A very worrying end of the year lived the family of former soccer player Marc Overmars, who suffered a stroke and was hospitalized. The 49-year-old Dutchman “began to feel unwell on the night of Thursday the 29th and was admitted to hospital with a minor stroke,” club Royal Antwerp FC said.

The Belgian club reported what happened through a statement on their social networks: “Marc Overmars, director of football affairs, fell ill in the last few hours and was admitted to the hospital with a small stroke. Marc is adjusting well so far, but he will have to go slow for a while. Overmars and his family are focusing on his recovery and have no further comment. RAFC wishes Marc a speedy recovery!”

According to the first information, the 49-year-old former soccer player suffered “a mild stroke”, although he will have to focus on his rehabilitation to ensure that he does not have sequelae. Overmars had found a space of serenity in Antwerp after his scandalous departure from Ajax in February 2022, when it emerged that he had sent a series of inappropriate messages and photos to a club employee.

In March he was already working in Belgium, where he signed a four-year contract and was officially presented as a replacement for Luciano D’Onofrio. Since then he has focused on doing his job with a low profile.

In this short time in Belgium, a period of very good results accompanies: the team is third in the League and remains active in the Belgian Cup, where on January 11 they will face KRC Genk, in the quarterfinals.

As a player, the Dutch winger played at the beginning and end of his career for the modest Go Ahead Eagles of his country (1990-1991 and 2008-2009) and also played for Willem II (1991-1992). Later, Overmars went through Ajax (1992-1997), Arsenal (1997-2000) and Barcelona (2000-2004), in addition to playing 86 games with the Netherlands team.

“El Correcaminos”, as he was called on the pitch, was considered one of the best wingers in the world. He played 86 games wearing the Netherlands jersey, including two World Cups: the 1994 one for the United States and the 1998 one for France. In the latter, Overmars faced the Argentine team in the quarterfinals, when he opened the Kluivert account, temporarily tied Piojo López and Bergkamp qualified for the Netherlands in minute ’90.

That scandal in Ajax

In February 2022, Overmars was fired from his position as Ajax sports director after “a series of inappropriate messages” that he sent to some employees of the entity. In that episode, the former player shared his “shame” and acknowledged “having exceeded the limits”, according to a statement from the club, which spoke of messages sent to “several women” in a “long period of time”. The president of the club’s Board of Directors, Leen Meijaard, quoted in the statement, lamented “a dramatic situation”, “devastating for the women who have had to manage this behavior.” He stressed that Overmars was “probably the best football manager Ajax has ever had” but that “continuing was not an option.”

“When we learned of this, we acted immediately, weighing what was best to do, all in consultation with CEO Edwin van der Sar and with the assistance of an external expert. We upgraded and extended his contract for a reason. But, unfortunately, the limits have been crossed (…) It is extremely painful for everyone. I want to express the wish that all those involved have peace and privacy to process this, ”added the message from the manager regarding the process that determined the expulsion.

Marc Overmars held the position of sports director since 2012 and had an important responsibility in the recent successes of the club from the Netherlands, especially in its great role in the Champions League in 2019 (semi-finalist) or in the Europa League in 2017 (finalist). . He had renewed his contract until 2026.

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