Former Dutch footballer Marc Overmars, the protagonist of a controversy over “inappropriate messages” sent to women that caused his departure from Ajax from Amsterdam, was hired as the coach of Antwerp, announced on Monday the Belgian club, which claims to want to give him “a second chance”.
The former international midfielder had to resign in early February from his position as sports director at Ajax, after testimonies from several co-workers who said they had received numerous inappropriate messages, and even an unsolicited “dick pic” (photo of the penis).
These women questioned the “sexist” culture of the club in the Dutch newspaper NRC, stating that the few who had tried to report the abuse had not been heard.
Marc Overmars signed a four-year contract with Antwerp, the current third place in the Belgian first division.
“We have told Marc what our values are,” said CEO Sven Jacques, during the press conference, according to the Belgian agency. “We are also a club that wants to give people second chances,” he said, acknowledging that he had not previously consulted the hiring with the club's employees.
“It will not happen again,” Marc Overmars promised for his part. “I want to turn the page on Ajax and start a new chapter here,” he said. “My departure from Ajax was unfortunate. I have to overcome that and move forward, that's what I'm going to do now.”
His accusation in the Netherlands aroused immense shock. Alluding to his “shame”, Marc Overmars apologized and acknowledged that he had “exceeded the limits”.
Overmars won the Champions League as a player with Ajax Amsterdam in 1995, before playing for Arsenal and then at FC Barcelona.
Appointed sporting director of Ajax in 2012, he had contributed, according to several experts, to the recent sporting success of the Dutch club.
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