MADRID, 27 July 2004 — Dutch international Marc Overmars announced his retirement from football yesterday, blaming the decision on persistent injury problems.
“My footballing future ends now,” the 31-year-old winger told a news conference at Barcelona where he has played since July 2000.
“My knee is causing too many problems and I can’t play at the level I would wish.”
Overmars became the most expensive Dutch player of all time and the most expensive player in Barcelona history when he signed from Arsenal in July 2000 for a fee of around 36 million euros — a deal which also included his Arsenal teammate Emmanuel Petit.
Overmars’ task was to replace Luis Figo, the Portuguese winger who had been poached by Real Madrid, but he failed to produce the sort of eye-catching attacking form he regularly showed at Arsenal and Barcelona told him at the end of last season that he could leave the club.
Overmars said yesterday he would leave without recompense of the one year remaining on his contract.
Barcelona president Joan Laporta thanked him for that gesture, saying: “It’s an act of sincerity and respect for the club.
“It’s a mark of great dignity for him to say he can no longer player at the level Barcelona require and to renounce his contract.”
Overmars played for the Netherlands at Euro 2004 in Portugal in June but opted against looking for a new club for the forthcoming season, following Barcelona’s decision to let him go.
The popular player made his Dutch international debut against Turkey in February 1993 and represented his country 86 times, making him the third highest-capped Dutch player after Frank de Boer (112 caps) and Edwin van der Sar (89). He scored 17 goals for his country.
He started his career at Go Ahead Eagles before playing for Willem II, Ajax, Arsenal and Barcelona and retires having won the Champions League with Ajax in 1995, three Dutch titles with Ajax, one English title with Arsenal and a string of other honors.
They included a 1998 FA Cup final win with Arsenal in which he scored in a 2-0 victory against Newcastle United as Arsenal completed an English league and cup double.
