SOCCER
Ajax consider Jordi Cruyff as replacement for Marc Overmars
Cruyff, a former Manchester United player, has a contract at Barcelona until 30 June 2022 and is keeping his future options open.
Ajax are considering appointing Jordi Cruyff to replace Marc Overmars following the resignation of the Dutch club's director of football.
Mundo Deportivo report that the Dutch giants have considered Cruyff to take over from Overmars, given his track record at international level, and the fact that his family has always been closely linked to the club where his father, Johan Cruyff, triumphed.
Overmars steps down
Overmars recently announced his resignation as the club's director of football. The former Arsenal and Barcelona player has been hailed as the architect behind Ajax’s push into the latter stages of major European competitions between 2016 and 2019. His departure from Ajax was driven by scandal after the club announced he had sent “a series of inappropriate messages to several female colleagues over an extended period”.
Jordi Cruyff is currently part of the Barça technical team, working alongside Mateu Alemany, the director of football, and also working with head coach Xavi Hernández. The three of them are in charge of transfers at Camp Nou, with the executive support of club president Joan Laporta and vice-president for sport Rafa Yuste.
Cruyff, a former Manchester United player, has a contract until 30 June 2022 and is happy at Barça as he feels respected and responsible, according to people who know him well. But because his contract is almost up, he is not closing any doors.
Linked with Ajax role
Edwin van der Sar, Ajax's general manager, has known Cruyff well for many years. The pair played together at Euro 96 with the Dutch national team and on other occasions. When there was talk of Overmars leaving Ajax, Jordi Cruyff was on Ajax's shortlist of possible successors.
Praise from Afellay
In the Netherlands, the rumours have been circulating for days about the Amsterdam club's interest in Cruyff. In an interview today, a former Barcelona player, Ibrahim Afellay, said: "I think Jordi Cruyff is a great candidate to replace Overmars at Ajax. He has a lot of experience, contacts, knows the market well and speaks many languages. He trusts Laporta now at Barça, but I would definitely approach him for the job".