Marc Overmars is no longer director of football at Ajax Amsterdam. The reason for his departure, according to the club, are inappropriate messages to female employees sent by the 48-year-old “over a longer period of time”.
According to Ajax’s statement, the 48-year-old would have decided to take this step after discussions with the supervisory board around managing director Edvin van der Sar. “I am ashamed,” Overmars was quoted as saying. “Last week I was confronted with reports about my behaviour and how that was received by others. I didn’t realise, unfortunately, that I was crossing a line, but that has been made clear to me in the past few days. “
Overmars had felt “enormous pressure”. “I apologise. Certainly this behaviour is unacceptable for someone in my position. I see that now too. But it is too late. I see no other option but to leave Ajax. This also has a strong impact on my private situation. That’s why I ask everyone to leave me and my family alone. “
Clear statements from Meijaard and van der Sar
Ajax officials also spoke out. Supervisory board chairman Leen Meijaard spoke of a “dramatic situation for everyone involved. It is devastating for the women who had to deal with the behaviour. When we learned about it, we acted immediately and carefully considered what was best to do – all in consultation with CEO Edwin van der Sar and supported by an external expert.”
Overmars was probably the best director of football Ajax has ever had, Meijaard continued. But he had “gone beyond the limits”, thus continued employment was not an option, “as he himself recognised”.
Van der Sar, who with Overmars had won the 1995 European Cup of Champions with Ajax, agreed with Meijaard that the situation was “frightening”. They had been on the pitch together, “and we have been colleagues in the management of Ajax for almost ten years. This is now a very abrupt end.”
Overmars had taken over as director of football in the summer of 2012. In December 2021 his contract had been extended until June 2026.
