Edwin van der Sar decided to stay with Ajax when Manchester United contacted him two years ago about the possibility of returning to Old Trafford as Director of Football.
So it’s ironic that the club he served with such distinction as goalkeeper for six years sowed the seeds for his departure last summer when they persuaded Erik ten Hag to become their new manager - and the Dutchman took Antony and Lisandro Martinez with him.
Ajax have just endured their worst season for 14 years, finishing third as bitter bitter rivals Feyenoord took away the Eredivisie title. And Van der Sar handed in his resignation as the Amsterdam club’s chief executive just 24 hours after fans turned on him during a 3-1 defeat at FC Twente.
