Former Netherlands international Klaas-Jan Huntelaar suffered a burnout while working as the right hand of director of football Marc Overmars at Ajax, according to an interview in the magazine ELF Voetbal. Huntelaar, 43, stepped into the role in 2022 full of optimism, but the departure of Overmars left him overwhelmed with rising responsibilities, relentless calls across multiple time zones, and the intense pressure of a turbulent period at the club.
The Relentless Workload That Triggered Huntelaar’s Burnout
Following Overmars’ departure, Huntelaar had to absorb more duties. According to Huntelaar, the workload quickly swallowed him whole. Transfer windows brought constant night calls due to time zone differences, pushing the former striker past his personal limits.
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“I’m a type of person who doesn’t complain, who just keeps going, but I went past my boundaries,” Huntelaar told ELF Voetbal. “I was only busy with work. It was a very restless time at Ajax and then you want to help the club where you can. But the whole process went too fast, too rigorously for me, also in combination with family life.”
The physical toll culminated in public-facing duties. Huntelaar recalled having to stand on the center circle of the ArenA with a microphone to give farewell speeches to departing players—a task previously handled by Edwin van der Sar, who had also left the club.
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Stepping Away and Rebuilding at His Own Pace
By late 2023, Huntelaar stepped down from his position at Ajax after his body forced him to stop. According to the former striker, his bucket simply overflowed, and his battery failed to recharge quickly. Recognizing the severity of the exhaustion, he took a break to recover.
Recovery has involved deliberate pacing and careful selection of low-stress projects. During the 2026 World Cup, Huntelaar returned to the public eye as an analyst for the Dutch broadcaster NOS. He has also been reconnecting with the sport selectively, traveling to watch a match between the Netherlands and Japan alongside Tim Krul at the invitation of the KNVB.
“I quietly look at what I like to do and notice what suits me,” Huntelaar said. “I look at what gives me positive energy and rest on time. Switching a lot with multiple appointments in a day is sometimes still difficult.”
Frequently Asked Questions
What caused Klaas-Jan Huntelaar’s burnout?
According to his interview with ELF Voetbal, Huntelaar suffered a burnout due to an overwhelming workload, relentless nighttime phone calls during transfer windows, and mounting responsibilities following the departure of Marc Overmars at Ajax.
When did Huntelaar step down from his role at Ajax?
Huntelaar stopped his work at Ajax in late 2023 to focus on his recovery.
What is Klaas-Jan Huntelaar doing now?
He is slowly returning to football-related activities at his own pace, which included working as an analyst for NOS during the 2026 World Cup and attending international matches.
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