Edwin van der Sar quits Ajax as Man Utd icon gives furious fans what they want

30 May 2023 , 09:04

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Ajax endured a difficult season domestically and in Europe (Image: AP)

Former Manchester United and Netherlands goalkeeper Edwin van der Sar has left Ajax, the club have confirmed.

Van der Sar, a Champions League winner with Ajax in 1995 and United in 2008, had served as CEO of the Amsterdam club since 2016. However, after a difficult season for the reigning champions, fan unrest has been followed by an exit for the 52-year-old.

Ajax struggled after manager Erik ten Hag left for Manchester United, with successor Alfred Schreuder lasting less than a season at the helm. After a third-place finish meant a failure to qualify for the Champions League, the CEO's departure was made official.

"After almost eleven years on the board, I am done," Van der Sar said in a statement. "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.

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"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."

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Edwin van der Sar has confirmed his departure (ANP via Getty Images)

Pier Eringa, chair of Ajax's supervisory board, said the club wanted Van der Sar to stay. However, Ajax "have to respect" the fact that his mind was already made up, with the CEO giving fans what they wanted after De Telegraaf noted that many expressed their dissatisfaction with him around the final home game of the season against Utrecht.

"The last season does not reflect the entire period that he has been in charge of Ajax," Eringa said. "The club has seen a lot of success, has seen a lot of growth, and gained international exposure.

"His tasks will be transferred to the remaining members of the board. Edwin will be available for the transfer and advise until August. We expect to announce a new Board of Directors after August 1. It's our ambition to add someone to the board with an Ajax background."

Ajax missed out on Champions League qualification after finishing third in the Eredivisie (ANP/AFP via Getty Images)

Van der Sar's time at Ajax included the appointment of Ten Hag, who delivered the club some of their most successful seasons in recent memory. The team won multiple league titles during the period, and also reached the semi-finals of the Champions League in 2019.

The last season, however, was a struggle. An early Champions League exit was followed by elimination from the Europa League at the hands of Union Berlin, while things were scarcely better in the league.

Ex-Club Brugge boss Schreuder was sacked in January after a seven-game winless run left the team down in fifth. Former Ajax defender John Heitinga took over for the remainder of the season, but a final day defeat at Twente ensured they had to make do with a third-place finish and a spot in the Europa League play-off round next season.

Tom Victor