Erik ten Hag: Marc Overmars ‘can return’ to Ajax one day despite scandal

Erik ten Hag is convinced that Marc Overmars could one day make a return to Ajax, despite the director of football quitting in disgrace earlier this year after sending a series of ‘inappropriate messages’ to female colleagues.

Overmars, who admitted he has been left ‘ashamed’ by his conduct, left his role with Ajax in February.

He played a key role alongside Ten Hag in building multiple Ajax teams and despite the ‘unacceptable’ conduct which led to his exit, Ten Hag, in his final interview as boss at the Amsterdam club, feels an olive branch could one day be extended to Overmars. 

Erik ten Hag (left) has not ruled out a return to Ajax for ex-director of football Marc Overmars

Ten Hag used controversial TV pundit Johan Derksen (right) as a reference point for Overmars

‘If Johan Derksen can return to TV, Overmars can return to Ajax,’ Ten Hag said, via newspaper Het Parool.

Ten Hag’s reference refers to Derksen, a controversial Dutch television pundit that has been heavily criticised for his conduct. 

Derksen, 73, appeared to admit live on air last month that he assaulted an unconscious woman 50 years ago. 

Speaking on the talk show Today Inside, Derksen discussed a ‘childhood sin’, saying: ‘I was out with the keeper of Veendam, with two ladies. We’re drunk, we’re going to that house and those ladies are so drunk, they puke all over us.

‘Then I remember – and I’m not proud of it, but things like that happen when you’re young – that lady was lying unconscious on one of those couches and there was this big candle and we put it in it and then we left.’

Overmars (right) quit Ajax in February after admitting sending ‘inappropriate messages’

Following widespread condemnation of those comments, Derksen backtracked the following day, claiming that the candle had simply been placed close to the woman in question and was not penetrated – but he steadfastly refused to apologise for his remarks.  

Dutch prosecutors have opened an inquiry as a result of his comments. 

Following a brief hiatus following the furore around Derksen’s comments, Today Inside confirmed last week that he would be returning on the show.

‘As far as we are concerned, Johan Derksen has clearly distanced himself enough from what went wrong,’ director Marco Louwerens of broadcaster Talpa said, via online newspaper Nu.Nl.

From Ten Hag’s perspective, he is of the belief that Derksen’s return is further proof that Overmars could one day return to Ajax, where he played such a pivotal role in their success.

‘We humans are in this world to help each other and not to shoot each other,’ Ten Hag added. 

 He has since made a return to the game as technical director of Belgian club Royal Antwerp

‘I have said many times: this championship is also his championship. We built this team together. After the game against Heerenveen, I also congratulated Marc with the title via text.’ 

He even bizarrely talked up a ‘romantic’ return one day for both of them at Ajax.

‘It’s a romantic thought to return to Ajax together one day,’ he said. ‘We have been very successful together. It’s hard to say if it will happen, but it could happen.’

Overmars is still working in football after he made an immediate return to the game in March with Belgian side Royal Antwerp. 

‘What has happened at Ajax won’t happen again,’ Overmars said at his unveiling as Antwerp’s technical director.

‘I am glad to be here. It is a new chapter for me. A beautiful challenge at a club where I see potential to grow.’