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Edwin van der Sar’s 19 Quickfire questions with Gary neville | The Overlap

February 27, 2026 • 10m

Summary

⏱️ 7 min read

Overview

Edwin van der Sar joins Gary Neville for an intimate quick-fire interview in the tunnel at Old Trafford. The legendary Manchester United goalkeeper opens up about facing the toughest strikers, his ultimate Dutch five-a-side team, the evolution of goalkeeping, and his personal life including his wife's health struggles in 2009. Van der Sar shares insights on penalty-saving psychology, discusses his preference for Louis van Gaal over Sir Alex Ferguson, and reveals why the 2008 Champions League remains his career highlight.

Introduction and Setting Up the Interview

Gary Neville and his crew navigate the Old Trafford tunnel trying to find the perfect spot to conduct their interview with Edwin van der Sar. After being moved from several locations, they settle in the tunnel entrance to the home team corridor for their signature '19 Questions' format - a number chosen to honor van der Sar's first shirt number at Manchester United when Ferguson didn't want to take the number 1 from Tim Howard.

  • The interview will consist of 19 questions, representing van der Sar's first shirt number at United
  • Ferguson didn't want to take the number 1 from Tim Howard, so van der Sar wore 19 in his first season

Toughest Opponents and Goalkeeping Legends

Van der Sar reveals surprising choices when discussing the hardest strikers he faced and the greatest goalkeeper ever. He names Ruud van Nistelrooy from his PSV days as the toughest opponent, praising his ability to stretch and get the ball over the goalkeeper. When asked about the best goalkeeper ever, he selects Peter Schmeichel, and identifies Alisson as the current best Premier League goalkeeper.

  • Ruud van Nistelrooy at PSV was the hardest striker van der Sar faced, able to stretch and get the ball over the keeper
  • Peter Schmeichel named as the best goalkeeper ever
  • Alisson identified as the best current Premier League goalkeeper
" Sometimes the ball was just a little bit in front of him and he said, OK, now come out. And he just stretched it over you. "

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