Doctors told him the risk was “very high”
December 2022. Marc Overmars had a heart attack, took a short break, then went straight back to work. Nearly four years on, his body has stopped negotiating.
The Royal Antwerp sporting director stepped away from the job on Wednesday. No end date. No successor named. He is 53.
“All the fatigue built up over the years and the intense stress unfortunately came to a head last weekend,” he wrote. “You all know my health is not at its best. But now I can feel very clearly that I can no longer cope with this frantic, stressful professional life.”
Try it for $0.99.
A contract extension was on the table days ago
“My energy is now completely drained,” Overmars said. “If I don’t listen to my body now, my doctors predict the risk of a bad outcome is very high.”
The timing stings. He arrived at the Bosuil in March 2022 and had been talking about staying longer, right up until last weekend. Antwerp now have to rebuild their football department in the middle of a season, with the fixture list refusing to slow down for anyone.
He says the club is in a steadier place than it was, which makes walking away easier to swallow. The announcement landed as a letter to supporters on Antwerp’s social channels.
He will be back, in the stands
Ajax. Barcelona. Arsenal. The winger who spent two decades running at full-backs thanked the directors, the staff and the fans, and called Antwerp a second home for his family.
One last appearance is planned. Overmars wants to face the crowd at the Union game before disappearing to rest properly, and after that he comes back only as a spectator.
“My heart may not be the strongest, but today and forever it beats for this club.”
Discover the latest FOOT news on our website and app mathodds!
in your pocket.
Real-time notifications & alerts
Leave a Reply