London, Dec. 29 (ANI): Manchester United goalkeeper Edwin van der Sar is looking after his hospital-ridden wife after she suffered a suspected stroke.

Annemarie van Kesteren, 36, is seriously ill after she collapsed at home in Holland last Wednesday.

United boss Sir Alex Ferguson has given the Dutch keeper compassionate leave for as long as he needs before he returns to the Premier League champions, The Sun reports.

While his agent Rob Jansen said it was “private business”, the 39-year-old star is said to be deeply shocked by what has happened.

Relatives have joined him as he looks after their children, Joe and Lynn.

Van der Sar - Holland’s most capped footballer of all time with 130 appearances - was married to Annemarie in a lavish ceremony in Amsterdam in May 2006.

They live in Cheshire where his 36-year-old wife shuns the celebrity WAG lifestyle.

Van der Sar, who is popular with the United fans, had not played since the 3-0 defeat of Everton on 21 November due to a knee injury.

United had given him permission to return to his homeland for treatment from the Holland team doctor during the festive period.

The keeper had been contemplating an offer to come out of retirement to play for Holland in the World Cup in South Africa next year. (ANI)