After a disastrous campaign, Edwin van der Sar has stepped down from his role as chief executive of Ajax. The Dutch giants missed out on Champions League qualification for the first time in 14 years after their worst league season since 2009, failing to win a trophy and finishing 13 points behind champions Feyenoord. Van der Sar had been part of Ajax’s board for the last 11 years and he’s been in the role of chief executive for the last seven years. During that time, Ajax had enjoyed somewhat of a renaissance, with Erik ten Hag guiding the club to the Champions League semi-finals. The likes of Donny van de Beek, Lisandro Martinez, Matthijas De Ligt, Frenkie de Jong and Antony have all earned big money moves away from Amsterdam in recent years, which has renewed Ajax’s reputation as a breeding ground of talent. However, following the departure of Ten Hag last summer, Ajax have endured a nightmare campaign and Van der Sar says it’s time for him to step away.
‘After almost eleven years on the board, I am done,’ van der Sar said. ‘We have experienced wonderful things together, but it has also been an incredibly tough period. I am very grateful for the people I have met and worked with during my second career at Ajax, and what we have achieved and been through together. I feel the need to take some distance, to get some rest, and to do other things. It doesn’t feel good to take decisions about the future of this wonderful club in the coming period. That is why I have decided to resign.’
Van der Sar has long been linked with a move to Manchester United, where he spent six years as a player. Given the Dutchman’s existing relationship with Ten Hag, a return to Old Trafford could make sense. However, that decision will fall to the winners of the Manchester United takeover, which shows no signs of nearing an imminent conclusion.