Former Dutch goalkeeper Edwin van der Sar announced on Tuesday his resignation as CEO of the Ajaxafter “an incredibly difficult period” and more than a decade on the club’s board.
The announcement comes after Ajax’s worst season in 14 years, finishing third in the Dutch league with a 3-1 loss to Twente in the last round on Sunday.
“After nearly 11 years on the board, it’s over,” Van der Sar, 52, said in a statement. “We’ve experienced wonderful things together, but this has also been an incredibly difficult period,” added the former goalkeeper.
Eliminated in the group stage of the Champions League, Ajax finished the Dutch Championship behind rivals Feyenoord and PSV Eindhoven.
According to the country’s press, fans blamed Van der Sar’s poor performance this season after the departures of sporting director Marc Overmars and coach Erik ten Hag.
Overmars resigned in early 2022 after admitting to sending inappropriate messages to Ajax employees, while Ten Hag left for Manchester United at the end of last season. Van der Sar declared that he needed “to distance, rest and do other things”.
Ajax chairman Pier Eringa stated that the club “wanted Edwin to continue but he has made his decision. We have to respect it”. His contract runs until June 30, 2025. “Last season does not reflect the entire period he was in charge of Ajax,” said Eringa.
Considered one of the best goalkeepers of his generation, Van der Sar defended Ajax as a player between 1991 and 1999, winning the Champions League in 1995. for Juventus and Fulham. For the Netherlands national team, he made 130 appearances and played in the 1994, 1998 and 2006 World Cups. Van der Sar returned to Ajax at the end of 2012 as marketing director. Four years later, he took over as CEO.
Source: Gazetaesportiva
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