Marc Overmars, the current Director of Football at Ajax has been linked with a return to Arsenal, amid reports he is to exit the Amsterdam club come the end of the season.
Arsenal a Possible Destination for Marc Overmars
A Return to the Gunners for Marc Overmars
Marc Overmars has worked behind the scenes at Ajax for the past eight years. However, fresh reports are citing the former Netherlands international winger would prefer a change of scenery and a fresh challenge.
According to Mundo Deportivo in Spain, his availability will alert his former clubs in Arsenal as well as Barcelona.
A return to the Gunners would be nostalgic given that the attacker played a vital role for the club. During his time at Highbury, he played 100 games and scored 25 goals during three successful seasons from 1997 and 2000. He was also part of the Gunners team which tasted silverware with a Premier League and FA Cup double triumph in 1997/98. He also won the Charity Shield later that summer.
Barcelona Another Option
With a presidential election set for March, there will be a new wind of change blowing through Barcelona. There are three candidates in the running – Former club president Joan Laporta, Víctor Font and Oscar Freixa. All with new ideas and organisational structures. Therefore, Marc Overmars can be part of the summer overhaul. This could lead to his appointment as their new Director of Football.
He could potentially preside over countryman and current Barcelona manager Ronald Koeman.
‘A Big Foreign Club at a High Level’
According to Dutch Journalist Valentijn Driessen, he confirmed Overmars’ intentions for next season: “It is an open secret but he would not reject a new challenge to a major foreign club or one of his former clubs of FC Barcelona and Arsenal. There were already rumours linking him with both clubs in the past.”
Ajax Legacy for Marc Overmars
The current Ajax Director of Football has spent eight years at board room level with notable success to date. Under his stewardship, the club have won three Eredivisie titles and played in the Champions League Semi-Finals in 2019. He also has been instrumental in the development of young talent coming through the Ajax ranks. Meanwhile, under his tenure, Ajax have raised over £300 million in recent seasons in players sales. The likes of Donny van de Beek to Manchester United for £40 million, Matthijs de Ligt to Juventus for £67.5 million and Frenkie de Jong to Barcelona for £74.5 million all making Ajax cash-rich.
The Marc Overmars Arsenal Marriage
It is clear from reports that the Dutchman is open to a new opportunity. And Arsenal have a vacancy, given that their former Director of Football Operations Huss Fahmy left last October. Another former Arsenal player is currently on the board with Edu as a Technical Director. So the possibility is there to work together or even for Overmars to replace the Brazilian.
If Overmars was to receive the Arsenal call, the Dutchman would add a clear business acumen with his successful track record of player sales. His experience from his time at Ajax, give their European pedigree, is well respected. As importantly, his knowledge and love for Arsenal would provide the club with a solid transition at a time Arsenal are very much in a transitional phase. That direct like to manager Mikel Arteta, two important figures with Arsenal heritage, and proven title winners, could prove to be a fruitful one.
Arsenal face a crucial summer ahead in terms of restructuring and long-term planning. More so with the Gunners not even in the top 10 currently, when European football is a must. Needless to say, some big decisions are looming on the Emirates horizon.
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