it’s difficult as we are in a difficult position, but for now it is about Sunday’s game,” he said.
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More on Quran memorisation:
The National's picks
4.35pm: Tilal Al Khalediah
5.10pm: Continous
5.45pm: Raging Torrent
6.20pm: West Acre
7pm: Flood Zone
7.40pm: Straight No Chaser
8.15pm: Romantic Warrior
8.50pm: Calandogan
9.30pm: Forever Young
Our family matters legal consultant
Name: Hassan Mohsen Elhais
Position: legal consultant with Al Rowaad Advocates and Legal Consultants.
Countdown to Zero exhibition will show how disease can be beaten
Countdown to Zero: Defeating Disease, an international multimedia exhibition created by the American Museum of National History in collaboration with The Carter Center, will open in Abu Dhabi a month before Reaching the Last Mile.
Opening on October 15 and running until November 15, the free exhibition opens at The Galleria mall on Al Maryah Island, and has already been seen at the Jimmy Carter Presidential Library and Museum in Atlanta, the American Museum of Natural History in New York, and the London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine.
MORE FROM CON COUGHLIN
Ferrari
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In numbers: China in Dubai
The number of Chinese people living in Dubai: An estimated 200,000
Number of Chinese people in International City: Almost 50,000
Daily visitors to Dragon Mart in 2018/19: 120,000
Daily visitors to Dragon Mart in 2010: 20,000
Percentage increase in visitors in eight years: 500 per cent
If you go
The flights
Emirates flies from Dubai to Funchal via Lisbon, with a connecting flight with Air Portugal. Economy class returns cost from Dh3,845 return including taxes.
The trip
The WalkMe app can be downloaded from the usual sources. If you don’t fancy doing the trip yourself, then Explore offers an eight-day levada trails tour from Dh3,050, not including flights.
The hotel
There isn’t another hotel anywhere in Madeira that matches the history and luxury of the Belmond Reid's Palace in Funchal. Doubles from Dh1,400 per night including taxes.
Key facilities
- Olympic-size swimming pool with a split bulkhead for multi-use configurations, including water polo and 50m/25m training lanes
- Premier League-standard football pitch
- 400m Olympic running track
- NBA-spec basketball court with auditorium
- 600-seat auditorium
- Spaces for historical and cultural exploration
- An elevated football field that doubles as a helipad
- Specialist robotics and science laboratories
- AR and VR-enabled learning centres
- Disruption Lab and Research Centre for developing entrepreneurial skills
SPEC%20SHEET%3A%20APPLE%20M3%20MACBOOK%20AIR%20(13%22)
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Formula Middle East Calendar (Formula Regional and Formula 4)
Round 1: January 17-19, Yas Marina Circuit – Abu Dhabi
Round 2: January 22-23, Yas Marina Circuit – Abu Dhabi
Round 3: February 7-9, Dubai Autodrome – Dubai
Round 4: February 14-16, Yas Marina Circuit – Abu Dhabi
Round 5: February 25-27, Jeddah Corniche Circuit – Saudi Arabia
Four reasons global stock markets are falling right now
There are many factors worrying investors right now and triggering a rush out of stock markets. Here are four of the biggest:
1. Rising US interest rates
The US Federal Reserve has increased interest rates three times this year in a bid to prevent its buoyant economy from overheating. They now stand at between 2 and 2.25 per cent and markets are pencilling in three more rises next year.
Kim Catechis, manager of the Legg Mason Martin Currie Global Emerging Markets Fund, says US inflation is rising and the Fed will continue to raise rates in 2019. “With inflationary pressures growing, an increasing number of corporates are guiding profitability expectations downwards for 2018 and 2019, citing the negative impact of rising costs.”
At the same time as rates are rising, central bankers in the US and Europe have been ending quantitative easing, bringing the era of cheap money to an end.
2. Stronger dollar
High US rates have driven up the value of the dollar and bond yields, and this is putting pressure on emerging market countries that took advantage of low interest rates to run up trillions in dollar-denominated debt. They have also suffered capital outflows as international investors have switched to the US, driving markets lower. Omar Negyal, portfolio manager of the JP Morgan Global Emerging Markets Income Trust, says this looks like a buying opportunity. “Despite short-term volatility we remain positive about long-term prospects and profitability for emerging markets.”
3. Global trade war
Ritu Vohora, investment director at fund manager M&G, says markets fear that US President Donald Trump’s spat with China will escalate into a full-blown global trade war, with both sides suffering. “The US economy is robust enough to absorb higher input costs now, but this may not be the case as tariffs escalate. However, with a host of factors hitting investor sentiment, this is becoming a stock picker’s market.”
4. Eurozone uncertainty
Europe faces two challenges right now in the shape of Brexit and the new populist government in eurozone member Italy.
Chris Beauchamp, chief market analyst at IG, which has offices in Dubai, says the stand-off between between Rome and Brussels threatens to become much more serious. "As with Brexit, neither side appears willing to step back from the edge, threatening more trouble down the line.”
The European economy may also be slowing, Mr Beauchamp warns. “A four-year low in eurozone manufacturing confidence highlights the fact that producers see a bumpy road ahead, with US-EU trade talks remaining a major question-mark for exporters.”
Skewed figures
In the village of Mevagissey in southwest England the housing stock has doubled in the last century while the number of residents is half the historic high. The village's Neighbourhood Development Plan states that 26% of homes are holiday retreats. Prices are high, averaging around £300,000, £50,000 more than the Cornish average of £250,000. The local average wage is £15,458.
In-demand jobs and monthly salaries
- Technology expert in robotics and automation: Dh20,000 to Dh40,000
- Energy engineer: Dh25,000 to Dh30,000
- Production engineer: Dh30,000 to Dh40,000
- Data-driven supply chain management professional: Dh30,000 to Dh50,000
- HR leader: Dh40,000 to Dh60,000
- Engineering leader: Dh30,000 to Dh55,000
- Project manager: Dh55,000 to Dh65,000
- Senior reservoir engineer: Dh40,000 to Dh55,000
- Senior drilling engineer: Dh38,000 to Dh46,000
- Senior process engineer: Dh28,000 to Dh38,000
- Senior maintenance engineer: Dh22,000 to Dh34,000
- Field engineer: Dh6,500 to Dh7,500
- Field supervisor: Dh9,000 to Dh12,000
- Field operator: Dh5,000 to Dh7,000
MATCH INFO
Champions League quarter-final, first leg
Ajax v Juventus, Wednesday, 11pm (UAE)
Match on BeIN Sports
In numbers: PKK’s money network in Europe
Germany: PKK collectors typically bring in $18 million in cash a year – amount has trebled since 2010
Revolutionary tax: Investigators say about $2 million a year raised from ‘tax collection’ around Marseille
Extortion: Gunman convicted in 2023 of demanding $10,000 from Kurdish businessman in Stockholm
Drug trade: PKK income claimed by Turkish anti-drugs force in 2024 to be as high as $500 million a year
Denmark: PKK one of two terrorist groups along with Iranian separatists ASMLA to raise “two-digit million amounts”
Contributions: Hundreds of euros expected from typical Kurdish families and thousands from business owners
TV channel: Kurdish Roj TV accounts frozen and went bankrupt after Denmark fined it more than $1 million over PKK links in 2013
At a glance
Global events: Much of the UK’s economic woes were blamed on “increased global uncertainty”, which can be interpreted as the economic impact of the Ukraine war and the uncertainty over Donald Trump’s tariffs.
Growth forecasts: Cut for 2025 from 2 per cent to 1 per cent. The OBR watchdog also estimated inflation will average 3.2 per cent this year
Welfare: Universal credit health element cut by 50 per cent and frozen for new claimants, building on cuts to the disability and incapacity bill set out earlier this month
Spending cuts: Overall day-to day-spending across government cut by £6.1bn in 2029-30
Tax evasion: Steps to crack down on tax evasion to raise “£6.5bn per year” for the public purse
Defence: New high-tech weaponry, upgrading HM Naval Base in Portsmouth
Housing: Housebuilding to reach its highest in 40 years, with planning reforms helping generate an extra £3.4bn for public finances
Some of Darwish's last words
"They see their tomorrows slipping out of their reach. And though it seems to them that everything outside this reality is heaven, yet they do not want to go to that heaven. They stay, because they are afflicted with hope." - Mahmoud Darwish, to attendees of the Palestine Festival of Literature, 2008
His life in brief: Born in a village near Galilee, he lived in exile for most of his life and started writing poetry after high school. He was arrested several times by Israel for what were deemed to be inciteful poems. Most of his work focused on the love and yearning for his homeland, and he was regarded the Palestinian poet of resistance. Over the course of his life, he published more than 30 poetry collections and books of prose, with his work translated into more than 20 languages. Many of his poems were set to music by Arab composers, most significantly Marcel Khalife. Darwish died on August 9, 2008 after undergoing heart surgery in the United States. He was later buried in Ramallah where a shrine was erected in his honour.
