Overmars signs as Antwerp sports director after Ajax scandal

Brussels, 21 Mar Antwerp, third in the Belgian football league, announced on Monday the hiring as sports director of former Dutch international Mar Overmars, who held that position at Ajax in Amsterdam from 2012 until last February when he resigned due to a sexual harassment scandal. “I want to turn the page and start a new chapter here (...). What happened in Amsterdam will not be reproduced,” the 48-year-old player from Arsenal, Ajax and Barcelona and the 48-year-old Dutch national team said at a press conference. Overmars, announced by surprise, will take over the sporting direction of the current third place in the Belgian league for the next four years. In his long period as sports director of Ajax, with which he had renewed his contract until 2026, the Dutch club was proclaimed four times league champions (2013, 2014, 2019 and 2021), twice in the Cup (2019 and 2020), played a Europa League final (2017) and a Champions League semifinal (2019). But his relationship with the club was suddenly cut short last month, after it transpired that Overmars had sent “inappropriate messages” to several female co-workers in Ajax. His departure from the institution was overwhelming. “Unfortunately, I didn't realize I was crossing the line, but it has become clear to me in recent days (...) I apologize. This behavior is unacceptable to someone in my position. I understand now. But it's too late. I don't see any options but to leave Ajax,” said Overmars when announcing his departure from the Dutch club. The CEO of Antwerp, Sven Jacques, said when presenting the signing on Monday that the club has transferred to Overmars what “its values” are. “We are also a club that wants to give people a second chance,” added the head of the team, who said that they have not previously consulted the workers of the sports institution. Founded in 1880 and considered the oldest football club in Belgium, the Antwerp currently coached by Danish Brian Priske is owned by Flemish property developer Paul Gheysens. Overmars, who has not yet spoken to the coach, said he sees “potential in the city and in the club”. “I came to Antwerp to win,” said the 86-time international with Holland when he landed by surprise in a team that in 1993 was a finalist in the UEFA European Cup and that has four league titles in its record, the last one in 1957 and which lifted its last trophy in 2020, when it was proclaimed champion of the Belgian Cup. The best-known player in the current Antwerp squad is the controversial and veteran Belgian midfielder Radja Nainggolan, former Roma and Inter team. The club from the economic capital of Flanders also includes Danish international Viktor Fischr, American Sam Vines, Japan's Koji Miyoshi, Senegalese Abdoulaye Seck and Congolese Nill De Pauw, as well as locals Ritchie De Laet and Birger Verstraete. Ajax, for its part, was replaced days ago from Overmars by 38-year-old former Real Madrid footballer Klaas-Jan Huntelaar.