Like Father, Like Son: Van Der Sar Jnr Signs Up With Ajax

The son of Edwin van der Sar will join Ajax's famed academy from next season, following in his legendary father's footsteps.

Goalkeeper Joe has previously trained with Manchester United but returned to Holland when Van der Sar senior retired in 2011. 

Edwin, who won the Champions League and Premier League with Manchester United, as well as the Dutch title at Ajax during an illustrious career which also yielded a record 130 international caps, has been acting as marketing director of his first club since November.

And now his son has begun the road to replicating the career of his legendary father. Not that the now retired stopper wants to apply too much pressure.

'Yes, he will go to Ajax,' the 42-year-old told Dutch newspaper De Telegraaf. 'For the rest I don't want to say anything about it. Joe will of course get a hard time anyway due to his surname.'

Joe already has experience of playing at the Amsterdam Arena, after he turned out in front of 53,000 people on the night of his father's testimonial.

Before the likes of Wayne Rooney, Rio Ferdinand, Ryan Giggs, Edgar Davids, Dennis Bergkamp and Frank de Boer appeared on the pitch, Manchester United and Ajax development squads faced off, with Joe playing in goal for the English side.