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Champions League: What Marc Overmans did on pitch after Ajax defeated Ronaldo’s Juventus


Ajax’s Director of football and Arsenal great, Marc Overmans, could not hold back with his celebration on the pitch as his side shocked Juventus in Turin on Tuesday night.

The Dutch side pulled off a spectacular comeback in Italy to secure their place in the semi-finals of the competition.

Cristiano Ronaldo’s header after 28 minutes put Juve ahead before goals either side of half time from Donny van de Beek and club captain Matthijs de Ligt gave Ajax a 2-1 win.

Overmars was clearly caught up in the moment.


The 46-year-old, dressed in a shirt and tie and trousers, took to performing a dive celebration on the field.

He didn’t get as far as he may have done when he was a player, but few would have experienced the elation of having seen their team knock out Real Madrid and Juventus from the Champions League.

Overmars played more league games for Ajax than any other club during his career, which also included spells at Arsenal and Barcelona.

And Ajax’s victory at the Allianz Stadium marks the club’s return to the last four of Europe’s elite competition for the first time since they were beaten in the 1997 semi-finals – by Juventus.

Last month, Overmars signed a new contract that keeps him as Ajax’s director of football until 2024.

The new deal came amid speculation he was in line to take up the same vacant position at Arsenal.

During his time with the Gunners, Overmars made 143 appearances in all competitions between 1997 and 2000, and helped the club win the Premier League and FA Cup in 1998.

He retired from playing football in 2009 and has been part of Ajax’s management since 2012.