They were once team-mates in of one of Arsenal and the Premier League's greatest-ever teams.

But Marc Overmars and Dennis Bergkamp's professional relationship appears to have broken down.

Overmars, director of football at Ajax, was one of the men who made the decision to sack Bergkamp, who was assistant manager, and the rest of the senior coaching staff.

Previously great friends in their playing days, tensions clearly developed as Ajax fell five points off the pace in the Eredivisie table.

They even went out of Europe before even the Europa League's group stages.

The pair celebrate a goal away against Barnsley in 1998 (
Image:
Cooper Albert)
The pair talk to Arthur Numan during their playing career (
Image:
Reuters)

Edwin Van der Sar, who works as Ajax's chief executive, said: "We had a bad summer and a messy start of the season. That's what everyone got.

"From a sporting point of view, European elimination was the low point.

"In particular Marc Overmars and I have frequently spoken the months afterwards about the permanent volatility of the first team.

The pair were also international team-mates (
Image:
Reuters)
They appeared to be great friends during their time at Arsenal

"We are not confident that we will achieve the level that we are striving for with Ajax in this way. I regret this."

The decision for Overmars to be partially decide to axe Bergkamp was soon picked up by Arsenal fans.