Mark Overmars: Biography and Career

Mark Overmars was considered the ideal of a side midfielder. His swift passages along the flank were quite expected for rivals. At the same time they were very dangerous. Coordinating his movements, the football player moved lightly to the center and aimed at the goal. Due to health problems, he was forced to retire at the age of thirty-one. The thing is that the defenders from the rival teams were afraid of a speedy player. They often beat him in the legs, which led to multiple injuries. About the brilliant career of the Dutch in the clubs and the national team will be discussed in the article, as well as about his successes, which he achieved during his career.

Information about the football player

Mark Overmars was born on March 29, 1973 in the small town of Emste (the Netherlands). To date, he completed his career as a football player. Playing in clubs, he held the position of midfield-striker.

Options:

• Height - 174 cm;
• Weight - about 70 kg.

Who brought Mark to football? This will be discussed further.

Beginning of a football career

Career of the future football player is directly connected with his brother Edwin, who was the forward of the club "Forward, Eagles!" To twenty-four years. He had to finish his own career ahead of time due to a knee injury. So Mark Overmars received a mentor who brought him into football. In six years the boy became a pupil, and later a player of the team "SV Epe" (1979-1987). By the age of fourteen, he made his debut at his brother's club, "Forward, Eagles!" (1987-1991). Due to the low growth, he was not put on the position of the central striker. So he played on the flanks. As a result, his card was the position of the extreme striker.

At the age of seventeen, the young man signed a contract with the club "Willem II" (1991-1992), who performed in the Major League. For the club, he played only one season, but managed to make an indelible impression on the Dutch football community. Thanks to its fast mode and amazing passes, the young man was invited to play in more serious teams. Mark Overmars - Dutch footballer - had to decide where to go: to the Italian "Genoa" or native "Ajax". The choice immediately fell on the Amsterdam club, which was once played by his idol - Johan Cruif.

Work in Ajax (1992-1997)

In 1992, Overmars Mark was in the team of Van Gal. It was here that his gaming potential was revealed in full. The footballer turned out to be an excellent corner and punting punters. And he beat both feet perfectly. For the speed and ability to submit scoring passes, he was nicknamed "impetuous". Since Mark had a sense of goal, he became a very dangerous opponent for many players. In this Overmars was quite tactful. He rarely received warnings from the judge and never saw a "red light" before him.

The footballer spent five seasons at the club. During this time, he managed to score forty-six goals. "Ajax" with the help of a strong game and the goals of the player won the Cup of the country and won the Champions League. In 1995, the team won the European Super Cup, Intercontinental Cup. Unsuccessful for the athlete will be the season of 1996, when the resulting knee injury will delete six months from his playing practice. Recovering from injury, the player decided to move to London.

Work in the Arsenal (1997-2000)

Mark Overmars found his home in the Arsenal. For the club this season was brilliant, as the championship and the FA Cup were won. The Dutch football player was able to score twelve goals without receiving a single yellow card. His game, he was able to conquer the local audience. Soon all London knew in Overmars' face. His photos were in all the magazines. At the club, he found a good interaction with Dennis Bergkamp. In his face he saw not only an excellent teacher, but also a best friend. Moreover, they were partners in the national team of their country.

In the next two seasons the club will finish the English Premier League, having won the second place. Ahead will be Manchester United. And in 2000, Overmars Mark (football player) warned the club that he wanted to leave Arsenal. They became interested in Barcelona. However, the club was in no hurry to acquire a player for twenty million euros. He wanted to see in the business at the European Championships. Although the Netherlands team did not perform well, Mark was great. Especially when he was able to score two goals at the gates of Yugoslavia.

Work in the "Barcelona" (2000-2004)

Thanks to an excellent game, the twenty-seven-year-old Mark moved to the new club. In it, he spent two seasons. In the first he was able to score eight goals in the decisive matches. However, the team was only the fourth in the championship. In the second season, Mark Overmars (clubs "Ajax" and "Arsenal") began to fall into the reserve. The reasons were covered in his injury and tactics of Carles Rexach. Such a strategy coach led to the same fourth place and his resignation. By the summer, the player had an operation. He began the path to recovery. However, the decline of the career was predetermined, and by 2004 it was completed. True, there was another attempt to return to football in 2008. Mark again began to play for the club "Forward, Eagles!", But the next injury will finally decide everything.

Statements for the national team

Let's go back a bit. In 1993, the young man's dream came true: Mark Overmars, a Dutch player, began to play for the national team. The debut took place on February 24, 1993 in a match against the Turkish national team. The Netherlands team won with a score of 3: 1, and opened the scoring for Mark, scoring the ball into the opponents' goal in the fifth minute. In 1994, he participated in all five games of the World Cup in the United States. Then his team reached the quarterfinals, losing to the Brazilians, who eventually won the championship.

In 1998, at the World Championships in France, players Guus Hiddink showed excellent tactics. They played a draw with Belgium and Mexico, defeated South Korea, won against Yugoslavia and reached the quarterfinals. Having defeated the Argentines, went to the semifinals and again stumbled on the Brazilian national team, losing to her a penalty shootout. Unfortunately, in the last match, Mark could not perform due to a knee joint injury received the day before. As a result, the Netherlands took the fourth place. No less successful team with Overmars played and in the early 2000s, until his career was not completed.

Achievements

In different years Mark Overmars, whose biography is described in the article, won a lot of cups and medals, playing in clubs and the national team. Its main achievements are:

• Champion of the Netherlands (three times).
• Cup and Super Cup (twice) of the Netherlands.
• The victory in the Champions League ("Ajax").
• UEFA Super Cup ("Ajax").
• Intercontinental Cup ("Ajax").
• Champion of England ("Arsenal").
• Cup and the Super Bowl of England ("Arsenal").
• UEFA Cup ("Arsenal").
• Fourth place at the World Championships in 1998.
• Bronze at the European Championships in 2000 and 2004.

Work as technical director

Since 2012, Mark Overmars, whose career ended, became the technical director of his former club - Ajax. It ensures the full functioning of the club academy. In addition, conducts transfers, looking for new talents. After completing his career as a football player, he returned to the club, which revealed his full potential.