Former Arsenal player Marc Overmars has departed his position as director of football affairs at Ajax after the Dutch club said he sent a “series of inappropriate messages to several female colleagues.” An Ajax statement said the former Arsenal and Barcelona winger would leave “with immediate effect.”
The 48-year-old had been in the past ten years and had recently signed a contract extension until June 2026 but with this incident, he is no more with the club. Overmars said he was “ashamed” and that his behaviour was “unacceptable”. He also said: “Last week I was confronted with reports about my behaviour and how this has come across to others.”
”Unfortunately I didn’t realise that I was crossing the line with this but that was made clear to me in recent days. I apologise.” “Certainly for someone in my position this behaviour is unacceptable. I now see that but it is too late. I see no other option but to leave Ajax.”
Overmars made more than 130 appearances for Ajax between 1992 and 1997 and won three league titles with the club. He also the Dutch Cup and the Champions League before joining Arsenal in 1997, where he won the double with the Gunners. He spent 10 years as director of football affairs at Ajax with supervisory board chairman Leen Meijaard describing Overmars as “the best football director Ajax has had”.