Marc Overmars has agreed to a deal with Belgian club Royal Antwerp, just weeks after losing his job at Ajax. The former Dutch international resigned as director of football after allegations relating to sexual misconduct.
One of football’s best sporting directors, Overmars took the reigns at Ajax in July 2012, tasked with returning the Dutch giants to the pinnacle of European football.
It’s safe to say Overmars exceeded expectations with his football-related exploits. Working alongside manager Erik ten Hag, the pair have overseen one of the most successful periods in Ajax’s recent history.
Read: Marc Overmars leaves Ajax after sending “inappropriate messages” to female colleagues.
The Amsterdam outfit won five of the nine Eredivisie league titles available during Overmars’ stay with Ajax,
Furthermore, a Europa League final appearance in 2016/17 brought Ajax to within touching distance of their first European trophy in over 20 years.
Beaten by Manchester United in the final, it looked as if Ajax would have a chance to make up for the disappointment two years later.
Remarkable knockout wins against Real Madrid and Juventus saw the Ditch side reach the Champions League semi-finals. Paired with Tottenham Hotspur in the last four, more heartbreak would befall the four-time European Cup winners.
An inspired Lucas Moura hat-trick saw Spurs progress at the expense of Ajax during a dramatic semi-final. It wasn’t to be for Ajax, who were denied a famous Champions League final meeting with fellow European giants Liverpool.
Marc Overmars to take Ajax model to Royal Antwerp
Despite their heartache on the continental stage, Ajax have restored their tag as a club renowned for developing young talent.
During their two most recent European runs, players like Matthijs de Ligt, Frenkie de Jong and Donny van de Beek emerged from the Ajax ranks.
Away from the Academy, the club have also gained a tag for their clever recruitment of players. Dusan Tadic has excelled during his time in Amsterdam, with acquisitions like Sebastien Haller also catching the eye.
At the heart of Ajax’s operations was Overmars, but the disgraced former director left the club earlier this year. Accused of sending inappropriate messages to female members of staff, the 48-year-old resigned from his role in February.
A scandal that shook Dutch football, his departure also impacted Ajax’s performances on the pitch. Suffering a limp exit from the Champions League at the round-of-16 stage against Benfica, Ajax have struggled to fight off the spotlight.
While his former side struggle, Overmars has found himself a new club despite the ongoing scandal. As technical director at Royal Antwerp, the former Arsenal man is set to double his wage while working for the Belgian club.
Reports from the Netherlands suggest that Overmars brings home €600,000 more than his €400,000 salary at Ajax. Unsurprisingly, there has been backlash to this move, but the Belgian club sees it as a chance to raise their profile. Having competed in the Europa League this season, Royal Antwerp will be hoping Overmars can take them to the next level, much like he managed during his time with Ajax.
Featured Image Credit: Getty
