Edwin van der Sar vs Predrag Mijatović: Stats Compared
Goalkeeper, Netherlands (born 1970, retired 2011) · Striker, Yugoslavia (born 1969, retired 2004)
Ask any fan to rank Edwin van der Sar above or below Predrag Mijatović and you will get a passionate answer. Comparing across positions is never straightforward, and these two asked different questions of opponents. Edwin van der Sar finishes with 0 career goals from 820 games — a 0.00 strike rate — against Predrag Mijatović's 210 from 500 at 0.42 per match. Modern assist data only covers part of their careers, so creativity is hard to compare cleanly — Edwin van der Sar is listed at 0 and Predrag Mijatović at 30 where figures survive. In major honours Edwin van der Sar collected 9 — headlined by 1× UEFA Champions League (2008) — whereas Predrag Mijatović amassed 2, led by 1× UEFA Champions League (1998). The goalkeeper duties of Edwin van der Sar leaned sweeper-keen; the striker responsibilities of Predrag Mijatović leaned predatory. The wider career context matters too: Edwin van der Sar peaked around 2008 after representing Ajax, Juventus, Fulham, Manchester United, while Predrag Mijatović's defining level came around 1998 across Budućnost Podgorica, Partizan, Valencia CF, Real Madrid, Fiorentina, Levante. Whichever side you land on, both belong in any conversation about the finest of their generation.
198 words · comparison angle: role
Player profiles
Edwin van der Sar is a Dutch football executive and former player. Widely regarded as one of the greatest goalkeepers of all time, he was most recently the chief executive of Eredivisie club Ajax. Van der Sar began his senior playing career with Ajax in the early 1990s; he is considered to be a member of the club's golden generation and was part of the team that won the UEFA Champions League in 1995.
“A tall, composed goalkeeper who made difficult saves look quiet and simple.”
Mijatović's decisive winning goal in the 1998 Champions League final ended Real Madrid's 32-year wait for the European Cup and remains one of the club's most iconic moments.
“A clever, mobile striker whose intelligent runs in behind and composed finishing produced goals in the biggest moments.”
Head-to-head stats
Career goals by season
Representative career seasons — goals per season for each player across their documented clubs.
Attribute radar
Attribute ratings are peak-era, 0–100. Different positions naturally skew the profile.
Attribute comparison
Trophy breakdown
- 1× UEFA Champions League (2008)
- 1× UEFA Champions League (1998)
- 1× La Liga (1997)
Trophy distribution
Career milestones
- 2000 Established himself at Ajax
- 2004 Reached his defining peak
- 2008 Delivered a landmark season
- 2011 Retired from professional football
- 1986 Professional debut for Budućnost Podgorica
- 1998 Won UEFA Champions League with Real Madrid
- 1997 Won La Liga with Real Madrid
- 1998 Reached the peak of his powers at Real Madrid
- 2004 Retired after a final spell at Levante
- Finished his career with 210 goals in 500 appearances and 2 major honours. Finished his career with 210 goals in 500 appearances and 2 major honours.
The verdict
The numbers give Edwin van der Sar the lead — a clear margin, courtesy of a weightier trophy cabinet.
Edwin van der Sar edges it (a clear margin)
