Incoming manager Erik Ten Hag has sent a message of support to disgraced former colleague Marc Overmars, the ex-Netherlands international winger international who was forced to resign earlier this over sexual misconduct.
Ten Hag remains Ajax manager until the end of the season, when he will move to Old Trafford to replace interim boss , and won his third Dutch league title in four years this season with the Amsterdam-based side.
Overmars was the team’s director of football until February, when he stopped down after inappropriate behaviour came to light, including sending obscene photographs and messages to female colleagues, which were not solicited.
The former and star said he was ‘ashamed’ of his behaviour upon resigning, but Ten Hag has repeatedly spoken of his former colleague in glowing terms since then.
Earlier this year Ten Hag said ‘If Johan Derksen can return to TV, Overmars can return to Ajax,’ referencing a Dutch football pundit who took a brief hiatus from his role before returning to screens after admitting to assaulting an unconscious woman 50 years ago.
Now, Ten Hag has toasted Ajax’s Eredivisie win by lauding Overmars and says he hopes for a ‘romantic’ reunion with the 49-year-old at some stage in their future careers.
‘This league title is also Marc Overmars’ league title,’ Ten Hag said. ‘We created this squad together. I texted this to Marc too. It’s a romantic thought to return to together one day. We have been very successful together. It’s hard to say if it will happen, but it could happen.’
‘We humans are in this world to help each other and not to shoot each other,’ Ten Hag added. ‘I have said many times: this championship is also his championship. We built this team together. After the game against Heerenveen, I also congratulated Marc with the title via text.’
Ten Hag has signed a three-year contract at Old Trafford, which will begin this summer. Overmars, meanwhile, made an immediate return to football as director of football with Royal Antwerp in Belgium.
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