Edwin Van Der Sar: How Senne Lammens’ Calm Has Quietly Resolved United’s Goalkeeping Dilemma
Senne Lammens has moved from a summer signing into Manchester United’s established first choice, and he says edwin van der sar is the Manchester United goalkeeper he most resonates with. That self-comparison matters because his steadiness has already shaped the club’s immediate plans after Andre Onana’s exit.
Senne Lammens’ rise from Royal Antwerp
The 23-year-old arrived from Royal Antwerp in the summer having never played outside the Belgian league. United were searching for a new first-choice keeper as Andre Onana was on his way out of Old Trafford, and the club ultimately plumped for Lammens. He had not been capped by Belgium at the time of his transfer; he is now a one-cap Belgium international and is 21 games into his Manchester United career.
Edwin Van Der Sar's influence on Lammens
Lammens has said he grew up watching the club’s recent custodians and that edwin van der sar is the figure he most resonates with. He singled out the 2008/2009 period as his formative reference for a goalkeeper who was “solid” and “a rock behind the defence, ” and explained that he tries to mirror that steadiness so attackers such as Bruno Fernandes can make the difference higher up the pitch. What makes this notable is that Lammens frames his role less around spectacular saves and more around not giving the game away — a deliberate style echoing the player he admires.
Low Countries trend and the five-man cohort
Lammens is part of a wider pattern of goalkeepers from the Low Countries finding Premier League minutes this term: five men from Belgium or the Netherlands have been getting top-flight game-time. The group includes Matz Sels of Nottingham Forest, Marco Bizot at Aston Villa, Robin Roefs with Sunderland and Bart Verbruggen at Brighton & Hove Albion. Lammens has noted that goalkeeper quality in Belgium and the Netherlands is high and pointed to Thibaut Courtois — whom he trains with in the Belgium team — as an example he hopes to approach in his own career.
Legacy comparisons: Van der Sar’s record and the gap to close
Van der Sar joined Manchester United from Fulham in 2005 as a 34-year-old on an initial two-year deal, but stayed for six seasons and made 266 appearances in all competitions. His honours at the club include four Premier League titles, the Champions League and two League Cups before his retirement in 2011. Observers note Lammens has a long way to go to match those achievements, underscoring the scale of the legacy he references.
Rene Meulensteen’s reservations and the European test
Former Manchester United assistant Rene Meulensteen has expressed scepticism about whether Lammens yet provides the personality and leadership the club requires. Meulensteen pointed to perceived weaknesses in aspects of his goalkeeping and added that the club’s current absence from European competition presents a further hurdle; playing in the Champions League against elite opposition would be another test of whether Lammens can reach the level Meulensteen describes as necessary. He also made the broader point that trophy-winning teams historically have had an outstanding goalkeeper at their core.
Carrington snippets: Amad and Kobbie amid Lammens’ emergence
Behind the scenes at Carrington, other squad stories have continued. Amad has discussed cooking, the Quran and Michael Carrick in a club episode. Meanwhile, Kobbie has started all five games under Michael and has been noted for keeping his work simple and effective, with two assists highlighted in his early run of starts. These squad details map the wider dressing-room backdrop while Lammens settles into the starting role.
When taken together, Lammens’ recruitment from Royal Antwerp, his one cap for Belgium, his 21 appearances for the club so far, and his explicit stylistic nod to edwin van der sar explain why United’s goalkeeping conversation has shifted. Calmness and consistency have produced immediate selection clarity; whether that will translate into the leadership and trophy-winning credentials of Van der Sar’s era remains a question the club will face as the season progresses.
