Marc Overmars steps down as Royal Antwerp sporting director over heart condition

Immediate departure on medical advice

Marc Overmars announced his immediate resignation as sporting director of Royal Antwerp on 9 September 2026, following warnings from his medical team. The 53-year-old Dutch director explained his decision in an open letter published on the club's website, stating that accumulated fatigue and professional stress had reached an unsustainable peak over the previous weekend. Overmars attended Antwerp's league match against Standard on Saturday evening before consulting physicians, who advised a complete and immediate cessation of work.

My energy is completely depleted. If I do not listen to my body now, my doctors say there is a very high risk of things ending badly. So I have to make a drastic decision and completely stop my professional activities for the time being.

Longstanding cardiovascular complications

The resignation follows ongoing physical limitations stemming from a heart attack suffered in December 2022, nine months after his arrival in Belgium. In an interview with analyst Marc Degryse, Overmars noted that he struggled for breath during extended conversations and found it demanding to maintain mental focus. Despite those limitations, he continued leading the sporting department through periods of tight financial resources and high performance demands under former chairman Paul Gheysens, before a takeover by Wouter Vandenhaute and an Antwerp-based consortium.

All the fatigue built up over the years and the intense stress unfortunately reached a climax last weekend. You all know that my health is not optimal. But now I feel very clearly that I can no longer cope with this hectic, stressful professional life.

Sporting success and contract negotiations

Overmars joined Antwerp in March 2022, following his dismissal from Ajax in February 2022 after sending inappropriate WhatsApp messages to female staff members over a 3.5-year period. In June 2023, Antwerp secured the Belgian Pro League title and the Belgian Cup under manager Mark van Bommel. Later that year, the Sports Tribunal of the Netherlands issued a two-year suspension with one year suspended, a penalty that FIFA extended worldwide in 2024. Despite the sanction, Overmars continued working behind the scenes.

Before his medical evaluation, Antwerp management had been in advanced talks to extend his contract, which was set to expire in June 2027. Negotiations on the Bosuil had progressed toward a potential extension through 2029 or 2030, but those discussions were terminated once doctors delivered their warning.

Farewell at the Bosuil and career background

Overmars will make a final public appearance at the Bosuil stadium on 20 September 2026 ahead of Antwerp's fixture against Union Saint-Gilloise to say goodbye to supporters before starting complete rest. His departure concludes four years in Antwerp, following a decade as director of football at Ajax. Overmars previously enjoyed a prominent playing career, earning 86 international caps and scoring 17 goals for the Netherlands between 1993 and 2004, winning the Premier League and FA Cup double with Arsenal in 1998, and later transferring to Barcelona in 2000 as the most expensive player in Dutch football.