Edwin van der Sar leaves intensive care following brain bleed

Former Dutch, Man United and Ajax goalkeeper says he hopes to go home ‘next week.’

Former Netherlands goalkeeper Edwin van der Sar has been released from an intensive care unit in a Dutch hospital and hopes to return home next week as he recovers from a bleed around the brain, he said in an Instagram post.

The 52-year-old former Manchester United and Ajax player was initially admitted to a Split hospital while on holiday in Croatia.

“First of all, we want to thank everyone for all the great and supportive messages,” van der Sar said in the post on Tuesday.

“I’m happy to share that I’m no longer in the intensive care unit. However, I’m still in hospital. I hope to go home next week and take the next step in my recovery!”

The post was van der Sar’s first direct communication since suffering a bleed around the brain in Croatia on July 7 and being admitted to an intensive care unit there. Previously, his wife and Ajax had given updates on his condition.

The goalkeeper, who won the Champions League with Manchester United in 2008 after a penalty shootout, returned to the Netherlands last week.

In his social media posts, he also thanked all the fans who sent him messages of support.

First of all, we want to thank everyone for all the great and supportive messages.

I’m happy to share that I’m no longer in the intensive care unit. However, I’m still in hospital. I hope to go home next week and take the next step in my recovery! pic.twitter.com/3LSNC72ki0

— Edwin van der Sar (@vdsar1970) July 18, 2023

Van der Sar retired from football after 130 appearances for his country and a club career that included Champions League wins with both Ajax and United.

He also won four Premier League titles with United and had spells with Fulham and Juventus.

He later took up a position on the Ajax board and stepped down as director general of the Amsterdam club at the end of the season, saying he was exhausted after more than a decade on the club’s board.