
Edwin van der Sar has been given ‘compassionate’ leave by Sir Alex Ferguson after his wife fell seriously ill two days before Christmas. Annemarie van Kesteren suffered a brain haemorrhage and has been in hospital since. Edwin is keeping a bed-side vigil and has been told by Sir Alex to take as long as he wants. The couple married in 2006 and have two children; Joe and Lynn. The 39-year-old keeper had been out with a knee injury, and was set for return, however he could be out for much longer.
Annemarie van Kesteren and Edwin were married on May 20th, 2006 after meeting in Annemarie’s brother’s shop in Amsterdam.
On the 23rd of December his wife was admitted to hospital in Holland with a brain haemorrhage, before this Edwin had been out after suffering a knee injury in November’s 3-0 win against Everton.
Sir Alex is renowned for looking after his players in emergency situations and stressed to Edwin that there is no pressure on him to return, he said: “Annemarie had a problem when they were over in Holland about a week ago. She was admitted to hospital and that’s the best place to be until they examine her thoroughly to get to the root of it. I’ve told Edwin just to stay there – there’s no point in him being over here. He’s in the right place beside his wife and hopefully she’ll make a good recovery.”
Edwin van der Sar is Holland’s most-capped player ever, with a huge 130 appearances. He was on the brink of coming out of international retirement to help Holland in this summer’s World Cup in South Africa.
Edwin’s agent Rob Jansen declined to comment, saying it was “private business,” but Van der Sar is said to be deeply shocked by what has happened. Relatives have joined him as he looks after the couple’s young children. Let’s pray that she recovers…