Marc Overmars: Ajax football director resigns after sending “inappropriate messages to female colleagues” | Football news

Marc Overmars, Ajax’s director of football, leaves the club immediately after the Dutch champion announced that he had sent “a series of inappropriate messages to several female colleagues”.

Ajax announced that Overmars has decided to resign after discussions in recent days with the club’s board and CEO, Edwin van der Sar.

Overmars – a former winger for Arsenal, Barcelona and Ajax – told the club ‘s website: “I’m ashamed. Last week I was told about my behavior and how this has come to others.

“Unfortunately, I didn’t realize I had crossed that line, but it became clear to me in the last few days. I suddenly felt tremendous pressure. I’m sorry.

“Certainly for someone in my position, this behavior is unacceptable. Now I see it too. But it’s too late. I see no choice but to leave Ajax.

“This has a big impact on my private situation as well. That’s why I’m asking everyone to leave me and my family alone.”

Overmars had served as head of football for nearly 10 years, and his contract had recently been extended until the end of the 2025/26 season.

Leen Meijaard, chairman of Ajax’s board of directors, said: “This is a dramatic situation for anyone involved in any way. It is devastating for women who have had to deal with behavior.

“When we heard the news about this, we acted immediately, thought carefully and weighed what was best to do – all together with CEO Edwin van der Sar and with the help of an external expert.

“Marc is probably the best football manager Ajax has had. We updated and extended his contract for a reason. But unfortunately he has really gone over the line, so continuing as a director was not an option, as he acknowledged.

“It’s extremely painful for everyone. I want to express my hope that everyone involved will be given peace and privacy to deal with this.”

Van der Sar – a former Manchester United and Fulham goalkeeper – added: “I find the situation appalling for everyone and I agree with Lee Meijaard.

“In my role, I also feel a responsibility to help colleagues. A safe sports and work atmosphere are very important. We will pay more attention to this in the near future.

“Marc and I have been playing together since the early 1990s, first in Ajax and then with the national team, and we have been colleagues at Ajax for almost 10 years now. Now it has come to a very sudden end.

“We’re working here in Ajax on something very great, so this news is also a blow to anyone who cares about Ajax.”

“This is a bomb in the Netherlands”

Dutch football reporter Marcel van der Kraan told Sky Sports News: “It’s a bomb in the Netherlands. Definitely in the Netherlands, because Marc Overmars is the most successful football manager at Ajax ever. He made 10 mega wins. [for the club]he was mega-successful, [winning] four championships and access to further rounds in the Champions League.

– It is shocking to find out that this man has resigned from the inappropriate messages sent to the female employees of the club, as we currently understand.

Overmars enjoyed a glittering career as a player in Ajax when he won three league championships, the Dutch Cup and the Champions League, before joining Arsenal in 1997.

The winger doubled up in Highbury in 1998 before moving to Barcelona in 2000, where he spent four years before retiring.