Time is right for Van der Sar retirement: Ferguson

Manchester United manager Sir Alex Ferguson backed Edwin van der Sar's decision to retire, saying the Dutch veteran had picked the perfect time to hang up his goalkeeping gloves.

Van der Sar will quit football at the end of the current campaign, bringing the curtain down on a glittering career at club and international level.

The 40-year-old has enjoyed a superb swansong season with Manchester United, prompting calls from several team-mates for him to rethink his decision.

But Ferguson insisted Tuesday that he would not be among those attempting to persuade van der Sar to carry on playing.

"I think to be honest with you if I was giving advice to Edwin van der Sar right now I would say 'retire,'" Ferguson told a press conference.

"Because he's at the absolute pinnacle of his career. And I think sometimes when a player gets to a certain age, all of a sudden age comes on you very suddenly. And I wouldn't want to see Edwin van der Sar in that situation.

"He deserves to go out at the very, very top. Because he's had a career that's been absolutely fantastic. Not just what he does on the football field but how he's been as a professional, and as a human being.

"He's been absolutely outstanding. And if you could see him in the dressing room before games and at half-times he's absolutely fantastic.

"So I think my advice to him is 'Yep, this is the time.' There's no reason for him to risk another year."

Van der Sar joined United from Fulham in 2005, helping the club win three Premier League titles and the 2008 Champions League.