But it wasn't meant to be, as Ajax lost its final match in the biggest European club tournament to Juventus after penalty kicks. It was difficult to accept 2nd place. "When you've won the tournament the year before, a loss in the finals doesn't count", says Van der Sar.
Now that Ajax and Juventus will cross daggers in the Champions League quarter-finals, old memories are rehashed. Van der Sar is the subject of a lot of international media attention. Not just because of the lost final and his background as a Juventus player, but especially because he's the only former top football player in a CEO role among all 8 teams remaining in the Champions League.