Heitinga sacked by Ajax, Ten Hag favourite to take over
Erik ten Hag is tipped to make a return to Ajax
Ajax have sacked head coach John Heitinga following last night’s 3-0 defeat to Galatasaray in the Champions League.
The Amsterdammers were undone by a Victor Osimhen hat-trick in what proved to be Heitinga’s final game in charge.
The former Netherlands international only took over at the ArenA in May after being an assistant to Arne Slot in Liverpool’s Premier League title-winning campaign last season.
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Grim times for Ajax
But he departs along with assistant boss Marcel Keizer with the club fourth in the Eredivisie having won five of their opening 11 games. Fred Grim, one of the club coaches, will take over on a caretaker basis.
Technical director Alex Kroes told the club’s official website: “It’s a painful decision. But looking back at the past few months, we must conclude that things have turned out quite differently from what we had envisioned.
“We’ve seen too little progress and have unnecessarily dropped points. We know it can take time for a new coach to work with a squad that has undergone changes. We have given John that time, but we believe it’s best for the club to appoint someone else to lead the team.
“We hope to present a new head coach together as soon as possible. We thank John and Marcel for their efforts and wish Fred the best of luck, starting with Sunday’s away match in Utrecht.”
Kroes eyes Ten Hag as Heitinga replacement
Kroes also offered to stand down but has been encouraged to stay on by the club’s Supervisory Board and will now lead the search for Heitinga’s replacement.
Kroes said: “My contract runs until the end of the season; should the club appoint a new technical director earlier, I will hand over my responsibilities at that time.”
Former Ajax boss Erik ten Hag, who was linked with Wolves earlier this week, is the favourite to take over.