The veteran former Holland goalkeeper will retire aged 40 at the end of this season to spend more time with his family, he confirmed earlier today. He has been contemplating hanging up his boots since his wife Annemarie collapsed with a brain haemorrhage in December 2009, and told MUTV this evening: "There are a couple of things to consider - whether you still have an appetite for it, your family. "You also have to look at yourself and ask if you can bring that top level of performance that you need at United. "I'm happy with my form and the things I achieved on the pitch but you can't be like a superman into your 40s." His five-and-a-half years at Old Trafford have brought 245 appearances to date, three successive Premier League titles from 2007 to 2009 and Champions League success in 2008, when he decisively saved from Nicolas Anelka in a penalty shoot-out win over Chelsea in Moscow. He discussed the issue with manager Sir Alex Ferguson before making his decision, and continued: "It's been coming for a while, it's been a mutual decision and an agreement this was the last (season). "I've always treated it like my last year because you never know what is coming. "When I initially came here I was just happy to sign a two-year contract and try to win a league before I retired. "Luckily I was able to achieve a little bit more than that and also prolong it for a little bit longer than two years. "It would have been nice to have a few years longer here but that's life - you don't always get what you want at the right time. I am just happy that at least we got to come together and experience a good few years. "It's been nice, it's been a great experience - even at my age - to be at a club as big as United. It's just been a joy. "It's not finished, there are still three months to go so we are still aiming for something more. Which (trophy) doesn't really matter, that's the thing you aim for and I hope that materialises in the end." Van der Sar started his career with Ajax in 1990 and enjoyed nearly a decade of success in Amsterdam. He picked up four Eredivisie titles and three Dutch cups on the domestic front, and savoured European success with a UEFA Cup win in 1992 and Champions League glory three years later. Two years at Juventus followed before a switch to Fulham in 2001. He soon established himself as one of the most reliable keepers in England and attracted the attention of United in 2005. He retired from international football after Euro 2008 and, although he briefly returned to help out Oranje coach Bert van Marwijk in two 2010 World Cup qualifiers a few months later, he hung up his gloves for good after that with a national record 130 caps to his name. United goalkeeping coach Eric Steele believes Van der Sar will go down alongside former Red Devil Peter Schmeichel as one of the club's greats following that decisive save from Anelka. Steele told Radio Manchester: "He has been a fantastic servant. I was very lucky - I worked alongside Peter Schmeichel at Villa and I worked with Edwin for two-and-a-half years. "That penalty save in Moscow has elevated Edwin alongside Peter." Van der Sar was charged with the task of filling the boots of Schmeichel, who left Old Trafford in 1999 after a wonderful spell at the club which ended with a Champions League victory. Mark Bosnich, Massimo Taibi, Raimond van der Gouw, Fabien Barthez, Roy Carroll and Ricardo had all tried and failed to command the United defence in the same manner as Schmeichel before Van der Sar arrived between the posts. Steele is determined United will not be caught out in the same fashion again and added: "We are naturally looking at potential suitors ready for the summer when Edwin does decide to say goodbye to us all. "Come the end of the season the whole thing will be totally re-assessed by the manager. We do it internally, and we have looked at the best targets, and we have a nice one, two and three."
