Marc Overmars facts for kids
Overmars in 1998
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| Personal information | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Full name | Marc Overmars | ||
| Date of birth | 29 March 1973 | ||
| Place of birth | Emst, Netherlands | ||
| Height | 1.73 m | ||
| Playing position | Winger | ||
| Youth career | |||
| 1978–1987 | SV Epe | ||
| 1987–1990 | Go Ahead Eagles | ||
| Senior career* | |||
| Years | Team | Apps† | (Gls)† |
| 1990–1991 | Go Ahead Eagles | 11 | (1) |
| 1991–1992 | Willem II | 31 | (1) |
| 1992–1997 | Ajax | 136 | (36) |
| 1997–2000 | Arsenal | 100 | (25) |
| 2000–2004 | Barcelona | 97 | (15) |
| 2008–2009 | Go Ahead Eagles | 24 | (0) |
| Total | 399 | (78) | |
| National team | |||
| 1993–2004 | Netherlands | 86 | (17) |
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Marc Overmars (born 29 March 1973) is a Dutch former professional footballer. He was known for his incredible speed and amazing technical skills as a winger. After his playing career, he became a director of football for clubs like Ajax and Royal Antwerp F.C..
Marc Overmars grew up in Emst, Netherlands, and loved football from a young age. He started playing for a local team, SV Epe, before joining the youth team of Go Ahead Eagles in 1987. He quickly became good enough to play for their main team in the 1990–91 season. After a short time at Willem II, he joined Ajax in 1992.
At Ajax, Overmars became a key player. He helped the team win three Eredivisie titles (the top Dutch league) between 1994 and 1996. He also helped them win the UEFA Champions League in 1995, which is one of the biggest club competitions in Europe. In 1995, he got a serious knee injury that kept him from playing for eight months.
In 1997, Overmars moved to Arsenal in England. At first, some people weren't sure about his performance. But by the end of his first season, he was a star! He helped Arsenal win both the Premier League title and the FA Cup in the same year. This is called winning a "double." He scored important goals, including the winning goal against Manchester United and the first goal in the FA Cup final against Newcastle United.
In 2000, he made a big move to Barcelona in Spain for £25 million. This made him the most expensive Dutch football player at the time. However, Barcelona didn't win any trophies while he was there, and he struggled with injuries. A knee injury made him retire in 2004. But he surprised everyone by coming back to play for Go Ahead Eagles for one more season in 2008 before retiring again.
After his playing career, Overmars became the director of football at Ajax in 2012. He left this role in February 2022 due to concerns about his behavior. In March 2022, he became the director of football for Royal Antwerp F.C. in Belgium. In January 2024, FIFA, the world football organization, banned him from football for one year because of his past actions.
Overmars also played for the Netherlands national team for 11 years. He scored in his very first international game in 1993 against Turkey. He played for his country in four major tournaments: the 1994 and 1998 FIFA World Cups, and the 2000 and 2004 European Championships.
Contents
Early Life and Football Beginnings
Marc Overmars was born in Emst, a town in the Netherlands. He grew up on a family farm. Every year, he helped his grandfather harvest potatoes. Since they didn't have machines, Marc would have a rope tied around his waist and run while his family pulled the potatoes out.
His father, Ben, said Marc was a bit "clumsy" as a child. But his main passion was always football. He would even bounce a ball on his head while coming down 24 stairs for breakfast! Marc wasn't very interested in school, but he did pass some exams. As a teenager, he did weight training, which helped him become even faster. He also said his speed came from his mother, who was very quick.
Starting His Club Career
Overmars began his football journey at his local club, SV Epe. In 1987, when he was 14, he joined the youth team of Go Ahead Eagles. He soon became good enough to play for their senior team. After that, he moved to Willem II for about 500,000 Dutch guilders (an old Dutch currency).
Playing for Top Clubs
His Time at Ajax
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After just one season at Willem II, Marc Overmars signed with Ajax in July 1992. Ajax paid about 2.5 million Dutch guilders for him. The manager, Louis van Gaal, really wanted Overmars because he saw him as a very versatile player.
Overmars played his first game for Ajax on August 16, 1992, in a 3–0 win. He scored his first goal for the club in October. In his first season, he scored seven goals in total. Ajax finished third in the league that year. They also won the KNVB Cup, a national cup competition, where Overmars scored two goals in the final.
The next season, 1993–94, Ajax started by winning the Dutch Supercup. Overmars scored one of the goals. In August 1993, he won the Dutch Golden Shoe award, voted by journalists. He was very happy with his career and said playing for Ajax was a "dream." He scored 12 goals that season, helping Ajax win the league title by a huge 25 points!
Overmars continued to have great success in the 1994–95 season. Ajax won the league again and also the UEFA Champions League. They beat Milan in the final. Overmars even scored against Bayern Munich in the semi-finals. Because of his great performances in European games, many English clubs became interested in him.
In December 1995, Overmars got a serious injury to his left knee. This meant he missed the rest of the 1995–96 season. Ajax reached the Champions League final again but lost on penalties. However, they still won the league for the third season in a row.
The 1996–97 season was tougher for Ajax. Many players left, and injuries affected the team. Overmars returned from his injury in August 1996. He scored only two goals that season, his lowest at Ajax. The club finished fourth in the league.
Becoming an Arsenal Star
Marc Overmars joined Arsenal in England in June 1997. The transfer fee was between £5 million and £7 million. Overmars was excited to play in England, saying he liked the faster pace of the game. Arsenal's manager, Arsène Wenger, believed Overmars was a great signing.
Overmars played his first game for Arsenal on August 9, 1997. Two weeks later, he scored his first goal for the club. In September, he scored two goals in a 4–0 win, helping Arsenal reach the top of the league. However, his form dipped for a few months, and so did Arsenal's.
But in early 1998, Overmars started playing brilliantly again. He scored both goals in a win against Leeds United. Wenger defended him from criticism, saying it was his first year in England and he was doing well for a winger.
In March 1998, Arsenal played against league leaders Manchester United. Overmars was a constant threat and scored a crucial goal in the 80th minute. Arsenal won, putting them closer to the top. Overmars said that to win the league, they needed to beat all the other teams, not just Manchester United. Arsenal eventually won the league title in May 1998, with Overmars scoring two goals in the final match. They also won the FA Cup that year, with Overmars scoring the first goal in the final. This completed a famous "double" for Arsenal!
Overmars started the 1998–99 season well, scoring in a 3–0 win against Manchester United in the 1998 FA Charity Shield. He also scored in the first league game. Arsenal played in the Champions League but didn't get past the group stage. In February 1999, he scored a winning goal in the FA Cup that caused some controversy. Arsenal's manager, Wenger, even offered to replay the game, which they did and won, with Overmars scoring again. Arsenal later lost to Manchester United in the semi-finals of the FA Cup.
In November 1999, Overmars scored his first hat-trick (three goals in one game) for Arsenal. He was praised for his energetic performance. In January 2000, he twisted his ankle and was out for six weeks. Arsenal didn't seriously challenge Manchester United for the league title that season. Overmars's last game for Arsenal was the 2000 UEFA Cup Final, which they lost on penalties.
In 2008, Arsenal fans voted Marc Overmars as the 12th-greatest player in the club's history.
Moving to Barcelona
After the Euro 2000 tournament, Barcelona showed strong interest in signing Overmars. He was "flattered" by their interest. In July 2000, Barcelona agreed to sign Overmars and his teammate Emmanuel Petit for a total of about £32 million. Overmars alone cost £25 million, making him the most expensive Dutch player ever. He was very excited to join Barcelona.
Overmars made his debut for Barcelona in August 2000, but he got an ankle injury. His first competitive game was on September 8, 2000. He scored his first goal for Barcelona on September 23, 2000, by dribbling around the goalkeeper. Barcelona had a difficult start to the 2000–01 season.
In February 2001, Overmars scored in Barcelona's huge 7–0 win. Barcelona reached the semi-finals of the UEFA Cup but lost to Liverpool. As the season ended, Overmars became a very important player for Barcelona. He even scored a late equalizer in a game to earn a draw. Barcelona finished the season in fourth place.
In the 2001–02 season, Barcelona again finished fourth in the league. Overmars got a bruised knee while playing for the Netherlands, which kept him out for a month. In November 2001, he scored Barcelona's third goal against Liverpool in the Champions League. This goal was special because it came after 29 passes without interruption! Overmars was used less often as a starter that season.
Despite rumors, Overmars said he was happy to stay at Barcelona. He started in the Champions League semi-final against Real Madrid, but Barcelona lost. In May 2002, Louis van Gaal returned as Barcelona's manager. Overmars had surgery on his right knee and was out for six months.
The 2002–03 season was Barcelona's worst start ever in the league. Van Gaal left in January 2003. Overmars suffered another muscle injury in May 2003. In his final season for Barcelona, the club finished second in the league. Overmars played 29 games. Due to ongoing knee problems, he announced his retirement from football in July 2004.
Return to Go Ahead Eagles
In July 2008, Overmars played in a special match for a former teammate. His good performance led to offers from Dutch and German clubs to play professionally again. He first said no, but in August 2008, he decided to come out of retirement and play for his old club, Go Ahead Eagles. However, his knee continued to bother him, so his comeback lasted only one season.
International Career for the Netherlands
Marc Overmars was first called up to the Netherlands senior team in February 1993. He scored just five minutes into his debut game against Turkey. The Netherlands won 3–1. The manager, Dick Advocaat, praised his performance.
The Netherlands qualified for the 1994 FIFA World Cup. Overmars played in all five of their matches. He helped set up a goal against the Republic of Ireland. The Netherlands were knocked out by Brazil in the quarter-finals. Overmars's great performances earned him the award for the best young player of the 1994 World Cup.
In October 1995, he scored three goals (a hat-trick) for the Netherlands against Malta. He was happy with his game and felt he was improving. He missed the Euro 1996 tournament because of his knee injury.
Overmars returned to international play in November 1996 for a 1998 World Cup qualifier. He was chosen for the 1998 World Cup in France. He scored two goals in a friendly game before the tournament and another goal in the group stage against South Korea. He got injured before the quarter-final but played briefly as a substitute, making his injury worse. This meant he missed the semi-final against Brazil, which the Netherlands lost on penalties.
Before Euro 2000, Overmars had a minor thigh injury. But he recovered and played in the opening match. He came on as a substitute and helped create the only goal of the game. In the quarter-finals, he scored twice in a big 6–1 win against Yugoslavia. The Netherlands lost their semi-final to Italy on penalties.
Overmars played in many games for the 2002 World Cup qualifiers, but the Netherlands failed to qualify for the finals. After a year out due to injury, he was called back to the national team in April 2003. In June 2003, he scored the first goal in a Euro 2004 qualifier against Belarus. He was selected for Euro 2004 in Portugal. His last game for the Netherlands was their semi-final loss to Portugal. In total, he played 86 games for his country and scored 17 goals.
How Marc Overmars Played
Marc Overmars was a smaller footballer, but in his best years, he was known as a perfect "winger." This means he played on the sides of the field. He was incredibly fast, had great vision, could use both feet, and was excellent at dribbling the ball. These skills helped him get past defenders and either score goals himself or help his teammates score.
His speed and quickness were so important to his game that he was nicknamed "TGV" (a fast train) and "Roadrunner." A former teammate, Emmanuel Petit, said Overmars's strength was pushing the ball past defenders and then quickly running into open space to deliver crosses into the box. Former defender Gary Neville said Overmars was the best winger he ever played against because he was so versatile. He could play well on both the left and right wings, even though he was naturally right-footed.
Despite his amazing talent, Overmars was also known to get injured often throughout his career.
Life After Football
In February 2005, Marc Overmars became a part-owner of his old club, Go Ahead Eagles. Two months later, he joined the club's board to help with football decisions. The chairman of Go Ahead Eagles was very happy to have Overmars join, saying the board needed someone with his strong football background.
In 2011, Overmars started working as a youth coach at Ajax one day a week. At the end of the 2011–12 season, he left his role at Go Ahead Eagles. He said he had been involved with the club for seven years, which was a big part of his life.
In July 2012, Overmars became the director of football at Ajax. He resigned from this position on February 6, 2022, after admitting to sending inappropriate messages to female colleagues. On March 21, 2022, he was announced as the director of football for Royal Antwerp F.C. in Belgium. This caused four of the club's sponsors to withdraw that same week.
On January 10, 2024, FIFA banned Overmars from world football for one year because of his inappropriate behavior. This ban was requested by the Dutch football association (KNVB) after a local tribunal had already banned him from Dutch football.
Personal Life
Marc Overmars married his long-time partner, Chantal van Woensel, in May 2013. They have two sons, Frenkie and Nick, who also play football. Marc is a co-owner of a restaurant in Epe, where he lives. His family also has a business called Overmars Vastgoed bv, which invests in buildings. With his father and brother, he also runs a car restoration service called Overmars Classic Cars. In 2002, he was listed among the 500 richest Dutch people for the first time.
In December 2022, Overmars was hospitalized after suffering a serious health issue. It was later revealed that he had a cardiac arrest, and his heart is currently working at only 30% efficiency. He will need a year to recover.
Career Statistics
Club
| Club | Season | League | National cup | League cup | Europe | Other | Total | |||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Division | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | ||
| Go Ahead Eagles | 1990–91 | Eerste Divisie | 11 | 1 | – | – | 11 | 1 | ||||||
| Willem II | 1991–92 | Eredivisie | 31 | 1 | 0 | 0 | – | – | – | 31 | 1 | |||
| Ajax | 1992–93 | Eredivisie | 34 | 3 | 5 | 4 | – | 8 | 1 | – | 47 | 8 | ||
| 1993–94 | Eredivisie | 34 | 12 | 4 | 0 | – | 5 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 44 | 13 | ||
| 1994–95 | Eredivisie | 28 | 8 | 3 | 0 | – | 11 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 43 | 9 | ||
| 1995–96 | Eredivisie | 15 | 11 | 0 | 0 | – | 6 | 2 | 2 | 0 | 23 | 13 | ||
| 1996–97 | Eredivisie | 25 | 2 | 1 | 0 | – | 10 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 36 | 2 | ||
| Total | 136 | 36 | 13 | 4 | 0 | 0 | 40 | 4 | 4 | 1 | 193 | 45 | ||
| Arsenal | 1997–98 | Premier League | 32 | 12 | 9 | 2 | 3 | 2 | 2 | 0 | – | 46 | 16 | |
| 1998–99 | Premier League | 37 | 6 | 6 | 3 | 1 | 0 | 4 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 49 | 11 | |
| 1999–2000 | Premier League | 31 | 7 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 14 | 5 | – | 47 | 13 | ||
| Total | 100 | 25 | 16 | 6 | 5 | 2 | 20 | 6 | 1 | 1 | 142 | 40 | ||
| Barcelona | 2000–01 | La Liga | 31 | 8 | 5 | 0 | – | 10 | 0 | – | 46 | 8 | ||
| 2001–02 | La Liga | 20 | 0 | 1 | 0 | – | 11 | 1 | – | 32 | 1 | |||
| 2002–03 | La Liga | 26 | 6 | 0 | 0 | – | 6 | 1 | – | 32 | 7 | |||
| 2003–04 | La Liga | 20 | 1 | 3 | 2 | – | 8 | 0 | – | 31 | 3 | |||
| Total | 97 | 15 | 9 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 35 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 141 | 19 | ||
| Go Ahead Eagles | 2008–09 | Eerste Divisie | 24 | 0 | 0 | 0 | – | – | – | 24 | 0 | |||
| Career total | 399 | 78 | 38 | 12 | 5 | 2 | 95 | 12 | 5 | 2 | 542 | 106 | ||
International
| National team | Year | Apps | Goals |
|---|---|---|---|
| Netherlands | 1993 | 7 | 1 |
| 1994 | 14 | 1 | |
| 1995 | 8 | 4 | |
| 1996 | 2 | 0 | |
| 1997 | 4 | 0 | |
| 1998 | 14 | 4 | |
| 1999 | 3 | 0 | |
| 2000 | 10 | 4 | |
| 2001 | 8 | 1 | |
| 2002 | 2 | 0 | |
| 2003 | 8 | 1 | |
| 2004 | 6 | 1 | |
| Total | 86 | 17 | |
- Scores and results list the Netherlands' goal tally first, score column indicates score after each Overmars goal.
| No. | Date | Venue | Opponent | Score | Result | Competition | Ref. |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 24 February 1993 | Stadion Galgenwaard, Utrecht, Netherlands |  Turkey |
1–0 | 3–1 | 1994 FIFA World Cup qualification | |
| 2 | 12 June 1994 | Varsity Stadium, Toronto, Canada |  Canada |
2–0 | 3–0 | Friendly | |
| 3 | 11 October 1995 | Ta'Qali Stadium, Ta'Qali, Malta |  Malta |
1–0 | 4–0 | UEFA Euro 1996 qualifying | |
| 4 | 2–0 | ||||||
| 5 | 3–0 | ||||||
| 6 | 15 November 1995 | De Kuip, Rotterdam, Netherlands |  Norway |
3–0 | 3–0 | UEFA Euro 1996 qualifying | |
| 7 | 1 June 1998 | Philips Stadion, Eindhoven, Netherlands |  Paraguay |
1–1 | 5–1 | Friendly | |
| 8 | 2–1 | ||||||
| 9 | 5 June 1998 | Amsterdam Arena, Amsterdam, Netherlands |  Nigeria |
2–0 | 5–1 | Friendly | |
| 10 | 20 June 1998 | Stade Vélodrome, Marseille, France |  South Korea |
2–0 | 5–0 | 1998 FIFA World Cup | |
| 11 | 27 May 2000 | Amsterdam Arena, Amsterdam, Netherlands |  Romania |
1–0 | 2–1 | Friendly | |
| 12 | 25 June 2000 | De Kuip, Rotterdam, Netherlands |  Yugoslavia |
5–0 | 6–1 | UEFA Euro 2000 | |
| 13 | 6–0 | ||||||
| 14 | 7 October 2000 | GSP Stadium, Nicosia, Cyprus |  Cyprus |
3–0 | 4–0 | 2002 FIFA World Cup qualification | |
| 15 | 25 April 2001 | Philips Stadion, Eindhoven, Netherlands | Cyprus |
2–0 | 4–0 | 2002 FIFA World Cup qualification | |
| 16 | 7 June 2003 | Dinamo Stadium, Minsk, Belarus |  Belarus |
1–0 | 2–0 | UEFA Euro 2004 qualifying | |
| 17 | 1 June 2004 | Stade Olympique de la Pontaise, Lausanne, Switzerland |  Faroe Islands |
3–0 | 3–0 | Friendly |
Honours and Awards
Ajax
- Eredivisie: 1993–94, 1994–95, 1995–96
- KNVB Cup: 1992–93
- Dutch Supercup: 1993
- UEFA Champions League: 1994–95
- Intercontinental Cup: 1995
Arsenal
- Premier League: 1997–98
- FA Cup: 1997–98
- FA Charity Shield: 1998
Individual Awards
- Dutch Football Talent of the Year: 1992
- Dutch Golden Shoe Winner: 1993
- FIFA World Cup Best Young Player: 1994
- AFC Ajax Player of the Year: 1996
See Also
In Spanish: Marc Overmars para niños
Images for kids
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Overmars in 1998
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Louis van Gaal, the manager of Ajax who signed Overmars
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Arsène Wenger defended Overmars from criticism early into his Arsenal career.
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Emmanuel Petit joined Overmars at Barcelona in 2000.
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Overmars' Netherlands shirt, second from left on display
