Manchester United Football Club

• Nickname:Red Devils
• Founded:1878
• Manager:Sir Alex Ferguson

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Cech hails 'example' Edwin

18 May 2007 - 12:48:30

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Chelsea goalkeeper Petr Cech has revealed his admiration for Edwin Van der Sar after admitting the Manchester United number one was his boyhood idol.

The pair will go head-to-head in Saturday's FA Cup final at Wembley and Cech has admitted he was inspired to become a goalkeeper after watching a youthful Van der Sar in action for Ajax more than a decade ago.

"I saw him when he was still playing for Ajax in the Champions League final," said Cech.

"At that time he was a great example when the new role came that the goalkeeper cannot pick up back passes.

"Everybody could see that he was playing well with both feet and they were using him a lot.

"He showed that in the future everyone should develop their kicking. When he played in that final I was 13, it was 1995, and for me he was a good example for one of the ways I should work."

Cech has also revealed he voted for the veteran United number one in the Premiership team of the season awards.

"He has been voted the best goalkeeper this year and I voted for him," he added.

"I think he had a great season and you always need a good goalkeeper to be successful.

"They won the league and he was solid for the whole campaign."