Sjaak Swart still regrets the departure of Marc Overmars as director of football affairs at Ajax. Overmars was discredited at the beginning of February because of cross-border behavior by several female colleagues. The ex-director of Ajax decided to leave immediately, but if it had been up to Swart, Overmars would have been given another chance. The former professional footballer of Ajax, Barcelona and Arsenal, among others, started working at Royal Antwerp in March as technical director.
Ajax announced on February 6 through a press statement that Overmars would resign from his position as director of football affairs. Insiders confirmed to The Parool that Overmars has, among other things, sent dickpics to a female Ajax employee. Nevertheless, Swart is of the opinion that Overmars’ cross-border behavior did not have to lead to his departure. “If I had been in the club management, I would have punished Marc. And then try again to get him to the group,” says Mister Ajax opposite Football International†
”It is a pity what has happened”, continues Swart, who states that Overmars has had a large share in the sporting successes that Ajax has been able to achieve in recent years. “The appointment of Erik ten Hag has also turned out to be a bull’s eye. I didn’t always agree with his choices, but overall Erik did a really good job. He deserves a big thumbs up.”
Keje Molenaar, who has played in Amsterdam for 99 official duels in the past, also believes that Ajax should have acted differently after the club was confronted with Overmars’ cross-border behavior. “I would not have taken the decision about his fate at Ajax so unexpectedly. If I had been on the supervisory board, I would have suspended Overmars. Then thoroughly investigate what exactly happened and then make a decision.” However, Molenaar understands that shortly after the fuss about The Voice of Holland, the supervisory board did not lie before the departure of Overmars. “Maybe afterwards they wonder if they weren’t too hasty.”
After winning the 36th national title, Ten Hag carefully fantasized about a new reunification with his Overmars. “That is a romantic thought. We have been very successful together. It is difficult to say that it will happen, but it could certainly be done,” Ten Hag told The Telegraph about a possible new collaboration at Ajax. “Border-crossing behavior is a social problem, because you see it everywhere: in politics and in business. Everything started with The Voice and how many cases have we had since then? If Johan Derksen can go back…”