MANCHESTER UNITED legend Edwin van der Sar believes that he owes a lot to Louis van Gaal, who was recommended the goalkeeper during a game of cards.
As an unknown 19-year-old, the 6ft 6in stopper had been turning out for Dutch minnows VV Noordwijk.
But his coach believed in his talents, and bigged him up during a game of cards with van Gaal.
Having been retired for three years, the big-mouthed future Barcelona boss still liked to play, turning out from time to time alongside the Noordwijk coach.
And during a card game one evening, he couldn’t resist talking up his young goalkeeper.
Van der Sar told Ziggo Sport: “I think I would not have played at Ajax without Louis.
“He played with a group of friends once a month and my trainer at Noordwijk played with him.
“He said, ‘Louis, you should come and have a look. I have a right winger and a goalkeeper.’
“Well, my trainer was a bit big-mouthed, so Louis said, ‘share those cards, come on’.
“A week later I received a letter from Ajax, an invitation to come and try out on a trial basis.”
Van der Sar, now 49, went on to enjoy a hugely successful career, with many trophies over 21 years.
In nine years with the Amsterdam club, he won four Eredivisie titles, a Uefa Cup, three KNVB Cups and a crowning Champions League in 1995.
Spells at Juventus and Fulham would follow, before a similarly glittering time at Old Trafford.
Another Champions League success followed in 2008, alongside four Premier League titles and a League Cup triumph.
He retired after the 2011 Champions League final defeat to Barcelona – and has since returned to Ajax as CEO.
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