Former Dutch international goalkeeper Edwin van der Sar, renowned for his stints at Amsterdam’s Ajax and Manchester United, has made significant progress in his recovery from a life-threatening brain haemorrhage.
The 52-year-old, who fell ill while on holiday on a Croatian island nearly two weeks ago, shared a positive update on his Twitter account late on Tuesday.
“I’m happy to share that I’m no longer in the intensive care unit,” van der Sar announced.
He accompanied the message with a heartwarming picture showing him and his wife, Annemarie, holding hands at his hospital bed, both wearing smiles.
While van der Sar is still in the hospital, he expressed hope to be discharged next week and embark on the next phase of his recovery.
The football icon’s update brought relief and optimism to his supporters worldwide.
In May, van der Sar had revealed his decision to step down as Ajax’s chief executive following the team’s disappointing season, which marked the club’s lowest finish in 14 years.
During his illustrious career, he played for Ajax from 1990 to 1999, securing the UEFA Champions League title in 1995.
After leaving Ajax, van der Sar went on to achieve further success, notably winning the UEFA Champions League again in 2008 with Manchester United.
Prior to his time at United, he had notable spells at Juventus and Fulham, solidifying his reputation as one of the finest goalkeepers of his generation.