Arsenal Legend Marc Overmars Steps Down as Antwerp Technical Director Over Health Concerns

Arsenal great Marc Overmars has quit his role as technical director at Royal Antwerp with immediate effect, citing doctors' warnings about his health.

The 53 year old had held the job for four years, having joined the Belgian club in 2022 shortly after leaving Ajax under difficult circumstances, where he departed following reports that he had sent inappropriate messages to several female colleagues over a long period.

Overmars broke the news in a statement posted on X on Wednesday morning, saying his exhaustion and stress had built to a breaking point over the past weekend.

"All the long-built-up exhaustion and the immense stress unfortunately reached a peak this past weekend," he wrote. "You all know that my health is not optimal. But now, I very clearly feel that I can no longer handle this hectic, stressful professional life today."

He said he had actually been in talks over extending his contract at the club before his condition worsened. "I want to, very much! And preferably until the end of this football season, and many seasons thereafter. The discussions about a contract extension were therefore in full swing. But my health forces me to be honest with myself and everyone around me."

Overmars added that doctors had made the risks clear if he kept pushing through. "My energy is completely depleted today: if I don't listen to my body now, my doctors predict that the chance of a bad outcome is very high. So I have to make a drastic decision and completely halt my professional activities for the time ahead."

He described the toll the decision has taken on him personally, pointing to how attached he has grown to the club and the city over the years. "There are no words to describe how much pain this causes me. RAFC, the city of Antwerp, and the supporters of our club have become part of who I have become, both professionally and personally," he wrote. "My family often and gladly comes to Antwerp; it's our second home."

He also thanked several people at the club by name for their support during his time there, including the Gheysens family and members of his staff, and said the current stability at Antwerp gave him some peace of mind as he steps away.

Overmars confirmed he plans to attend Antwerp's upcoming match against Union Saint-Gilloise this weekend, which will serve as his farewell to supporters before he takes a complete break to focus on recovering.

His playing career ran for 19 years and included spells at Ajax, Arsenal and Barcelona. He won the Premier League with Arsenal in 1998, along with the FA Cup and two Community Shields, scoring 40 goals and setting up 33 more in his three seasons in north London. He also won the Champions League with Ajax and earned 86 caps for the Netherlands during his playing days.