O Ajax is looking for a new manager after announcing, this Thursday (1st), that the club will not renew the contract of interim coach John Heitinga after a series of bad results.
The 39-year-old former Netherlands and Everton defender was appointed as caretaker manager of the Amsterdam side in January until the end of the season following the sacking of Alfred Schreuder.
This is the second high-profile move at Ajax this week, following the announcement on Tuesday of Edwin van der Sar’s resignation as general manager.
The Amsterdam team failed to qualify for the Champions League by finishing third in the Dutch league behind Feyenoord and PSV Eindhoven.
Ajax has let John Heitinga know that the club will start its search for a new head coach for Ajax 1.
Mislintat: ‘John got on board to help the club in a difficult time, and he did that full of dedication. We are very grateful for that.’
— AFC Ajax (@AFCAjax) June 1, 2023
“Ajax have informed John Heitinga that the club is looking for a new first-team coach,” Ajax said in a statement.
“John came at a difficult time to help the club and he did so with full conviction,” said Ajax director of football Sven Mislintat, adding that the club were “very grateful”.
“But I came to the conclusion that Ajax now need a more experienced coach,” he added, quoted in a statement.
Heitinga started with promising results, winning seven matches in the Dutch league. Under him, Ajax rose from fifth to third in the Eredivisie standings.
But his phase got complicated afterwards, mainly when he was eliminated from the Europa League for Union Berlin in February. Finishing in third place was the last straw for the club, which has four Champions League trophies under its belt.
Ajax haven’t been the same since manager Erik ten Hag joined Manchester United in April 2022.
“It was a difficult period,” said Sven Mislintat.
John Heitinga “has learned a lot over the last few months and we would like to play a role in his future development by keeping him connected to the club,” he said.
Sven Mislintat: ‘Heitinga took it super professionally.’ pic.twitter.com/KrUd30LWHU
— AFC Ajax (@AFCAjax) June 1, 2023
Source: Gazetaesportiva
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