Cats’ keeping future
DUTCH goalkeeper Robbin Ruiter has impressed while on trial at Sunderland as they look to bring in a new keeper this summer.
The Black Cats’ need for a new goalkeeper was heightened this week when Vito Mannone joined Championship rivals Reading.
This followed Jordan Pickford’s sale to Everton last month and Simon Grayson has moved quickly to bring the 30-year-old in on a trial basis.
The 6ft 5in shot-stopper has spent the last five seasons with Utrecht, but is currently a free agent as he looks to a new adventure in England.
Dutch giants Ajax and PSV are both said to be interested in the former FC Volendam keeper, but he is said to prefer a move to Sunderland.
Should he join the Black Cats, he will become the latest in a long line of Dutch keepers who have swapped the Eredivisie for the English game.
Here, we look back at some of those who have graced the English game in recent years, and how successfully they have fared.
The former Dutch international is regarded as one of the best goalkeepers of the Premier League era, taking in 10 seasons in England across spells at Fulham and Manchester United. After two years as Juventus’ number one goalkeeper, van der Sar swapped the Stadio Delle Alpi for Craven Cottage and in his four seasons in West London, helped the Cottagers become an established Premier League club. In 2005, he joined Manchester United and achieved overwhelming success in his six seasons at Old Trafford. The Red Devils won four Premier League titles, two League Cups, the 2008 UEFA Champions League and the FIFA Club World Cup during his time in Manchester, and Sir Alex Ferguson labelled him United’s best goalkeeper since Peter Schmeichel. Van der Sar was named in the PFA Premier League Team of the Year three times and he was named Europe’s best goalkeeper in 2009.
He retired in 2011 with his legacy at Old Trafford firmly in place.
TIM KRUL
Krul was signed by fierce rivals Newcastle as a 17-year-old in 2005 and blossomed into the Magpies’ number one goalkeeper during the 2011/12 season.
The Dutch international announced himself to the world in 2014 when his penalty shootout heroics in the quarterfinals of the World Cup ensured the Oranje qualified for the semi-finals.
He was Newcastle’s number one for four seasons and has largely impressed during his time in England, although it looks like his days are now numbered on Tyneside under Rafa Benitez.
A serious knee injury ended his season early during the 2015/16 campaign and he spent last season on loan at Ajax and AZ.
It has been a bittersweet six years in England for Vorm.
The 33-year-old joined Swansea in 2011 and quickly established himself as one of the Premier League’s leading keepers.
His performances in South Wales caught the eye of Tottenham but since joining the North London side he has had to play second fiddle to Hugo Lloris.
MAARTEN STEKELENBURG
Stekelenburg arrived in England with a lot of pedigree. He was largely used as the Netherlands’ number one goalkeeper following the retirement of van der Sar, but, in truth, his career in England has never really got going. He joined Fulham from Roma in 2013 and although he started the season as number one goalkeeper, he was dropped for David Stockdale by new manager Felix Magath. The Cottagers were relegated that season and after spending the season on loan at Monaco, he joined Southampton on a loan deal in 2015 following a serious injury to Fraser Forster.