JUST IN: Edwin van der Sar resigns as Ajax CEO

 

Edwin van der Sar has resigned as Ajax chief executive and has revealed the ‘incredibly difficult period’ which led to the decision.

The former Manchester United goalkeeper had spent seven years in the role, since his appointment in 2016, before choosing to leave on Tuesday morning.

The decision comes shortly after the end of the Eredivisie campaign, where Ajax finished 13 points behind league winners Feyenoord.

It wasn’t the season many fans expected – as they ultimately missed out on Champions League football for next season given their long-standing dominance.

However, things didn’t go well for the Dutch side and, as he bid farewell to the club, van der Sar lifted the lid on his reasons for quitting the role.

Talk to club website, van der Sar said: “After almost eleven years on the board, I am exhausted. We’ve been through some really great things, but it’s also been an incredibly difficult time.

“I am very grateful to the people I have met and worked with during my second career at Ajax for what we have achieved and experienced. Now I need to distance myself, to relax and do something else.

“It does not feel good to have to make decisions about the future of this beautiful club in the coming period. Hence my decision to quit now.

The former United goalkeeper has faced criticism in recent weeks as Ajax struggled to perform on the pitch and fell to a third-place finish.

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It was their worst league performance in 13 years and the first time they failed to qualify for the Champions League since the 2008-09 season.

Despite 10 signings throughout the season  including Steven Bergwijn and Calvin Bassey  they finished well below title winners Feyenoord.

Moreover, van der Sar had already faced backlash following the respective departures of director of football Marc Overmars and head coach Erik ten Hag.

And, although fans were unhappy with van der Sar’s performance, Supervisory Board Chairman Pier Eringa reiterated that they wanted him to “stay”.