Former Netherlands national team player Marc Overmars has resigned as Royal Antwerp's sports director due to health issues, citing excessive fatigue and stress from his hectic work life. The 49-year-old joined the Belgian club in 2022 after a decade-long stint as Ajax's director of football, where he previously apologized for sending inappropriate messages to female colleagues. Overmars had also recovered from a mild stroke in December 2022, but now feels he can no longer cope with his professional life, according to a letter to supporters published on Wednesday. He has chosen to stop all professional activities due to the high risk of negative health consequences if he continues as advised by his doctors.
Written by the local model on 2026-09-09,
using this article's own text rather than the other coverage of the
same event (that is the story summary below).
Story summary
Marc Overmars, 43-year-old former Netherlands soccer player, has resigned as sports director of Royal Antwerp in Belgium due to health issues. Overmars, who had been working at Royal Antwerp since 2022, cited "all the fatigue that has built up over the years and the enormous amount of stress" for his decision. He previously held a similar position at Ajax in the Netherlands from 2018-2020, but resigned after sending inappropriate messages to several female colleagues. Overmars had also suffered a mild stroke in December 2022 and said that his doctors warned him of a "very high risk" if he continued working. He feels that his energy is depleted and that stopping work now is the best decision for his health.
Written for “Royal Antwerp Sports Director” on 2026-09-09,
grounded in this article and the 0 other(s) covering the same event.
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This article does not take a side on a contested political
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anyway is how approval of a subject gets recorded as a political
position.
No political leaning scored for article 7159 · logged 2026-09-09
ANTWERP, Belgium (AP) — Soccer great Marc Overmars is stepping down as Royal Antwerp’s sports director due to health issues.
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Overmars → step → issues
Overmars, who joined the Belgian club in 2022, explained his decision in a letter to supporters published on Wednesday as he mentioned “all the fatigue that has built up over the years and the enormous amount of stress.”
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that → join → stress
The former Netherlands, Arsenal, Barcelona and Ajax winger recovered from a mild stroke in December 2022.
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winger → recover → December
“You all know that my health has not been optimal,” he wrote.
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he → know → ?
“But now I feel very clearly that I can no longer cope with this hectic, stressful professional life.”
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I → feel → life
Overmars previously spent nearly a decade as director of football at Ajax, the Dutch club where he began his playing career but resigned after he was found to have sent inappropriate messages to several female colleagues.
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he → spend → colleagues
He apologized for his behavior.
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He → apologize → behavior
“My energy is now completely depleted.
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energy → deplete → ?
If I do not listen to my body now, my doctors say there is a very high risk of things ending badly,” Overmars said.
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Overmars → listen → body
“So I have to make a drastic decision and completely stop my professional activities for the time being.”
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I → have → time
