Van der Sar on being CEO: ”This was a different challenge”
Long meetings under Louis van Gaal, Johan Cruijff’s vision, returning to the classroom, and his role as Ajax CEO—Edwin van der Sar shares it all in an interview with Life After Football.
At the age of 40, Edwin van der Sar hung up his football boots and gloves. However, he didn’t take time to enjoy his football retirement; instead, he immediately went back to school to pursue a master’s degree in International Sport Management.
What did Edwin van der Sar study?
Edwin van der Sar: “I mainly decided to study after speaking with Johan Cruijff and Dennis Bergkamp. Johan had a vision in which former footballers should play a role within a club. He believed that throughout all levels of a club, there should be ex-professionals with valuable football experience—from the youth academy to the boardroom. I had plenty of experience, but I had no real knowledge of the business side of things.”
From the Goalpost to the Office
As expected, the transition was a major adjustment for Van der Sar. The legendary goalkeeper found himself surrounded by students who were already active in the business world. Alongside these business professionals, Edwin also studied with former cyclists, swimmers, and gymnasts. He picked up the material quite easily and, once he had fully committed to the program, things went smoothly.
“As a footballer, you need playing time to gain experience and build up your hours on the field. In a way, it works the same way as a marketing or general director. When I started working at Ajax, I had to get used to meetings. Under Louis van Gaal, we as players were already familiar with long video meetings, but this was a different challenge,” the former Ajax CEO reflected.
Eventually, Van der Sar adapted to the meetings. He enjoyed contributing ideas and was open to being persuaded if someone could convince him of a particular approach. If not, he stuck to his own way of doing things. “I put a lot of trust in my team, and we work together. That’s how it works on the field, but also in business. However, sometimes I have to make decisions, and I don’t shy away from that,” Van der Sar stated as a true general director.
Biggest Lesson During His Studies
The now businessman mainly learned the importance of patience—because everything takes longer. Unlike in football, where there is a specific moment in a week when you have to peak, his new career is more of a marathon.
“A coach can make a substitution in the 30th minute and immediately anticipate or make a tactical adjustment. In traffic, I’m impatient, and I don’t like waiting. But I’m patient when colleagues try to convince me with their expertise, but at some point, a decision has to be made—and I make it. However, I don’t have a big ego and can easily let things go. I don’t always need to be the one in the spotlight. In fact, I love it when people come up with a great idea or an exciting campaign,” says The Flying Dutchman.
